Cooking in the Yucatán

Transita Varguez Pacheco has been a live-in cook in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula for more than 50 years. Mauricio Velazquez de Leon describes cooking with her in his story Queen of the Yucatan »_

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan1-1500×1000.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco feeding scraps of lettuce to the turkeys that live in the yard of the 18th-century hacienda near Merida where she works.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan2-1500×1000.jpg — At the central market in Merida, Transita Varguez Pacheco selects tomatoes for lunch.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan3-1500×2250.jpg — Bags of Yucatecan seasoning pastes, called recados, for sale at the central market in Merida.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan4-1500×1000.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco in her employer's kitchen.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan5-1500×2250.jpg — Clockwise from bottom right: Transita Varguez Pacheco, her sister Ernestina, granddaughter Azul, friend Angelica, and employer Margarita "Wiggie" Andrews, peel and chop chayotes for a cold chayote soup.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan6-1500×2250.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco's granddaughter Azul grills chicken over a coal fire for pollo en escabeche oriental, a Yucatecan-style chicken and onion stew.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan7-1500×2250.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco (right) and her employer, Margarita "Wiggie" Andrews.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan8-1500×1000.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco deseeding a papaya for dessert.

Cooking in the Yucatán

Transita Varguez Pacheco has been a live-in cook in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula for more than 50 years. Mauricio Velazquez de Leon describes cooking with her in his story Queen of the Yucatan »_

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan1-1500×1000.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco feeding scraps of lettuce to the turkeys that live in the yard of the 18th-century hacienda near Merida where she works.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan2-1500×1000.jpg — At the central market in Merida, Transita Varguez Pacheco selects tomatoes for lunch.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan3-1500×2250.jpg — Bags of Yucatecan seasoning pastes, called recados, for sale at the central market in Merida.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan4-1500×1000.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco in her employer's kitchen.

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httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan5-1500×2250.jpg — Clockwise from bottom right: Transita Varguez Pacheco, her sister Ernestina, granddaughter Azul, friend Angelica, and employer Margarita "Wiggie" Andrews, peel and chop chayotes for a cold chayote soup.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan6-1500×2250.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco's granddaughter Azul grills chicken over a coal fire for pollo en escabeche oriental, a Yucatecan-style chicken and onion stew.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan7-1500×2250.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco (right) and her employer, Margarita "Wiggie" Andrews.

httpswww.saveur.comsitessaveur.comfilesimport2012images2012-077-SAV149-Yucatan8-1500×1000.jpg — Transita Varguez Pacheco deseeding a papaya for dessert.

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