The Perfect Complement to Great Food. Tips & Recipes by Rick Bayless. (Sponsored)

 

I was so excited when Negra Modelo asked me to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime walking food tour of San Francisco (led by none other than Rick Bayless), with stops including everything you can imagine from carnicerías to panaderías and tortillerías*.  The elation was immediately followed by the crushing realization that I had a previous commitment that would not allow me to physically make it.

I already knew I needed a clone, but this was just overwhelming evidence.

Luckily for me, our friends at Negra Modelo allowed me to report from the distance. Thanks to the magic of social media,  I  intently followed the mouthwatering play-by-play which included freshly made tortillas, the freshest carne asada meat in town, huaraches, pan dulce, and of course, Negra Modelo. ¡Ahhh!

As I “followed” the group into the panadería, which I learned was proudly operated by a third-generation baker, I understood the shop was out of my beloved conchas (for a moment I confess experiencing fleeting gratitude, as I could not bear much more pain). The group still lucked out, enjoying these instead:

Pan dulce is such a staple of Mexican meals. “Ir por el pan”  (to go get bread) is a daily, delicious activity so prevalent, that it has made it into colloquial expressions. For example, a famous pick up line is: “¿A qué hora vas por el pan?“. Literally meaning, “when do you usually go get bread?” the expression is usually used to say: “When will you be alone so that I can talk to you?”

When I was a little girl and even living in the city, men on bicycles with huge baskets on their heads, would home deliver pan dulce. I am not sure that this still takes place in big cities, but growing up, it was always a treat to hear panaderos ringing their bells, chanting ,”¡el pan!” (bread is here!) This is immediately what I though of when I saw the picture below. Priceless!

I vicariously enjoyed this very thoughtful event through the tweets and posts of my fellow foodies. Plus, although I  did not get to try the Twitter activated machine packed with samples,  I was able to bring this party favor to you-  Negra Modelo’s new website featuring tips and recipes by Chef Bayless, just in time for the holidays. Look no further!  www.NegraModeloUsa.com helps you bring to life anything from guacamole con chicharrón to mussels, all made or paired with Negra Modelo, the perfect complement to great food.

See? You can have your beer and drink it too!

¡Salud!

 

*butcher shops, bakeries and tortilla shops. 

Disclosure: La Vitamina T was invited by Negra Modelo to cover this event, and was compensated to post about it.