h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello folks. Welcome to the first (probably last) Dia de los Muertos All You Can Eat Buffet. Having spent many years in the Southwest this is a familiar event to me. But for those who have been birthed and bunked in other climes, I'll give a very brief explanation of the holiday then get to the reason for your visit - the food!

Dia de los Muertos - The Day of the Dead - is celebrated on November 1 and 2 in Mexico and the American Southwest. Its roots go back to the Aztecs. Americans often confuse it with Halloween because of the time of the year and the use of skulls and skeletons, but there is nothing spooky ot gruesome about it. The date was chosen after the Spanish conquest to blend in with All Saints Day and All Souls Day in the Catholic liturgy.

Dia de los Muertos is a gigantic family reunion that honors the spirits of ancestors and departed loved ones. The first day honors the souls of infants and small children, and the second day honors the souls of adults. Families gather at the cemeteries with offerings of food, flowers, candles, religious statues, liquor, and cigarettes. The clean the graves then have a picnic at the gravesites if the weather permits - which it usually does.

It is believed that the souls of the departed are allowed to return to earth and participate in the festivities. Another common element in the Day of the Dead celebrations is the construction in their homes of an offrenda or alter dedicated to the memory of a departed loved one. The offrenda is decorated with flowers, usually yellow marigolds because they are native to Mexico and readily available, a photo of the deceased, favorite objects that belonged to the deceased, favorite foods and drink and candy shaped like skeletons. It also contains votive candles and statues of patron saints and usually a picture of Jesus.

Food is a major part of the celebration. The most famous food associated with it is Pan de Muerto, which is an anise-flavored bread shaped into round loaves decorated with bones or skulls and into loaves shaped like skulls. Mole is usually served as well. But each family will have it's own traditions based upon the favorite foods of the deceased.



Now that that's out of the way, let's talk buffet. You'll notice that I have three buffet tables set up for you. Table one has appetizers, soups and salads. Table two has entrees. Table three has desserts. There's a grill in the corner where you can order a steak and the bar is always open. If you can't find something here to suit you, then go home and cook your own.



Table 1:

Appetizers -

Chips with Pico de Gallo
Baked Nachos
Flautas (deep-fried rolled tacos)
Huevos Endiablados (deviled eggs)
Hongos Rellenos (stuffed mushrooms)
Guacamole (avocado dip)
Pepinos (cucumber wedges)
Albondigas en Salsa de Chile (meatballs in chili sauce)
Aguacate RElleno con Jaiba (stuffed avocado and crab)
Coctel de Camaron (shrimp cocktail)

Soups -

Sopa de Cervesa y Queso (beer and cheese soup)
Menudo (tripe stew)
Pozole (pork and hominy stew)
Sopa Xochitl (zucchini soup)
Sopa de Frijol (bean soup)

Salads -

Ensalada de Romanita (tossed Romaine salad)
Ensalada de Nopalitos (cactus salad)
Curados (hot pickled vegetables)
Ensalada de Naranja con Salsa de Nuez (orange salad with pecan dressing)
Ensalada de Coliflor (cauliflower and avocado salad)
Ejotes (green beans)


Table 2:

Entrees -

Huachinango al Horno (baked red snapper)
Paella (rice and seafood)
Camarones a la Veracruzana (shrimp Veracruz)
Bacalao al Mojo de Ajo (cod with garlic)
Mole Poblano (chicken in mole sauce)
Pollo a la Mexicana (Mexican chicken)
Asado a la Mexicana (Mexican pot roast)
Matambre (stuffed flank steak)
Cocido de Carne de Res con Tequila (beef and tequilla stew)
Albondigon de Carne (braised meat loaf)
ASsado de Puerco (roast loin of pork)
Tamales de Puerco (shredded pork tamales)
Puerco al Comino (pork and cumin)
Calabacitas al la Mexicana (Mexican succotash)
Souffle de Elote (corn souffle)
Tomates Rellenos (baked stuffed tomatoes)
Arroz a la Mexicana (Mexican rice)
Frijoles Refritos (refried beans)
Coliflor con Quso (cauliflower cheese bake)

Table 3:

Desserts -
Platanos Flambe (bananas flambe)
Fresas al Conac (sauteed strawberries)
Peras Rellenas (pears stuffed with dates)
Flan al Conac (cognac custard)
Capirotada (Mexican bread pudding)
Sopaipills (fried bread puffs)
Bunuelois (fried sweet puffs)
Cafe Diablo (flaming coffee)
Helado de Mango y Miel (mango and honey ice cream)
Torta de Almendra (almond torte)

That's it. Find a table, fill your plates and stay awhile. All recipes are available on request.

Wolfgang

Howdy folks. Welcome to my buffet. Hope you brought a hearty appetite.

Oh goody, goody...*rubs hands together*

This is an impressive buffet, Wolfgang!

*ties a around her neck, and one around Ripley's*

Mexican meatballs? I've got to try this!

What kind of salad would you like, Ripley?

Howdy little lady, little unau.

I have some fresh spinach in the kitchen for Ripley. And Mindspring if he wanders in.

I'm just putting the finishing touches on the buffet tables, then I'll be back to visit. In the meantime, make yourselves at home.

Houndstooth! Where has he gotten off to this time? He always disappears when there's work to be done. Last night he met this little tramp of a vampiress and has been mooning around ever since.

I love Mexican food!

*picks up a plate and helps herself to nachos and some guacamole dip*

You must have been cooking for hours, Wolfgang!

Mmmmm. Where should I start?

<-- takes a spot underneath the appetizer table, waiting for "accidents"

Nice to see you Caer, d'E. Zeppo, you're always welcome at the Diner. No need to hide under the table. You're more likely to get a hand out in the kitchen.

*enters the restaurant, followed by Mindspring, who veers off toward Ripley and the spinach salad*

*She is also followed by several family ghosts*

Wolfgang, this looks terrific!

I'll have some nachos and guacamole to start. Is there any Corona cerveza? Con lima?

Wolfgang, this is fantastic!

*helps herself to some chips and guacamole*

Hey, Lil, here's the beer!

*hands Lil a frosty corona with lime*

*hesitates*

*decides to try the Huevos Endiablados*

Whoa! What a spread. Wolfgang.

*Grabs a bowl and tucks into the pozole.*

Just the thing for a chilly afternoon.

*heads for the bar* Tecate with lime, barkeep.

*brings out baskets of tortilla chips and places them on the tables*

Hot from the fryer! Here let me get these empty ones out of your way.

Don't forget that the grill is open for all you Atkins followers.

amapola...my pretty little poppy

I've never tried zucchini soup before, is it like gazpacho soup?

Zucchini soup is nothing like gazpacho. You melt some butter in a saucepan, saute chopped onions until they're tender, add chicken broth, choppped zucchini, fresh or frozen corn, some green chilies and cook (bring to a boil and turn down) until the squash is tender - about 6 or 7 minutes. Add some half and half, salt and pepper and heat until hot. Then you sprinkle it with Monterey Jack and ladle into your soup bowls. Some folks grate nutmeg over it.

Well, yes please. *goes to the bar for another cerveza*

Wolfgang, is there any carne asada? I'd really like some, thanks.

I shall definitely try the zucchini soup, gazpacho is !

*helps herself to bowlful*

Since it's Sunday morning, I think I'd like a barbacoa taco and a carne guisada taco for breakfast. *searches the buffet and doesn't find either*

Ok, how about some huevos rancheros? *not on the buffet*

Wolfgang! You forgot breakfast.

*Wanders over to the grill and makes herself a small steak and some grilled onions, slices the steak thinly and rolls the combo up inside two soft flour tortillas. Adds pico de gallo and enjoys her breakfast tacos.*

Here Ripley, try the cactus salad... *hands Ripley a bowl*

*helps herself to some beef and tequila stew*

This looks interesting!

Cauliflower and avocado? That isn't a combination I've tried before, intriguing.

Wolfgang, I think you are going to have to do a whole entry with all the recipes!