Trekking the Birthplace of Food IV

The next morning, I’m driven to the small town of Coxcatlan by a new friend named Lily. She’s not exactly hard on the eyes. Our road traverses agricultural fields with multiple mountain ranges on both sides. The top ridges are stark and knobby. Heat and humidity increase until we reach the town turnoff at a fountain inscribed “Coxcatlan: Cradle of Maize.”

Getting permission to visit the cave of the oldest corn fossils means following the 5-step process required for most authorizations in Mexico: submit to authority, make new friends, wait and wait and wait. Confrontation and demands can get you results but more often get you screwed.

Trekking the Birthplace of Food

Just got back from a cave where the world's oldest corn fossils were found. I'm researching my next work entitled Chocolate, Vanilla, Tortillas & Salsa: Trekking the Birthplace of Food. This saga will transport readers around Mexico and over the story of American cuisine. Think Anthony Bourdain with an extra helping of fun and a side order of down-to-earth spirituality.

A university colleague of mine, who does animation for Marvel Comics, will provide sketches of all the foods referenced on the trip as well as graphic maps to orient the reader. Text box recipes may be included. The cuisine I'll be exploring in depth includes hallucinogenic mushrooms, grasshoppers, mezcal, and cactus.