Last night Bella Jane, Hamilton and I went to a family Christmas party. It was hosted by one of our local friends and included a large number of their relatives and as well as friends and associates. The extended Rios family lives up in the hills of Rio Grande here in Rincon, in Sector Rios. The clan enjoys living amongst all their family members with homes sprawling out around a central bowl area which has over the years developed into this comfortable gathering space. The menu consisted of fried cerdo (pork)... butchered on site the day before along with name, rice and gandules, tostones, and plenty of beer and some local moonshine called ron cana (cane rum). It was smooth as a fine brandy with just a hint of anise. If I hadn't tasted it, I wouldn't have believed moonshine could taste so good.
The cerdo... is cooked over an open fire, one uses a bit of oil to start it off and then over time the fat in the pig is rendered and the cerdo cooks in its own fat. It sounds like a cardiologist's nightmare but the flavor is sublime. Bella, who usually does not go for "the other white meat" enjoyed it heartily.
Our hostess, Sra. Rios, sat with us for a bit before the Karaoke was to begin. It is always something of an experience for us to converse with our weak Spanish but where there is good will and a happy spirit... it always seems to work out.
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