I come from the land of "super-sizing". I know it's a generalization, but I think it's fair to say as Americans we tend super-size everything, our fries, our cars, our homes and our stores. We love the convenience of one-stop shopping like Super Wal-Mart, Super Target, etc. I am not bashing it; I enjoy it very much (as would attest my credit card companies).
But, living here we have experienced a different kind-of shopping that is also nice. Our town has several larger grocery stores and as of yet they have not run out of business the many smaller stores. Some of these "stores" are simply a table on the sidewalk in front of a home with fruits and veggies on it. Others are larger and not apart of the owner's home. Today's "Best of Small Town Mexico" is the chicken store that we go to. It is a short walk from our house and Juan Carlos and I often go there in the morning to buy chicken.
In a town where there's not much to do, going to the chicken store, or the meat or fruit store gives us an activity. It's nice for the kids because it's a lot more personal experience than going to a larger store; the storeowners always remember them. And, being a regular in a few of these places has helped in obtaining normal prices instead of the "special" Gringo rates.
Anyway, the chicken store is clean, the workers are friendly and the chicken is tasty. They will give you are chicken any way you want it. Whole, parts, skin on, skin off, bone-in, bone-out, whatever! I like to prepare a whole chicken every now and again and I love this store because they will take out the nasty inside parts for me so I never have to touch them. They always ask me if I want to keep the feet, which are commonly eaten here. I always decline.
Here's a picture of the owner, the man on the right, and two guys that work there. Notice all of the tools on the wall. If you ask for a demonstration, they are always happy to oblige.
Check out these scissors!
And now for the grand finale, Julio and Juan Carlos's favorite part (it is NOT my favorite part) of each visit, a peek into the freezer full of chickens:
6 comments:
You forgot to mention how fast those guys can take a whole chicken and turn it into eight pieces. We are talking about fast! Like 20 seconds! I was amazed the first (and only) time I saw that guy holding the scissors in action.
This was my favorite store in Carmen. I loved the chicken men and the way they worked them chickens over. I've never seen so many chickens in a cooler. Wow, cool! Juan Carlos & I have something in common here.
a great Italian philosopher once said... "chickens one day, feathers the next."
Life is like a box of gizzards.
I'd love a store like that. Right now I'm stuck eating the freezer burned stuff, 'cause I buy in bulk and it's cheaper that any of the really nice stuff. I am way jealous.
I love it when you buy boneless chicken breast and they pound it with a mallet. Once cooked, the meat is soooo tender. I, too, am fascinated by the "chicken show" but my kids absolutely are unimpressed. Oh well...
Now THAT's a great little chicken store! It sounds like an outing to me.
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