The Rabbit on the Moon

After Alejandro and I toured the palaces near the archaeological site of Teotihuacan, it was time for our afternoon dinner.  I had been reading reviews of restaurants near the ruins because I wanted to good place to take my friends when we go to Teotihuacan in October.  The majority of the restaurants (and there are a bunch of them) are tourist traps where bus loads of tour groups stop to eat.

I found one that seemed a bit different than the others and which received good reviews.  It is a combination mezcal factory and traditional Mexican restaurant.

Its name is "El Conejo en la Luna" (The Rabbit on the Moon).  Did you know that when you look at the full moon in Mexico, you don't see "the man in the moon"?  The moon's position from here is shifted, and you see the "rabbit in the moon." 

The restaurant is located along the ring road that circles the archaeological site.  It's not a fancy place.  There were other customers there, but, even though it was a weekend afternoon, it was not crowded.  I was the only "gringo" there.  There were no busloads of tourists.

From where we sat, we could see the Pyramid of the Sun and the tiny figures of people climbing it.

We both began with their signature soup... a tomato broth with a "quesadilla" floating in it.  A bowl of garnishes was served with it...  avocado, pork rinds, and dried "chiles".  

As a main course, Alejandro had a roll of chicken breast stuffed with "huitlacoches".  "Huitlacoches" are a fungus that grows on ears of corn.  Back home farmers call it corn smut and consider it a blight.  But in Mexico it is a delicacy.  If you like mushrooms, you will probably like "huitlacoches" if you can just get past its name in English.

I ordered 'tamales" stuffed with Swiss chard.

Our dinners were good, but the portions are very generous.  We were both unable to finish our meal, which is something unusual with us.  

As you can see, we were both wearing jackets that day.  The weather was overcast and chilly, although we did not have any rain until we were on our way back to Mexico City.

We will probably take my friends Nancy and Fred here when they come to visit.  The menu includes some Mexican delicacies that are only for the adventurous, such as "chapulines" (roasted grasshoppers) and "escamoles" (ant eggs).  I am semi-adventurous, but I draw the line at insects!  I am sure that Nancy and Fred will find some dishes on the menu that are to their tastes.