Christchurch, New Zealand

While visiting New Zealand our ship had to stop in Akaroa, because of a huge earthquake in Christchurch in 2011. It had damaged the city enormously.  We were in Akaroa every other week, and Christchurch being only 1 hour away I had talked about taking the day trip. I was hesitant because I hadn't heard the best things after the earthquake. The day before we finally decided to take the trip, there was a 5.8 earthquake followed by 9 aftershocks all throughout the afternoon. 
 The morning came when I was suppose to get on the bus and I didn't want to go at all. Everyone insisted it was fine and to go and check things out.  
Me and a few friends took the trip and it was a fabulous day! 
We got dropped off in the heart of downtown, which I can say had been totally devastated.  All the old buildings were crumbled and it was totally a ghost town. Very depressing.  


They had built this fantastic mall out of shipping containers. Around the mall it was very lively. People were playing music on every corner which created a unique vibe to the city.  I felt so awful for the people who day by day are anxiously waiting for the next hit.
Why would they leave though, where would they go? That was their home and most of them will stay and await the next earthquake.

Magnificent mall!

I loved these guys made the whole place feel so alive.

This girl auditioning for Juilliard was amazing, and then there was this fellow beat boxing around with he blaster!

Giselle and Sarah having a coffee time out.

185 people died on February 22.

 Pirate newspaper hat art train

The gardens still un touched.

You could lay here and imagine nothing had happened to Christchurch, a place you can feel away from the all the deconstruction.

Mexican Sopes

Mexican Sopes. Sopes de Pollo con Frijoles.

I am a prisoner to Mexican food.  I love it like my own.  Like I was born Mexican and snuck across two boarders in a dream. I have fell in love with Mexico numerous of times and grew a very strong weakness to their culture, mostly to the food! I cook a lot of Mexican mostly just ordinary Tacos.  But I ever so often experiment with other mexican bundles of joy, today being Sopes.  

Sopes are very easy to put together, which makes it not so intimidating to try. They are just a thicker tortilla usually deep fried or baked if you want to try to eat "healthier" Mexican.

To make the dough get Masa flour and add water to the right consistency,  I advise little water at a time so you don't add too much and have to keep adding more Masa.  Take you tortilla press if you are as lucky as me and have friends in Mexico so kindly send you up one through the mail( heaviest parcel ever) 

and press it to about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Pinch the sides so it has small ridge around the tortilla so the sauce can make a nice salsa pool :) With oil in a pan you can fry them until golden.

jd

I love this book, Diana Kennedy is a English gone Mexican chef legend.  I followed most of her Sopes recipe.

This is a nice trick of the trade, my friend from Oaxaca taught me this nice and easy move.  Take a knife poke a hole in the bottom of the can letting out some of the pressure, then as you open the lid at the other end you tip it upside down and give it one slap and the beans will come out all in one cylinder! wow! 

I cooked the beans with a little jalepeño with the seeds since I like it spicy! and a little white onion for more flavour.

Take the thick masa cake and add the beans, throw some shredded chicken on top. I added some homemade left over Salsa Verde I had made a few days ago but you can use any salsa or hot sauce you wish.  Add crema, a touch of feta, cilantro, onion and some jalepeño for some garnish and flavour on top :)