Your one-stop shop for all things Latin/Hispanic/Mexican
I don’t know what to think, really, but why not?
Snoop Dogg and Banda Ms on Friday released Qué Maldición, a long awaited collaboration between America’s famed pothead and the Sinaloa insanely popular band. It’s by far the weirdest Anglo-Latin collaboration I’ve seen in a long time and I’m not sure I’m 100 percent sold.
Watch & listen at your own peril. I’ll be somewhere still trying to figure out 2020.
Hat tip: The great Mafer
Ever wondered what The Star-Spangled Banner sounds like in Spanish? Well, look no further than El Pendón Estrellado, the “only official Spanish-language translation” of the national anthem allowed to be sung, according to The Smithsonian.
The translation into Spanish of the National Anthem was done by Clotilde Arias, a Peruvian immigrant, during the Roosevelt administration, but is now being repurpused as part of a new campaign to honor Hispanic workers fighting COVID-19 across the United States.
The version you’re about to see is performed by Jeidimar Rijos, the 2019 winner of La Voz competition, and was commissioned by We Are All Human Foundation’s Hispanic Star, a non-for-profit organization that seeks to “raise awareness of the contributions of the Hispanic community to the United States.”
The campaign comes at a time when Hispanics –and other minorities– are being hit particularly hard by the epidemic. Only in New York City, for example, data shows that 34% of fatalities as of April 8 were within the Hispanic community, despite their making up only 29% of the city’s population. Nationwide, says Time magazine, Hispanic and Latinx Americans are also the largest uninsured group.
Via: Time.com
Well, that didn’t take long.
Barely a couple of days after this VERY INFLUENTIAL BLOG first reported on the Iztapalapa conchavirus, a small bakery in Chicago is now making their own version.
“We wanted to turn a negative into a positive one by creating my very own conchavirus,” Eddie Vázquez, executive pastry chef and owner at Rosy’s Bakery, told ABC News Chicago.
Fortunately for Mr. Vázquez, Chicagoans are so excited about they’re placing their orders by the dozen, and I still don’t know how they get the courage to go out, but that’s another story…
It’s not a secret that 2020 sucks, but –heck– it has been a good year for conchas.
The Mexican police force in Quintana Roo (yes, that’s the state where Cancún is located) has come with an awesome PSA to let the community know that the deadly coronavirus is not going to get them.
Watch as police men and women dance to the tune of the Mariachi loco song and simple but catchy lyrics that go sort of like this:
The coronavirus wants to arrive…
The coronavirus wants to arrive….
But it will have to face the cops
I’d like to inform everyone,
That Quintana Roo will not be infected and we’ll do awawy with this virus
OK that sounds boring if you read it, but the actual video is deliciously fun!
Take it away, mariachi loco!
Al ritmo del Mariachi Loco, la Policía de Quintana Roo emite medidas de prevención contra el coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/05F8tGPLwI
— REFORMA Nacional (@reformanacional) March 25, 2020
Speaking of Mexico and the seriousness of COVID-19, a bakery in Iztapalapa, Mexico has come up with a coronavirus-like sweet bread, which they’re calling –what else?– the conchavirus. According to a very reliable source (i.e. a commenter on my Instagram feed) the genius behind this thing is Panificadora Juanito, a 30-year-old establishment which prides itself of using all natural ingredients.
Oh, did I mention the conchavirus is only $6.50 pesos? That’s… practically USD 25 cents.
Filing under “Mexicans: How can anyone not like us?”
Hat tip: @DatBoopGirl
I spent a good part of Tuesday, March 17 looking for toilet paper in my neighborhood –to no avail. Somehow, the coronavirus crisis has turned people in some sort of toilet paper-hoarding zombies, emptying the shelves at supermarkets, bodegas and pharmacies.
The craziness is not limited to New York City or even the US: My brother sent me a photo (below) from a Mexico City supermarket, showing people doing exactly the same thing: Hoarding toilet-paper –except supplies seem to be abundant down there (at least for now.)
I tried again one day later and this time my local bodega (PapaSito) proudly advertised that toilet paper was back, so I went in (naturally). Several rolls of toilet paper wrapped individually sat at the top of a very tall counter, one I couldn’t reach, so I asked a fellow Mexican who works there for help. Our conversation went something like this:
–Can you please pass me four of those? –I asked.
-Four? Only four? –said the man almost incredulous. –Why don’t you take more? People are coming in and getting 15-30 rolls at once…
-Because… I’m not deranged? –I replied.
My paisano cracked up upon hearing that, and then noticed I had also bought a few packs of corn tortillas.
–Well, I’d be damned if we were to run out of those! –He said pointing at my packs of Poblanitas.
I walked away thinking he was absolutely right and was happy to get back to my quarantine (not before I stopped for some other basic goods.)
My U.S. Census 2020 questionnaire is here and while I’m all game and ready to fill out and submit this thing, I will forever be puzzled by the “race” question.
See, when you reach the the “race question” while filling out the 2020 U.S. Census, you’ll get options within five racial categories (see photo below:)
This, of course, leaves this café con leche, whitish Mexican blogger born in Mexico practically in limbo, since I’m supposed to select “white” or “some other race” to comply and be able to go to the next window. (And I’m not alone: Remember this Puerto Rican dude during the 2010 Census who was pissed (with reason) and refused to fill out his Census form, because “Hispanic” was not an option under the Race box?)
Also missing in this section are people from the Middle East and North Africa, which I suppose are supposed to do the same: Select “white” or “some other race,” which I think will make it harder to locate where there is need for local bilingual services in schools or during elections, to name a few things.
I’m personally offended because “Human” is not an option under race, so I decided to use the “Some other race –print race” space to spell out N.P.I. (Ni Pinche Idea.)
Shopping for a wedding venue in Arizona?
Well, there’s this fine place at the base of Camelback Mountain offering “breathtaking views, impeccable service and an unforgettable experience,” –and judging from the pictures found on their Website, it looks like it delivers on its promise.
However, you might want to consider not inviting any Spanish-speaking friends (especially Mexicans) to your event, unless you want them to spend their time cracking up jokes behind your back or simply avoiding the food in fear of catching this dreadful malady.
A cluster of respiratory illness, originating in the Chinese province of Hubei in December of 2019, has health officials on high alert around the world. The cause is now known to be a new coronavirus that has proven to be particularly infectious and has already claimed about 3,000 lives in a few months.
While Latin America had been free of the virus for some time, the first Mexican case was confirmed on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 coincidentally as this blogger arrived in CDMX for a quick family trip.
Mexicans in Mexico responded swiftly to the threat by –what else?– posting tons of memes while on this side of the border, Mr. Iván Montemayor (aka Míster Cumbia) composed an infectiously melodious cumbia, which is not only perfect for dancing but it’s also … educational. “Wash your hands; take care; prevention is key, etc.”
🎶 Coronavirus, coronavirus, lávense las manos, hágalo seguido… coronavirus, coronavirus, pónganse las pilas en lugares concurridos. 🎶
Here it is. Get up and dance, pues!
Here’s the coronavirus cumbia, because Mexico #Coronavirusmexico pic.twitter.com/kGhO29kLRF
— Laura Martínez® (@miblogestublog) February 28, 2020
During a meeting Tuesday night with Culinary Union members in Las Vegas, Sen. Amy Klobuchar tried to relate to a mostly Hispanic crowd by talking about her fourth-grade Spanish and other Spanish-related anecdotes. According to various reports, Klobuchar kicked off her presentation by saying: “My name is Amy, but when I was in fourth grade Spanish they gave me the name Elena.”
I decided to tweet out a video of the exchage using the hashtag #MyKlobucharEthnicName and what followed was a hilarious thread of people sharing their “ethnic name.” Purely for this blogger’s entertainment (I hope).
WATCH the original video (below) and then scroll down for some hilarious responses:
Okay, Elena 🤟🏽#MyKlobucharEthnicName pic.twitter.com/f4VcrNHNWy
— Laura Martínez® (@miblogestublog) February 19, 2020
Hi, my name is Enrique. But when I order at Starbucks, #MyKlobucharEthnicName is Henry. https://t.co/A6aakaJreN
— Enrique Pérez de la Rosa (@ByPerezDeLaRosa) February 19, 2020
My grandpa would call me “Chata” for “Chata hell up” 😐 Can that count as #MyKlobucharEthnicName ?
— Alicia Lewis (@sosaysalicia) February 19, 2020
in spanish class they called me “el chicharron”
— Talia Lavin (@chick_in_kiev) February 19, 2020
#MyKlobucharEthnicName is AMLO https://t.co/1MwrfTcrVH
— Mexican Judge (@laloalcaraz) February 19, 2020
Full Spanish class name: Elena Manuel López Obrador (friends called me EMLO)
— James J. A. Blair (@JJABlair) February 19, 2020
JUST FOLLOW #MyKlobucharEthnicName for more entertainment…
Sources closer to Hell’s Kitchen than me (at least right now) tell me there’s a new, hipster-conceived Mexican-Indian restaurant coming my way.
Called –what else?– Taco Mahal, this fusion eatery promises a “new concept in the realm of delicious tacos” where “the best spices of India collide with the best flavors of Latino America [SIC.]”
I have no idea what any of the above means, but Taco Mahal has been plastering the city with artful collages of Frida-meets-Rigveda / Parvati-Meets-Kahlo. Also, according to a menu posted online, you’ll be able to order stuff such as Roti Tacos or Naan Tacos, which sound just as weird as the below deities blended together.
It’s Indian, you know? but with a taco twist.
Thank God there’s also beer & wine available to wash this thing down; otherwise…
Hat tip: @lechancle
No, Del Real Foods, pupusas are not a Mexican tradition and no, f not stuffed quesadillas.
Get your act together, will ya?
And here it is
Leave it to Mexican taqueros in New York City to reimagine Frosted Flakes (Zucaritas, in Latin America) and turn them into something truly delicious: Tacos de Carnitas.
Chomp, chomp!
Hat tip: Queens Taco Correspondent Juan Diego Ramírez
Photo: Eat the World NYC
