Oh my goodness!
The Puebla Collection is live and I’m so excited!
I launched it on May 5th in honor of the battle against the French that was won in Puebla. The date is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. After the Mexican-American War and the Reform War, Mexico was in quite a bit of debt. The president at the time asked for the debt repayment to be suspended for two years. Britain & Spain negotiated with Mexico. France did not, but rather sent an army to Veracruz to make their way to Mexico City. However, though the odds were not in Mexico’s favor, (with an army of 4,000 to the French army of 8,000) the Mexican Army met the French Army with strong resistance in Puebla. The French Army was defeated before reaching Mexico City. Puebla has a lot of amazing history and that’s why I wanted to visit and now share with you.
I first visited Puebla with my father in late 2018. I knew I wanted to return, so in early 2019 I invited my friend Jasmine from Authentic Adventure Co to come with me. This is a little bit about our 5 day trip.
Flight & Travel & Hotel
Jasmine and I decided to take a midnight flight into Mexico City so that we can make the most out of our time. There aren’t direct flights to Puebla, so flying into Mexico City was the best choice. For this trip we flew Aeromexico which is always my first choice when looking at flights. The 4 hour flight wasn’t too bad and we were able to nap a little bit. Once we got to CDMX (Mexico City) I bought a ticket to take a bus to Puebla. It’s typically a 2-3 hour drive depending on traffic. The buses we traveled on were so comfortable we were both able to nap on the ride.
Once in Puebla, we just took a taxi to the hotel. We stayed at the NH hotel, which was really nice. It was in the heart of the city which was ideal for me to be able to get out early to take pictures. I usually woke up for sunrise, and took pictures for an hour or so, and came back to the gym to work out before we set off for the day.
Workshops: Making salsas & pan mexicano
When we arrived at the hotel, we had about an hour before we had to head out to our first activity; a salsa making workshop. It was led by two very nice ladies who were very knowledgable, and took the time to explain how to make each one, and the reasons behind the ingredients we used. It was enlightening, to cook by seeing, and smelling, and tasting, rather than just following a recipe. We created 5 salsas total, and got to take them with us. (Which was a lot for us to eat in the 5 days we had there) We enjoyed a meal together to end our time.
Learning how to make typical Mexican foods is really important to me. Cooking at home wasn’t a big part of my childhood, so I don’t have many traditional meals to pass down to my kids. So, I’ve set out to learn how to make my favorite things, including pan mexicano.
The third day in Mexico we took our second workshop; a pan mexicano making workshop. Rebeca was so very nice to us as she invited us into her home to bake. She explained everything we did, and how ingredients react with each other. We even learned how the pressures of kneading, and rolling have an impact on the finished product. It was so fun. We ended up making conchas and cubiletes. Two traditional mexican breads in Mexico. I had never had a cubilete, but it was amazing.
With both workshops, we were given the recipes so that we can replicate them at home. I’ve been making salsa regularly, and will definitely try to make the pan mexicano soon too.
Trip to Cholula
Cholula is a nearby town in the state of Puebla. It’s a must-visit, especially on a Sunday. There is a very famous church on the top of a pyramid that you can walk up to. (Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Remedios) Once up there you have a view of some volcanos and most of Puebla. It’s beautiful. You’re also able to go inside the pyramid which is pretty amazing if you’ve never been inside one. Once outside the pyramid, you can look at the excavation process that’s happening outside the pyramid. There’s also a market area with vendors selling souvenirs, food, and drinks. There’s usually entertainment going on too, especially if you go on a Sunday. It’s a really nice town to spend the day enjoying.
Food Tour in Puebla
Puebla is rich with history. Part of that history is the food. I met a food expert, Rocio who has been studying and writing about the food in Puebla for a long time. She has a magazine and a podcast with a ton of historical and culinary information. When I visited Puebla last year with my father, she gave us an amazing food tour, taking us to places to eat all over the city. My time with her is honestly the only way I was able to make my way around Puebla this time. I was able to remember restaurants, and the places we visited.
We spent 4 hours with her listening to her tell us about Puebla’s history, and the different kinds of food that are native to Puebla. I left the tour feeling so full. (We ate a LOT.) It was great. This Jasmine was able to meet her too! Rocio has such a passion for what she does that she couldn’t help but tell us more about Puebla’s history. She took us to one of the oldest Panaderias in Puebla. We were able to peek inside and talk to them about their processes. It was fascinating and we of course got some bread to have with our coffee.
History & Closing & Collection
I admit that before I visited Puebla, I didn’t really know what to expect. Until two years ago I hadn’t really traveled to many cities in Mexico. I thought it was going to be a small town that would be fun to visit for a day. However, after the first day I fell in love with this city. The history alone has given me more clarity on my own cultural background. Being able to learn and discover alongside my father when we came in 2018 was equally amazing. And coming back with my friend who had never been to Mexico, and desired to learn more about her culture was an amazing experience for me to be a part of.
As I release a new collection from Puebla, I hope it leads to even more curiosity for exploring this amazing place. I am planning the first Mexico trip where I extend an invite to other’s who have the desire to learn more about Mexican history and have hands on experience learning Mexican traditions. If you’d like to stay in the loop for when the workshop is announced later this year, sign up here.
I’m so excited an honored to have been to Puebla, and am excited to share the experiences with even more people.
