Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

By Smashley on Nov 2 Filed In Activities, Austin, Texas, Food & Beverage, arts & crafts Add a Comment

Today is El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), a Mexican celebration to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of papel picado, flowers, sugar skulls, and parades.

It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave on November 2. In order to celebrate, the families make altars and place ofrendas (offerings) of food such as pan de muertos baked in shapes of skulls and figures, candles, incense, yellow marigolds and a photo of the departed soul is placed on the altar. This Mexican tradition might seem a bit strange to Americans, as we are used to just dressing up for Halloween and trick-or-treating, but many cultures around the world celebrate and honor the dead in a similar way. This respectable holiday is quite beautiful not just in thought but in decoration.

This year, in the cultural melting pot of Austin, Texas, we celebrated both. Party-goers dressed in their Halloween costumes enjoyed a pinata (see photos below), homemade pozole (a delicious Mexican soup), pan de muertos, devotional candles, handmade altars, and plenty of Sweet Leaf Tea.

Today’s the day- November 2- when no matter where you are, you’re sure to come across some part of the festivities. Keep your eyes peeled for parades, sugar skulls, and pan de muertos. They’re out there!

Put a Fork in me, I’m Done! [TX Monthly BBQ Fest Recap]

By Danny on Nov 1 Filed In Austin, Texas, Events, Food & Beverage, Sweet Contests Add a Comment

Man! Sunday was a great day! BBQ, beer, Sweet Leaf Tea, and good music! How could it get any better?

It was a ton o’ fun! I grubbed till I couldn’t grub any more! We sampled Snow’s BBQ for the first time [DELISH] and met Tootsie [pitmaster] herself! She is the sweetest lady and a total hoot. She knows how to cook a MEAN piece of beef. Franklin’s BBQ was amazing per usual, we even got to snap a photo with him! [2011 BEST BRISKET winner]. Smitty’s, Opies, Lamberttttttttttgituuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..

Sorry, passed out on my keyboard, every thing I tried was GRADE A. I’m still recovering from the mounds of BBQ I ate. Anyways, the whole Tea’m was out, we ate a ton of fantastic food, and had a great time doing it in true SLT fashion!

We were also, handing out the SWEET LEAF TEA Awards at the festival for serval different categories. Check out the photos and winner for this weekends festivities below!

- @SweetLeafDanny