Santa Clara del Cobre

Sopa Tarasca - soup of the Tarasca people - is a specialty of Michoacan, but we had no idea it was made with a special bean. I had Sopa Tarasca once, and I remember it well.

One day, we were visiting the smaller village of Santa Clara del Cobre, famous for its tradition of copper-working.

As we've mentioned, Michoacan is cool. Downright chilly, in fact. Santa Clara del Cobre was even colder than that. At 7,200 feet, the altitude put a true nip in the air - even at midday. It was beautiful though, and after a morning wandering through shops and museums, E had fallen asleep on my back and we were looking for lunch.

We chose a place right on the square, but it was your typical Mexican hole-in-the-wall. Not many tourists to the town, it seemed. Ordering a soup with a sleeping child in your lap isn't maybe the best idea, but she managed to eat it one-handed. The thick, warm liquid hit the spot, driving away some of the bone-chill. The fried chiles sprinkled on top helped with that too. The beans were satisfying, tasting almost nutty, and the fried tortillas gave it heft. All in all, a really satisfying meal.