ESCAPING WINTER IN MEXICO

Adrian riding a sunset wave at Punta del Burro

While living in Paris, we dream of Mexico. So we head down to Mexico during the cold winter months to swim in the warm waters, make art, music, and many amazing meals with friends. We stay at the most magical beach house ever called Casa Rincon , located on the surf break of Punta del Burro. This neighborhood is south of Punta Mita on the pacific coast in the state of Nayarit. The house has a recording studio called Glass Cube Studios ( bands that hang at the studio include Whitest Boy Alive, Kings of Convenience and Broken Social Scene) and we often spend evening hours in the recording studio to let the peaceful tropical environment translate into music.  During one of our annual creative retreats here, I shot a photograph that became the album cover of The King of Convenience's latest record. Magic happens here.

Casa Rinconcito, one of the four houses that make up Casa Rincon

We learned how to make a many dishes along with chili salt and salsas like homemade Tejin  and Roasted Tomato Salsa. You make Tejin by roasting 3 to 5 chilis de arbol, add sea salt, and then crush them all together in a traditional Mexican mortar and pestle called a Molcajete (or whatever mortar & pestle you have around). Incredible! To make our daily salsa, we roasted one chili and put it in the Molcajete with sea salt and one roasted tomato. The best.

In nearby old town, Puerto Vallarta, there are a few shops that feature traditional textiles and clothing that made us swoon big time. The rich colors and detail embroidery are works of art in itself. In addition to the bright colors of the fabrics, there are so many colorful, unusual plants and fruits to be discovered in this region of the world. One such new-to-us fruit is called Mamey, a fruit that looks like a small football from the outside, and a bright red/orange dense melon on the inside. So much to explore in the world.