Relish a Radish? Come to Oaxaca

By Robert Waite

Oaxaca, Mexico – I have a confession to make. I tend to shy away from places whose names aren’t obvious to pronounce, much like someone might hesitate to order acai berries at a smoothie stand.

Oaxaca is one of those places. Hence, I have been to a dozen or more spots in Mexico but never ventured there. Until now.

I was lured by the city’s annual one-of-a-kind Noche de los Robanos (Radishes) festival, along with Oaxaca’s reputation as a stellar foodie destination and cultural center. Its reliably mild December weather was a bonus.

The language enablers were my Santa Monica-based daughter and her husband. Not only do they know how to pronounce Oaxaca – waa-haa-kuh – but some members of his family hail from there.

Oaxaca, with a population of about 700,000, is located in Mexico’s far south. At an elevation of 5,102 feet,… Continue reading →