El Changarrito de la Viagra: just another reason to love Mexicans in New York City
As I walked back this morning from casting my vote to choose my next mayor, I noticed a store I had never seen before in my neighbhorhood. It’s not your regular New York City deli but it’s called “El changarrito de la Viagra” and it features tacos, burritos, quesadillas and whatnot.
That name, though …
Filing under: Mexicans, how can anyone not like us?
Say what you will about Bill de Blasio and Marcelo Ebrard, but thanks to this useless duo, this Mexican blogger can now proudly say she lives in a city that honors “México-Tenochtitlan” right at the intersection of 116th Street and Second Avenue.
Yes, having solved their respective city’s most urgent taskes, Mr. Ebrard and Mr. De Blasio formally inaugurated the “México-Tenochtitlan Avenue” in Manhattan, just around the corner of this blogger’s favorite tacos ever.
I don’t mean to cause any international incidents here, but WHY ON EARTH didn’t they just call this avenue Manhatitlán? It would mean so much for this humble blogger.
AMLO looooves a good local garnacha, but he might miss on my city’s Mexican delights this time.
Start spreading the news…
He’s leaving next week…
Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (aka AMLO) will be in the Big Apple for a short visit next week (Nov. 8 & 9) and while this blogger was eager to follow his culinary adventures in her adopted city, it looks like he will be missing out on the whole “Puebla York” experience.
According to press reports, AMLO will travel to the United Nations next week and give a speech about the dangers of corruption (no, really!) His visit corresponds with Mexico taking over the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council in November.
Alas, while his supporters at the “Morena New York Committee 1” are prepping a whole fiesta complete with mariachis –and plenty of local garnachas–, it looks like AMLO will remain at the UN and look all professional and stuff.
The 2021 AMLOFestNYC is free to the public and is to take place -where else?- at the Aztec Hall in Brooklyn. But the fiesta will have to go on without him.
A real pity if you asked me, since Manhatitlán is home of the best antojitos, garnachas and other Mexican goodies on this side of the border.
Ni modos, presi. Maybe next time!
El Mariachi Habanero estará recibiendo a nuestro querido Presidente @lopezobrador_ en el aeropuerto y también estarán en el #AmloFestNYC Invitamos a todos los mexicanos para darle la más hermosa bienvenida a nuestro gran Presidente. pic.twitter.com/5gP1Y9jYhf
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.
After all these years in “America” I still haven’t found an accurate way to translate “aguas mexicanas” into English. Some would say “juice” (no, they’re not really juices) while others insist on “ice-tea”. Nope. Tampoco.
Google Translate, of course, doesn’t help either, so I think my paisanos in this Harlem deli are right: Aguas frescas mexicanas has got to be “Fresh Mexican Waters.”
President Trump might have some evil plans in store for my people (i.e. The Mexicans,) but — at least for now — some of us take great pleasure in the simple, little things. Like Mexican Ices in the summer heat, for example.
The so-called President can say whatever he wants, and build a wall as big as his ego, but my people continue to make this blogger (and many more Mexicans) very happy on this side of the border.