Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead

A Time to Honor and Celebrate Deceased Loved Ones

The celebration occurs on November 2 in connection with All Soul's Day. Unlike Halloween, which is characterized by goblins, witches, and the occult, Day of the Dead, was initially celebrated by the Aztecs to honor the memory of the dead. This 3,000-year-old Aztec ritual fell on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar, which is the beginning of August and celebrated for a whole month. The "Lady of the Dead" or goddess Mictecacihuatl died at birth, but believed it was her spirit who officiated the celebration.

Traditional Day of the Dead altar decor usually includes the following

Marigolds 

Calaveritas (small decorative skulls made of sugar)

Papel picado (colorful sheets of paper with shapes cut out)

Photos (of the deceased)

Candles

Pan de muerto (a traditional loaf of sweet bread used only at this time of year)                        Food and drinks (that the deceased enjoyed when they were alive)  

In most regions of Mexico, November 1 honors children and infants, whereas deceased adults are honored on November 2. This is indicated by generally referring to November 1 mainly as Día de los Inocentes ("Day of the Innocents") but also as Día de los Angelitos ("Day of the Little Angels") and November 2 as Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos ("Day of the Dead").

Choice Cut Or Mystery Meat?

A Guide To Mexican Butcher Shops

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One of the most puzzling aspects of marketing for the newly arrived resident of Mexico is shopping for meat. It is frequently cut differently than it is north of the border, to accommodate Mexican cooking techniques. At first glance, the contents of the glassed-in meat counters in the mercado seem to resemble the "Texas Chain Saw Massacre" rather than any familiar cuts of meat. Even in the supermarkets, labels are often confusing.

The basic cuts are not so different, but the way they are broken down often is. However, meat can usually be cut to order if the shopper has the right nomenclature. This is also true for those living outside Mexico and trying to prepare Mexican recipes. What to use for authentic fajitas, guisados, orasados? In response to reader requests, we'll take a look at Mexican beef cuts, how they are used, and what they are called.

Beef in general is called carne de res. Ground beef is molida de res, and Mexican butchers will grind any cut requested, which is good news for those wanting extra lean ground meat. With all the recent scares about pre-ground beef in the U.S., it is somewhat reassuring to get the meat custom ground. If the beef is to be finely chopped instead of ground, ask for picada.

The same holds true for milanesas, or cutlets. The butcher will cut them to order right in front of the customer, and then pound them to the desired thickness. Vigilance is recommended here. If not watched carefully, thecarnicero will pound them until they resemble slivers of Swiss cheese. The customer then brings them home, dips them in egg, and, with a rolling pin, presses as many breadcrumbs into the slices of meat as they can hold, fries them, and serves milanesas de res, a classic Mexican way of extending a small quantity of meat.

Daylight Savings Time

starts

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

CHECK IT OUT

Speaking of Discovery, do you know who discovered Ensenada? The cruisers that attended the Ensenada tour last Saturday learned a lot about the city they live in and were given a sneak preview of the future developments and how they will impact Ensenada & Baja California.  Here's a little history tidbit on the man who actually discovered Ensenada over 450 years ago.
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On May 15, 1982, Ensenada celebrated the centennial of its founding. The date was finally acknowledged after a series of controversies which in themselves confirmed how unique the birth of the cities in Baja California Norte had been in comparison to others in Mexico and in Baja California. In Mexico, most of the existing cities were founded by royal decree on the sites of precolumbian dwellings; therefore, a document existed naming each new city officially, and the date was unquestionable. As regards the oldest towns in Baja California, these were founded on the sites of the Jesuit or Dominican missions, and their birth could accurately be traced to the date of the founding of each mission. This would not be the case of the four main existing cities in Baja California Norte: Ensenada, Tijuana, Mexicali and Tecate.

How then did Ensenada become the site for the oldest city in Baja California Norte? Its bay was discovered on September 17, 1542, by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. He named it San Mateo, stayed for six days and did not report any inhabitants. Sixty years later, when Sebastián Vizcaíno rediscovered it on the Fifth of November 1602, and renamed it Ensenada de Todos Santos,he did not mention any population either. Historians next have documented testimony regarding Ensenada from Father Junípero Serra, who passed through on his way from San Fernando Vellicatá to San Diego in the summer of 1769. He is the first to acknowledge the existence of inhabitants of whom he said:

"There is immense gentility, and all those of this countercoast (of the South Sea) wherefrom we have come, from Ensenada de Todos Santos, for that is what the maps and charts call it, live very leisurely with various seeds and with the fishing that they do in their rafts of reeds in the form of canoes."

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Incredible, Unique, Fresh and Super Classy

From members of "The Platers" and "The Temptatons" (Grammy winners of the 60's, 70's and 80's)

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Price per ticket: $25.00 USD

VIP (one night get away): $100.00 USD includes luxury room, dinner, and show.

PRODUCTION: Bobby Foster Productions.

Where to buy tickets: Alfonso's Pizza and Estero Beach Hotel Resort

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Come and Help us Celebrate our 2nd Year of Operation

Anniversary Oyster Feast Menu 

Oyster Rockefeller

6 ea $90.00

12 ea $150.00

New Orleans Oyster Fritters

6 ea $75.00

12ea $120.00

Oyster on the half shell

6 ea $65.00

12ea $100.00

 Oyster Po-Boy Sandwich

 $75.00

Thursday - October 27 - 4.00 PM - 8.00 PM

Thought For The Day......

IT'S CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!

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Thursday, October20 at the Orleans Restaurant

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MENU

FRIED CHICKEN DINNER

BBQ CHICKEN

CHICKEN BURGERS

CHICKEN LIVERS

CHICKEN WINGS

BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA

Ensenada Opportunity - Saturday October 22

Thinking of attending?

Please contact Juergen - Phone (MX) 174 6713 - jmeinberg@yahoo.com

You Have Been Invited........
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Date: Saturday,October 22 - Meeting Location: In front of the Immigration Building Start Time: 10:00 am                                                                                                                                       
Parking: The Parking will at the API or Administracion Portuaria Integral, SA de CV building on Azueta # 110 next to Immigration office, in front of Arjona Parts store, starting at 9:30 am.
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            View the Discover Photo Album                   Add Your Photos to the Album

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Senor Xavier Riva, Director for Tourism, City of Ensenada, on behalf of the city, has extended an invitation to visit the operations within the port of Ensenada. this Saturday, October 22. We would be allowed inside the port for a good look around (not normally possible after 9/11)      The tour will begin at 10:00 am

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We also will be transported by bus into the hills north of Ensenada to view a stunning 120 million dollar, new resort being developed by a group of investors from Mexico City.

Bus departs at 11.30 am and returns 3:30 pm

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There will be a lunch provided by the City of Ensenada and wine testing will be available. We need  a full bus load of people to make this happen and this is a no cost trip to us, the city pays for it all.

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Please respond no later by Wednesday afternoon for planning purposes. The sooner the better as bus seats are limited.

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Last Meeting for Spanish Club this Year
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This Thursday, October 20th, will be the final meeting in 2011 for the Spanish Club headed by our Cruiser member and teacher Alexandra Garmendia. Ale and husband Carlos, will be travelling over the next three months and will return to Ensenada in February when classes will resume. If you would like to experience the fun and camaraderie of fellow cruisers learning the Spanish language come on out this Thursday. If you need more info, contact Cruiser Jean Nash, SV "Flew Z Coup"  slip F54 at the Coral Marina.

It's always been a pleasure to share some of my most interesting and delightful experiences with my friends and fellow cruisers. Now having the venue to expand and publicize places I would recommend, allow me to introduce "Pablo's Picks" which from time to time, will appear on the Ensenada Cruisers Blog. My first "Pick" is a restaurant we thoroughly enjoyed and hope you will have the opportunity to experience first hand.

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Ratatouille Restaurant

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For those of you who haven’t yet discovered Ratatouille in Ensenada, I must say you are missing a real treat. It is a small but delightful little restaurant in the center of town at 7th street and the river bed. The building is painted orange with a green trim and the whole ambiance, both inside and outside is charming. The food is a mix of Mexican with a European twist, with delicious soups, fresh salads and very tasty main dishes. The prices are affordable and for the quality of food, Ratatouille gives you the best value for your money compared to other highly ranked Ensenada restaurants.  

Concert - Desert Beats
Friday, October 14 - Mexicali’s Grupo Cantotumbao performs at 8 p.m. on the Plaza de las Artes of Centro Estatal de las Artes (CEARTE) on Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas (Costero) & Av. Club Rotario. Free admission.  
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Progressive Rock Concert

Sunday,October 16 - The Cides Bao King Trio from Argentina/Spain/Mexico performs at 8 p.m. at the Foro Experimental of Centro Estatal de las Artes (CEARTE) on Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas (Costero) & Av. Club Rotario. 
Admission: $8.50 dlls.   


Need more Info: CEARTE at      646 173 4307 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            646 173 4307      end_of_the_skype_highlighting                       Locator Map

Weather Update  (Southern California) 

Coastal temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s on Wednesday and Thursday due to offshore flow and an usually strong upper level high pressure centered over the coast. Locations near inland coastal hills and valleys could locally reach 100... while beaches could be in the mid to upper 80s for a brief period. Temperatures in some locations of southwest California coastal... inland valleys and mountains could reach or approach record levels. These readings are 10 to 20 degrees above normal.

The Orleans Renowned Prime Rib Dinner 

Saturday October 22, 2011 - 6 PM - 9 PM

USA Prime Rib w/ajus

$200.00 nm

Baked Potato or Rice Pilof

Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce

Soup (Gumbo or French Onion)

Dinner Salad & Rolls

Beverage and Dessert extra

R E S E R V A T I O N S    P L E A S E   -   178 3286

Bring your own bottle of wine, no corking fees

Cafe Orleans - Thursday, October 13

The Happy "240" - Featuring Corn Beef & Cabbage for $80.00 - BYOB ($20 corking fee)

Music By Brent Besaw

BAJA  BOOK  FESTIVAL
Jo Ann Knox Martino and Carla White invite you to the Baja Book Festival.  What makes it special?  It is a day to enjoy all the best that Baja has to offer:  its 23+ writers and greal local artists, its wines and foods, its music and its peoples – the indigenous and those of us who are newer to this wonderful peninsula. 
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The support that has been shown by our sponsors, particularly Oceans Aura and Oceans Flavor (Mona Key and Alan Fisher), Bajamar Premier Properties (Mimi Mills), Bajamar Hotel & Resort (Maria Garcia and Mariana Recines), Baja Bound (Geoff Hill), the Rosarito Beach Hotel (Hugo Torres), La Casa Vieja and the San Nicolas Hotel (Nicolas Saad) has been overwhelming!  As has the support by people like our beloved Nicolas Santos who is coming to make us his famous Splash! Fish tacos. 

And thanks to the Baja Scholarship Foundation for helping with volunteers, who will hand you your goodie bags and sell (lots, we hope) of raffle tickets for things like wines, hotel nights, golf, art, spa baskets, and much more. 

Saturday, October 15, 2011

11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

(Book signing ends at 5, mix-mingle-n-music until 6!)

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at La Casa Vieja
Kilometer 93.5 Highway 3, Ensenada-Tecate - In Mexico's Beautiful Wine Valley

Doo Wop Concert - Estero Beach Hotel
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Bobby Foster Productions are co sponsoring a Doo Wop (Oldies but Goodies) Concert at Estero Beach Hotel/Resort, on Oct. 26, 2011 from 5pm to 8pm. The groups that are being featured are "N Demand" and "Mary Williams." 

N Demand is currently performing at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas,they are opening for Joan Rivers this month. The Estero Beach Hotel is offering a VIP GetAway for one night.   The VIP Special includes Show, Dinner, and Luxury hotel room for only $100.00 (US Dlls.) If you are interested only in seeing the show, tickets are $25.00  However we are selling them for $20.00, single ticket and $35.00 for two - a special offer for residents of Punta Bunda and members of local clubs, to include ECYC Yacht Club. You will need to purchase the discount tickets in advance from us. The last show sold out fast!! Also, we donate a portion of the proceeds to charitable organizations.


Need more info? Contact Bobby Foster - PH: 646-191-6998 (mx)