June 2021: Encontrar, Festejar, Mirar

This month's EFM is dedicated to our trip to Mexico City.

Encontrar (to find/discover)

With just the weekend in Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the world, we only scratched the surface of the vast culinary experiences the city has to offer.

By far, my favorite of the weekend was dinner at Mexican chef Eduardo García's farm-to-table restaurant, Máximo. It's menu changes daily depending on availability of local produce and the food is simple, bistro-style and delicious. Our table's favorite was a fried chicken dish that I have continued to think about over the course of the month. It's not easy rolling up to a nice dinner with two toddlers and a baby but the staff could not have been more inviting even whipping up a kid-friendly off menu pasta for them. The ambience was welcoming and understated with a half-open kitchen where you can see the cooks and Eduardo himself at work.

Our itinerary:

Friday: Late afternoon/evening arrivals. Casual dinner at El Califa.

Saturday: Brunch at San Ángel Inn (veranda recommended) followed by shopping at the

Bazar del Sábado. Dinner at Máximo.

Sunday: Breakfast at La Terraza Mexico City Restaurant at the Zócalo. An afternoon visit to

Frida Kahlo's house followed by dinner at Contramar.

Festejar (to celebrate)

Celebrating our first friends to visit us in country at our first post meeting us in Mexico City. Paris and I met through a mutual friend well over a decade ago and lived in New York City together. I don't think either of us ever thought our lives would so closely parallel each other today and I am so grateful for her and her family's support as we navigate this unique ex-pat life.

Mirar (to look at/watch)

An EFM as defined by the U.S. Department of State:

Eligible family member (EFM): An individual who meets all of the following criteria,

(1) Is the spouse or domestic partner of a sponsoring employee; or child of a sponsoring employee under 21 and unmarried, or (regardless of age) unmarried and incapable of self-support; or a parent (including step-parent or legally adoptive parent) or sibling who has been declared as 51% or more dependent on the sponsoring employee;

(2) Is listed on one of the following:

(a) The travel orders of a sponsoring employee who is assigned (not TDY) to a U.S. mission abroad under Chief of Mission authority, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan;

or

(b) An approved Form OF-126, Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report (or other agency equivalent), of a sponsoring employee who is assigned (not TDY) to a U.S. mission abroad under Chief of Mission authority, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan, and is residing at the sponsoring employee’s post of assignment.