Olé Mole

The second annual Festival of Mexican Gastronomy and Wine u /as a triumph of matter over mind, Despite rising debt, falling oil pr ices, and recent earthquake, Mex ico's ministry of turismo looked on the b right side and celebrated "the Mex ican Cheese" and "the Mexican Wine.' 'By day there were serious seminars oi l the chili pepper, and by night serious samplings of sparkling wine. But the 1 festival's crowning glory was an alfi esco luncheon at the colorful Restaurant* ; Arroyo, featuring blue tortillas, goat n neat, spiced lamb stomach, and various Dther organs floating in mole (chocolate) and chili sauces. Vampiros—a lethal mixture of chili powder, sangrita, an i tequila—flowed like the Rio Grande, The cabaret, starring a cute black calf with pubescent horn buds. Hemingway might have scoffed at this toy-store Pamplona, but he'd surely have dragged Malcolm Lowry out from under his volcano to down a few Coronas and fiesta hearty.

Mira Stout