There’s a forest in Guadalajara where the mud tastes like white chocolate and matcha.
Red-capped meringue mushrooms shade the miniature woodland like beach umbrellas.
They taste like pine.
From left: Salsas at Birriería Las 9 Esquinas restaurant; leather pouches at the flagship boutique of designer David Luna.Credit: Alexandra Farias
The scoop of ice cream alongside them, like eucalyptus.
It’s ivory, speckled, and egg-shaped, like something about to hatch.
Despite all those distinctions, Guadalajara hasn’t gotten its star turn with American visitors yet.
From left: A seating area inside La Postrería café; the whimsical “El Bosque” dessert at La Postrería.Alexandra Farias
“Can you believe you would have missed this?”
I had to admit I could not believe it.
But back to Salas, who shared his story over 1910’s deceptively meaty hibiscus tacos.
The bandstand at Plaza de Armas.Alexandra Farias
He’s Costa Rican, but married aTapatio(a Guadalajara native) and followed her here.
The man spoke in rapt metaphors: “Guadalajara is a pearl.
Tlaquepaque is a fantasy.”
The lobby at Casa Habita.Alexandra Farias
I found the latter statement to be especially true.
Many people making interesting things happen in Guadalajara are locals who lived abroad and then came back.
“Just go straight to the sweet place.”
From left: A mezcal Paloma at Casa Habita; “El Hombre Gallo” sculpture by Sergio Bustamente, in front of his gallery in Tlaquepaque.Alexandra Farias
Covarrubias and Escalera started their venture in 2013, when they were just 24 and 26, respectively.
They considered opening in Spain, but the pull to give something back to the city was greater.
“But if no one comes back, then nothing changes.”
Birrieria Las 9 Esquinas.Alexandra Farias
One of the colorful streets in Tlaquepaque, a suburb of Guadalajara.Alexandra Farias
The mil hojas pastry at Alcalde, a restaurant in Guadalajara’s Vallarta Norte neighborhood.Alexandra Farias
