Traditional Mexican Cuisine, a new recipe anthology compiled by Adriana Díaz de Montes, Martha Díaz de Kuri, María de Lourdes Díaz de Mikov and Marcela Díaz Gómez, includes more than 350 recipes contributed by 20 women from San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro and Mexico City.

Four restaurants - Hacienda de los Morales and La Valentina in Mexico City, Plaza de Toros Santa María in Querétaro and Bugambilia in San Miguel de Allende-also donated recipes for the cookbook.

Illustrated by Alejandro von Waberer O'Gorman, the book is written in both Spanish and English and includes recipes for snacks, beverages, soups, salads, main courses and desserts. The main course recipes range from those for traditional dishes such as fish in poblano sauce and pork loin in peanut sauce to rather exotic delicacies such as tequila shrimp and sweet chili in a mirror of roses. The dessert section includes sweet corn flan and rose and almond ice cream, among several other sweet treats.

Traditional Mexican Cuisine
Cookbook presentation, Wednesday, April 5, 5pm, Instituto Allende Theater, Ancha de San Antonio 22. Free

Overcoming the obstacles to buying real estate in Mexico

San Miguel de Allende seems to have a certain sway over some people. We've all heard the stories about visitors who come for a week's vacation, fall in love with the town and impulsively buy a house before they leave. Chances are you're nodding your head in agreement because you might be one of them.

It also seems that everyone who isn't buying or selling houses is either building, remodeling, designing or decorating them. There are times when it appears that the only major obstacle to buying a house in San Miguel is having enough money to keep pace with the rapidly escalating prices of this burgeoning real estate market.

There are, however, a few other less obvious obstacles that can confront potential home owners wanting to reside in this popular colonial mountain town. Hopefully, these real estate problems haven't happened to you or anyone you know, but they have actually occurred to a few prospective home buyers.


No deposit, no return

Consider the buyer who was interested in purchasing a house from a local owner who agreed to sell. Unfortunately, it turned out that the prospective seller owned only a portion of the family property, and the other family members decided they didn't want to sell. Not only did the eager buyer lose his opportunity to purchase the property, he also lost his deposit.

Another no deposit, no return story happened to two different home buyers who unknowingly placed a deposit on the very same house. As these stories illustrate, it doesn't take much to go from buying your dream house to ending up in the courthouse. 

Overcoming the Obstacles

In response to these and other home buying concerns, Andrea Soto Frumkin, the Title Division Director of Mexico Advisor, will conduct a free workshop on "Overcoming the Obstacles to Buying Real Estate in Mexico." This informative workshop will focus on a variety of important topics that relate to the facts and fictions, foibles and fallacies of buying real estate in San Miguel de Allende.

Ms. Soto explained that the workshop is designed to provide prospective home buyers with the knowledge and awareness they need to avoid the potential problems and pitfalls of buying property.

"Many buyers are confused about the complexities of Mexican real estate such as the difference between signing an escritura (deed) and a private contract." 

"Any number of seemingly minor problems or errors can delay or nullify a real estate sale, ranging from discrepancies between a government office description of the property, the property deed description and reality, to an invalid Power of Attorney and incomplete probate processes."

Attend this free workshop

This free workshop will take place at Correo 24 at 3pm on Tuesday, April 4. The event will be held in San Miguel's Historic Center in the offices of Mexico Advisor, a local consulting firm whose many professional services also include assisting people with real estate transactions.

Please call Mexico Advisor at 152-0586 to make reservations to attend this free, informative workshop.

Workshop Highlights: What to know when negotiating a sale

In order to avoid complex and difficult property issues you need to be aware of the financial responsibilities of the seller and the buyer, as well as any tax issues that may affect the sale. 

Fair and open negotiation techniques can help alleviate problems between buyers and sellers. 

Establishing realistic timelines for transactions and closings

Knowledge about the closing process helps you avoid unrealistic expectations about the time it takes to complete the sales transaction at the closing. 

You need to allow time to determine if the property has a clear title which can affect the sale. 

Avoiding real estate title problems

Make sure the legal description of the property is accurate and the legal representation or the Power of Attorney is valid.

You may have problems if there are discrepancies between the legal document and the property descriptions and/or registrations on file in government offices. 

Always research recorded or unrecorded leases, liens, limitations, litigation and probate processes that may complicate or nullify the sale.

Preventing financial obstacles that may delay or jeopardize your purchase. 

Avoid cash flow problems that can delay or jeopardize the property purchase, and always pay your deposits and retainers in a safe and secure way. 

Know what your financial responsibilities are in regard to fees and closing costs.

Workshop "Overcoming the Obstacles to Buying Real Estate in Mexico"
Tuesday, April 4, 3pm, Mexico Advisor, Correo 24, Free

Columbus: hero or villain?

Washington Irving published his three-volume biography of Christopher Columbus in 1828. 

The United States of America as a sovereign country really hadn't been in existence all that long. It was a young country in need of heroes, and some say that's when Columbus began to assume that role. Washington Irving, as the very first American writer to achieve international fame and fortune, was in a perfect position to provide that heroic figure for the US. The author had been given the name of the country's first hero, George Washington. What American as a school child had not heard the "cherry tree" story? Now, with his biography of Columbus, Washington Irving was to provide a new mythology, a new heroic figure that children could identify with, and this hero had discovered their country.

Columbus became famous for his perseverance. He was the man who would not give up on his dream, in spite of almost total rejection by the learned men of his day. The myth would expand to include the details that every child would know, like the names of the three little ships: the Pinta, the Niña and the Santa María, usually recalled in that order, for some reason. It wasn't until a few years before the celebration of the 500-year anniversary of Columbus's discovery that we began to hear that Columbus was no hero, but really a villain. He was held responsible by some for every European atrocity ever committed against the indigenous people of the Americas. Some parents notified their elementary school principals that they didn't want "Columbus" presented as a hero in the classroom. Was Columbus really all that bad?

Lecture on Christopher Columbus by Professor Guillermo Méndez
Wednesday, April 5, 3pm, Teatro Santa Ana Theater, Insurgentes 25
50 pesos