Last Saturday for Carne Asada

The construction project in West Melaque has come down to the last week so we decided to have a carne asada party on te last Saturday. Only about two months work this year because of a mix up on Seguro and a troublesome Presta Nombre. Next year should be smoother and be able to work for a full 3 months. Workers can only work while the Canadians are here to oversee the work and to pay them and Seguro.

Harris and Audrey bought the meat and for the first time I had marinated pork asada (adobada). I bought all the veggies, avocados, carbon (charcoal) and a cubeta (bucket) of cerveza. After plenty of work and plenty of food, everyone was too tired to drink many of those small Coronitas (small Coronas). I came home with 5 of the 24.

So Thursday will be the last day of work and Harris and I will get lessons on how to paint the rebar with a cement wash. We were thinking to paint with the usual orange protection paint but the Maestro says the cement won't stick to paint. When they are ready to work again and go higher .... just tap the rebar and the cement will fall off. 

Chef for the day

Beef, pork and onions

Serve yourself

Cooked and to be cooked

The workers diet

The workers diet is generally not very good and they eat a lot of it. Chicharron is a favorite and is cooked up every morning in multiple places around Melaque in these large vats. Wednesday is beef day at this Jaluco butcher shop ... along with the usual pork. You usually have to get there before 10am or it will be gone ... or at least the best parts of meat. Chicharrón is mainly skin but also any tender part of the animal ... cooked until it is unrecognizable and crunchy. One kilo of tortillas and a large bottle of Coke makes breakfast.

Carnitas is another breakfast favorite and these stores/restaurants usually close by noon. Carnitas (little meats) is boiled pork that can be ordered as meat only or about 1/4 fat. Carnitas usually come with tortillas and salsa.

The exceptions to this heavy, greasy diet are when one of the workers wife makes something at home and she brings it over. They live just a block away and often there are nice surprises. Still the large bottle of Coke is required.