“México has magic. I looked for the magic, and I found it.” —Chavela Vargas
México is a melting pot of very different cultures, and while Yucatán sometimes feels very, very far removed (almost independent, one might say), September is like a loving family gathering, during which we celebrate all the wonderful things we have in common. That’s why September is known as the most Mexican month, and it shows. This month, no Yucateco can resist a big old Pozole or Chiles en Nogada; in fact, if you’ve never tried these dishes, this is the best time to do so.
Once you’ve ridden yourself of the Pooch (Maya for craving or desire, and pronounced similar to poach) for Central México food, make the most of this edition, where we give you several options to go back to the true origins of Yucatecan food and its meticulous preparation, whether over an open fire or underground. Discover where (and how lovingly and painstakingly) our most traditional flavors come from, and let yourself be amazed by actually learning how to make them yourself, at home, even. We’re also taking you to Xocén, a wonderful village that maintains a very close connection to its Maya roots, and we tell you how the state’s urban artists identify with theirs.
To me, the heart of the current edition is rediscovering (or discovering for the first time, if you’ve just arrived) the most authentic side of Yucatán; the discreet, quiet side, the one that’s in danger of becoming smaller and smaller, or even disappearing if we don’t give it the space it’s entitled to. It’s there, in that side and in those details, that the magic of Yucatán lies. We’ll take you there!
By Alicia Navarrete
Communicologist born circumstantially in México City, but who says “uay” since 1985. Life has allowed me to see the world, which in turn has allowed me to discover how much I love the place where I live.
Photography by Mike Díaz for use in Yucatán Today.
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