To my korean friend and student Si Hyun Kwon, “Paco”

This story began in 2013 or late 2012, with the visit of a “paisano” to Seoul, South Korea, from México. Once there our paisano felt homesick from food and went out to look for “Real Mexican food”, and suddenly saw a GREAT SIGN  that read “Paco Loco Mexican Gourmet”; our friend (Johnny) went in and order his so loved Mexican food , when the plate arrived to him, he was disappointed with the food that got to his table, so he went to look for the restaurant owner  and told him “this IS NOT  Mexican Food; whom told you it was?”.

When the restaurant owner heard such complaint felt bad himself and also got depressed because he did not succeed on his Mexican food restaurant, and closed down his place, no without asking to his friend “Where can I learn to make Real Mexican Food”? , there is not a better answer – of course who’s not proud of his home country?- “Mexico is the best place to learn how to make real Mexican food”.

 So, Paco, (Si Hyun) soon packed his belongings and started his very own journey to a distant land overseas pursuing –at this point- a dream, the dream of learn not only the food but also the culture of a magic country, and this magic country was Mexico, and he direct himself to Guadalajara, Jalisco; Mexico.

He came to this country with a backpack filled with his very own “baggage” , his culture, language- he had to add besides, Korean language, English language and a few extra words of Spanish language- after all who can live in Mexico without saying “hola amigou”?, so he had to place in his backpack, more than that.

When he came to my country he also brought with him the enthusiasm for learning the culture that he was about to meet, once he got here, he started to look for a place where to learn “Mexican food” and looking here and there, somehow he found himself with DESYCAP GASTRONOMICA, that teaches everything about food, culture, gastronomy, techniques and cuisines around the world.

As a result, of all of that I met him in a famous café here in Guadalajara, the first thing that called my attention of him was that he looked “different” from many of the Asians I met back in USA; since I met so many Asians before I had the idea that this guy was more like the “other Asians” I met.

But not,  he is different, to begin with he is TALLER, eagerly, charming and hungry for learning Mexican food, we talked about his needs on food here in Guadalajara, made another appointment, with the promise will meet soon.

Next week after that meeting we started our journey on Mexican street food, on the way down in the learning, he got my attention, because, I never met someone who had this “hungry” for learning Mexican food – and I had had myself so many students in gastronomy- he was eager to taste, smell, see, feel, not only the food we made in our kitchen but also all the food he enjoy on his many trips in the metropolitan area here in Guadalajara, as well in other cities in Mexico.

He didn’t forbid himself from any food, he was here for something and he did it to the end;  he tasted and smelled anything that he got in his hands, so ‘Paco’  is a fast learner, he proved himself why he came here to Guadalajara, to learn EVERYTHING ABOUT MEXICAN STREET FOOD.

And he did succeed on it.   Congratulations Paco (Si Hyun)  you made it.

We’re thanked that you taught us so many things about your culture, your food and  traditions.

We are pleased that you chose Mexico as the country from wich you learn not only the food but also religion, culture, gastronomy and friendship, we hope our ways find ourselves together again.