Mezcaleria Corazon de Maguey

My best and very dear friend Nina is leaving me this Friday to go back to the freezing rain, unthinkable amounts of beer and loads of bratwurst in Munich, Germany.  While I will be crying and I will miss her terribly she knows very very well that once you go Mexica you don't just go back to the good old Europe and leave everything behind.  So my dear Nina, when you go back to your bicycle in the orderly Munich and you think about us here in sitting in the sunny "terraza" you read this review of one of your many many "despedidas", which by the way will leave me hangovered for the months to come.

It was a Monday night after a long weekend of saying good-byes and all I wanted to drink is a cup of camomile tea and feel nothing but the softness of my pillow and and feathers from a warm duvet.  "Martitaaaaaa", the voice screamed on the other line. "You have to come to La Mezcaleria!!! There is a birthday and we need to say good-bye to Nina", and a million other reasons that I have hard time to resist.  Needless to say there was no need puting a knife to my throat to convince me.  I mean.....La Mezcaleria...

Corazon de Maguey is located in the beautiful and colonial Coyoacan, Mexico City.  It is an outside patio overlooking the busy social square of Coyacan where many artisans gather during the weekends to sell their goods.  The entrance to the restauarant is openned and inviting with an outside patio. A few decorative points that are worth mentioning are the deep red walls and the wall of thick glass jars that many years ago were being used to trasport Mezcal from one village to another.  The red wall color is based on the red dye from the pre-Hispanic Mexico that comes from an insect called Cochineal. It became popular after the Spaniards discovered it from the Azetcs. The insect lives mostly on "nopales", cactus like plants and when crashed they release a strong red dye. Now the best part about it is that you can also find them in my good old Poland as well. I just knew that there were connections here :)

Another curiosity about Mayahuel is that the owners strive to look for the most artesan mezcal carefully picked from the Oaxacan farmers. The three poisonous beauties are: (i) Los Danzantes; (ii) Alipus; and (iii) Agave Mexicano.  I personally recommend the Alipus.  You can also choose from varous flavors such as: flowered, fruity or traditional. 

One piece of advice for the anthusiasts and tourists:  Don't shoot it....just sip it!!!

Believe it or not, this Mezcal is very potent bringing you over 47% of goodness.  The best way to test the quality of your Mezcal is to shake the bottle and if it forms a foam or in a mor poetic words, if you see a pearl, it means that you are up for some good time.  It is not for children and resposibility is adviced unless of course you would like to end up spending hundreds of dollars on "Plaza Garibaldi" singing alond with the Mariachis, submitting yourself to the electric shocks (while paying for it) and waking up the next day perhaps in another country because you felt andventerous.

Apart from Mezcal, Maguey offers all types of goodies such as grasshoppers or better known as "Chapulines" that are freshly picked for the fields of Oaxaca.  I personally recommend the guacamole with Chapulines, Tlayudas, and Molcajetes.  This will trasport your senses straights to the fields and markets of Oaxaca.  Do not be affraid to try Chapulines please!!!  Although they do look at you sometimes and come with their little heads and legs, they are already dead and cooked and spiced and DELICIOUS!!! You will not turn into a fly, I promise.  Tlayudas are basically oversized tacos and since I am addicted to tacos imagine..its a dream come true.....Cheers!!!

Address and Contact:

Plaza Jardín Centerario 9-A

Esquina con Carrillo Puerto

Col. Coyoacán Centro

Tel. 5554-7555/5659-2912
Fax. 5653-3165

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