Before and after

August 30th, 2012

Much has been written about the increasing and alarming violence in Acapulco in recent years. Taxi drivers are murdered by the dozen, bodiless heads are left to be suntanned on the beach, and shootouts up in the hills can leave hundreds of bullet casings.

I confess that I subjected this huauchinango al mojo de ajo to ruthless and merciless treatment on a spring afternoon at El Amigo Miguel, a restaurant a stone’s throw from Acapulco’s zocalo.

Labels: Mexico City

  1. 9 Responses to “Before and after”

  2. By michael g, mclaughlin on Aug 31, 2012

    Yes, but the fact remains, not the fish and bones, the violence is increasing in Mexico and the country comes to another crossroads. When the PRI comes back in will it continue with wholesale corruption like in the past and what and how will it deal with the narcos. If it pulls the troops out and “makes a deal” well, I am afraid Mexico, God love Mexico, goes further down into the abyss. Acapulco has the most beautiful bay in Mexico. What a shame. When I was there last year the town was over run with traffic, and the vendors were desperate and aggressive with what tourist were left. Let’s say a prayer to St Jude, patron saint of the impossible.

  3. By Jorge Canavati on Aug 31, 2012

    WHy dont you hire St. Jude as the next Attorney General?

  4. By Andrew Paxman on Aug 31, 2012

    In lieu of a trip to Acapulco, try the huachinango at the Brasserie Lipp inside Polanco’s Marriott Hotel (preferably when someone else is paying). In 22 years of dedicated huachinango consumption, I can say it’s quite the best I’ve ever had.

  5. By Ana Manwaring on Aug 31, 2012

    That fish looks so good that my cat has shown up for a bite! Tonight we enjoy bbq boned salmon and tomatoes just picked from the vine with a little balsamic made from Napa Valley cabernet. It’s not huachinango (mojo de ajo is my favorite)and it doesn’t solve the escalating problems of criminal insurgencies. The violence is here, too, northern California being a great place to grow weed. Can St. Jude be Attorney General of both countries? Let us pray…

  6. By Barry Carr on Aug 31, 2012

    I’m in Washington DC this weekend and there are no cats around- but me esta entrando una hambre terrible with that picture. A good huachinango (al mojo de ago I agree is the best presentation, but a la veracruzana is fine too) can’t be beaten. As for Acapulco it indeed has been suffering terribly in the last few years but I still love the place. Its not just the splendid views but also the great seafood and pozole and the glimpses of the city’s incredibly rich history. Even a restored PRI can’t change that. I hope…

  7. By Gloria A. Perez on Sep 1, 2012

    Forget Huachinango!! Mojarra is the best ever!!

  8. By Keith Dannemiller on Sep 2, 2012

    Saints don’t stand for public office in Mexico. They have all already performed the required one miracle.

  9. By Michael Hemenway on Sep 2, 2012

    What a beautiful looking dish. Good to see you out of the DF and into the arms of coastal hospitality. My wife has family in Jaltianguis, and although some distance away from Alcapulco, it’s the next place we will travel on our return in a few months. Lets hope the peace will last long enough for this ‘bollilo’ to see the sweet beaches of Mexico’s coast. Salud mi chavo.

  10. By Carmen King on Oct 5, 2012

    I cannot tell you how much I love a little well delivered humor like this. Keep up the good work!

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