Coffee, Arts, and Crafts

Huichol art, Mexican crafts, and great coffee. Where am I? I am in Cafe Arabica, my newest coffee haunt in Ensenada, Mexico. I was introduced to this place soon after it opened earlier this year by a good friend and it has quickly become my northern Mexico office. First, the Huichol art. Known primarily for their beaded representations of jaguars, deer, and iguanas, the Huichols, one of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, are also famous for their colorful string art. All of the designs in the picture above are made from continuous strands of string or yarn dyed to whatever color the artist needs. Most of the art from this group, hailing from the central Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit, takes years of practice to perfect. The work is incredibly laborious, yet the results, as you can see, are spectacular. The current display of Huichol art is being shown alongside classic rustic Mexican tables you would expect to see in the Guadalajara region of the country. Rough sawn wood, exposed hinges, black iron handles all combine to give this furniture a unique strong Mexican look. The weight, depth, and roughness are the perfect complement to the detail and delicateness of the Huichol string and bead art. Then there is the coffee. The owner and I spent a nice morning the other day talking. He shared how he used to have two or three shops along the main tourist boulevard and with the economic slow down, was unable to continue. So he decided to open a place for us locals. And serve great coffee. He seeks out some of the best coffee grown in Mexico, primarily from places like Oaxaca and Veracruz, and is committed to giving his clientele a great cup of java, in a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere. And comfortable it is. With two interior rooms and an outdoor patio set inside one of the oldest buildings in Ensenada, you can easily forget where you are and imagine sitting in a cafe in one of the more colonial cities of Mexico like San Miguel Allende or Guanajuato. Combine this with a professional staff that knows how to serve and make you feel welcome and this place is unlike any other in Ensenada. So the next time you are in Ensenada, stop by Cafe Arabica, it is on the corner of Blancarte and Calle Segunda. You’ll be glad you did. And if I am in town., the coffee’s on me!