– WOMEN IN A OAXACA MARKET –
“
NEL MEZZO DEL CAMMIN DI NOSTRA VITA MI RITROVAI IN UNA SELVA OSCURA CHÉ LA DIRITTA VIA ERA SMARRITA”
DANTE – INFERNO
SELVA
Selva is a jungle.
Selva is a wild plant (silvaticus).
Selva is an untamed animal (Con sì dolce parlar e con un riso da far innamorare un uom selvaggio).
Selva is a new Cocktail Bar in Oaxaca, where Sierra Madre Oriental clashes with Sierra Madre Occidental to create one of the richest ecosystems of the planet.
Land of Mole.
Land of Maíz.
Land of Mezcal.
In this article, Alexandra tells us the short story of this long project
F
or almost one year I worked with Los Danzantes group to create a Cocktail Bar that would combine an international ambition with a deep respect for Oaxaca biodiversity.
My job was to give Selva an identity and make sure that the style was consistent in every detail.
Among other things it meant designing the bar, create the beverage menu and train the team.
I worked with a team of incredibly talented artisans, artists (Raul Herrera) and architects (Claudia and Martina Turrent, more in the next article !).
– Alexandra enjoying shopping in the market –
I
did most of the research work by visiting markets in Oaxaca’s Valles Centrales (Tlacolula, Ocotlán, Mihauatlàn, Ejutla, Etla, …) and falling in love with endemic ingredients. Oaxaca is one of those rare places in the world where you can find at the same time ingredients from the mountains, the desert, the tropical forest and the ocean.
The bar
opened the first day of Spring 2019 with a full moon.
I wasn’t sure that the new – more experimental – cocktails would match the taste of local palates, but the menu is working very well with both local and international clients.
Among our most popular cocktails are Selva, Molegroni and Oaxaca Gimlet.
I
was also in charge of scouting the perfect glass for each cocktail looking for vintage glassware in Paris and Mexico City and working with local artisans to create handmade pieces of Barro Negro.
– Claro que sí –
– MARTÍNEZ –
– Acapulque Cocktail –
I left Oaxaca in July and I will be back soon to work on the new menu.
While I am away I am taking care of organising events and guest bartending in Selva and supervising the bartenders work. Since the opening we already organised 10 events with both local
@suculenta_oax @mezcalvago @paranubes @macario_vasquez @ginkatun @kalwklaw
and international guests
@roberto_artusio from @jerrythomasproject_rome and @lapuntaexpendiodeagave , @domcosta and @fralomba85
– Oaxaca Gimlet Cocktail –
If you are visiting Oaxaca
or if you want to organise an event with Selva or join the bar team contact
@idohaveasister
[email protected]
We are constantly looking for creative minds !
text & pictures
Claudio Vandi
@vandicla
cocktails
Alexandra Purcaru
@idohaveasister
from
Art Cocktail Club
@artcocktailclub
edition & illustrations
Vincent Moustache
@vincentmoustache
published on
Living For Breakfast
@livingforbreakfast
