La Fonda - OAXACA DE JUÁREZ

I had read about this place before our trip. after some hardships to find this, we really enjoyed it. that was a place and we saw no other tourist here. we had memalas, champurrado and pan de yma and enfrijoladas. all delicious...with really great praises.

Three of us had breakfast in la fonda on the market. verbal menu (command of the language or translator helps); fresh juices were large and portions were hearty. beautiful large tables for a group.

We were nervous about looking for market restaurants in mexiko, but a few online sources recommended fonda florecita, one of them restaurateur/cookbook autor rick bayless' website. we really enjoyed it. fonda florecita is located in the mercado de la merced, also called mercado democracia. on the corner of the calle murguia calzada de la republica, about 15 minutes to walk from the zocalo. it is probably best used as a place for break or lunch. the challenge for us was to find out how to order as we were not familiar with oaxacan food. a large selection of dressed come from the small open kitchen. there are waiter service, they are friendly trying to be helpful, but these people work hard. they could probably just check what other people order to the community tables. we finished the order delicious memelitas open face grilled small tortillas with flare de calabaza squash blossoms quesillo fresh cheese and epazote crumbled. I think they clean them with aciento pork fat the tasty can not be good for them, I have heard that someone ordered his sin aciento, but he probably contributes to the wonderful smokey taste of this dish. we also had large glasses of fresh, pressed orange juice and some oaxacan hot chocolate. I can't remember what we paid, but remember that it was a pestanz.

We had been nervous about trying market restaurants in Mexico but a couple of online sources recommended Fonda Florecita, one of them restaurateur/cookbook author Rick Bayless' website. We really enjoyed it. Fonda Florecita is located inside the Mercado de la Merced, also called Mercado Democracia at the corner of Calle Murguia & Calzada de la Republica, about a 15 min walk from the zocalo. Its probably best used as a place for breakast or lunch. The challenge for us was figuring out how & what to order,since we weren't familiar with Oaxacan food. A huge variety of dishes come out of the small open kitchen. There is waiter service, they are friendly & try to be helpful, but these folks are working hard. You could probably just check out what other folks at the communal tables are ordering. We ended up ordering delicious memelitas(open face grilled small tortillas) with flor de calabaza ( squash blossoms) quesillo (fresh cheese) and epazote herb. I think they brush them with aciento (pork fat ) The lard can't be good for you, & I did hear someone order theirs "sin aciento" but it probably contributes to the wonderful smoky flavour of this dish. We also had large glasses of fresh squeezed orange juice and some Oaxacan hot chocolate. Can't remember what we paid, but remember thinking it was a pittance.

Three of us had breakfast at La Fonda in the market. Verbal menu (command of the language or translator helps); fresh juices were large and portions were hearty. Nice large tables to accommodate a group.