The alternative news outlet Vice brought me to the municipality of Actopan in Hidalgo How else would I know that a small city two hours north of the capital was home to the best tacos de barbacoa in the world a Vice web series that was my crash course in Mexican street food Part of the allure of these tacos — and barbacoa I try not to argue with my chilango friends when they wax poetic about al pastor but those are just not as special to me; you can get them pretty much anywhere There’s more magic in the limited edition stuff you don’t know when you’ll get another chance You can imagine my delight when for the first time a few years ago I happened on a roadside stand somewhere near Teotihuacán that was selling barbacoa tacos a Metro ride to the Terminal Norte transport hub All for a festival in Mexico’s barbacoa mecca I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going to these lengths — particularly if you’re not as barbacoa-obsessed as I am — but if you happen to find yourself in Mexico City in early July and in search of an enticing half-day excursion La Feria de Barbacoa y Ximbó in Actopan is an excellent bet You’ll see tents and small crowds on their way there but it’s hardly a throng or anything remotely overwhelming and the city’s population barely surpasses 30,000 The streets in the town center are exceedingly walkable you won’t need to leave that area unless you’re checking out one of the sponsored concerts at the nearby municipal sports center a quick taxi ride or 30-minute walk really makes that a nonissue When it comes to trying the festival’s foods the obvious starting point is the taco de barbacoa Apart from its flavor — unctuous slow-cooked meat with just the right amount of fat; acidic salsa of onion and lime; and supple corn tortillas — it never leaves you feeling shortchanged There’s weight to each serving — the tortilla on which it’s presented is always reinforced by another the straightforward order being res for beef or borrego for lamb you can mix and match different parts depending on how lean or fatty you want your taco If you’re feeling adventurous or have a diet that demands alternative protein Located on the fringe of the Mezquital Valley Actopan actively preserves the region’s culinary heritage through the use of a number of edible insects that are considered delicacies in the region chapulines (grasshoppers) and chacas (beetles) though you’re bound to come across a few more variants A traditional milk-colored alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the agave plant its alcohol content can give it a bit of a stronger flavor though you’ll often see it served curado — with fruit or nut additives that lower the alcohol content and soften the blow Those looking to avoid alcohol completely might consider trying one of the many juices on offer that highlight the region’s produce Two that caught my eye were tuna roja (red cactus pear) and xoconostle friendly local vendors are more than happy to let you sample and mix flavors until you find a concoction that suits you stretch your legs and mosey around for a bit A leisurely walk around town serves as a great way to burn off a few calories while taking in sites like the former convent of San Nicolas and the 8 de Julio open-air market the tented areas are lined with artisanal goods There’s also a handful of vendors selling books as well as enough dessert kiosks to satisfy just about any sweet tooth Actopan’s municipal government does a nice job of spotlighting local musical talent in a variety of choral and orchestral concerts spread out over the course of the festival They take place in the main plaza as well as at the nearby Unidad Deportiva (the aforementioned municipal sports center) giving you more than enough ways to stay entertained if you happen to find yourself in town on the festival’s final day check out the judging of the food you’ve traveled all this way for a panel of experts rate the region’s most acclaimed purveyors of barbacoa conferring upon the winner first-place bragging rights and a lucrative cash prize you’ll be able to cut the tension with a knife though one would hope that overnight slow-cooking renders that unnecessary La Feria de La Barbacoa is sure to send you home satisfied much like the hearty taco de barbacoa itself Ethan Jacobs is a freelance writer and writing coach based in Mérida He has written extensively in narrative and short fiction formats and his work has received recognition both domestically and internationally in microfiction ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A journalist shot in his own home despite being offered official protection reflects Mexico’s struggle with rising violence An investigation has been launched into the death of a reporter in the Mexican state of Veracruz after he became the third journalist to be murdered in a week. As the country grapples with a record murder rate, Mexican officials in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz where Jorge Ruiz Vazquez worked for the Grafico de Xalapa newspaper in Veracruz’s capital, said the investigation would examine why procedures to protect him failed. “The prosecutor will investigate why protection measures granted to the victim and his family, which were active, were not enforced,” the state’s prosecutor said. Ruiz was shot dead just days before he was scheduled to testify before state authorities about previous death threats made against him. He alleged that Actopan Mayor Paulino Domínguez Sánchez was behind the threats. Read moreA reporter in Guerrero state who also served as a municipal official was shot and killed on Friday a reporter who covered the police in the same state was found dead in the trunk of a vehicle with signs he had been shot and tortured Ruiz’s death brings the murder toll of Mexican journalists this year to 10 according to the Commission to Protect Journalists (CEAPP) Murders in Mexico jumped in the first half of the year to the highest on record The spiralling violence underscores the challenges President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has faced since taking office in December with a vow to reduce violence in the country ravaged by notorious drug cartels Ruiz had reported death threats in October and November of 2018 in an interview with Veracruz news outlet XEU Noticias She added that Ruiz had been shot and killed at his home in Actopan said on Friday evening that efforts had already begun to find the people responsible for Ruiz’s death “We condemn the cowardly murder of a reporter from a local outlet Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report The niece of an Irish priest who has died following a tragic accident in Mexico has paid tribute to her late uncle who was originally from Ringsend in Dublin died on April 12 last week after falling from a ladder while carrying out repairs on a roof at his home in Actopan in the state of Hidalgo Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content A location scout for the Netflix series Narcos was shot and killed while searching for locations for series four of the drama series about drugs cartel violence Carlos Munoz Portal, 37, was killed on Monday in a rural area in Mexico, outside of Mexico City, a friend of the location manager told Spanish daily El Pais. His bullet-ridden body was found in a car on an unnamed dirt road in the community of San Bartolo Actopan The site bordering the state of Hidalgo has the highest murder rate in the country. In July, 182 people were murdered, a rate of 12.2 per 100,000 inhabitants Narcos is about the rise and fall of Colombian drugs baron Pablo Escobar with filming the fourth series reportedly to move from Colombia to Mexico as the series shifts focus to the Juarez cartel Munoz's murder raises doubts on whether the production will continue in Mexico or move back to Colombia where it began, Variety reported, with hundreds of Mexican jobs ties to the production at stake Munoz's friend told El Pais that locals may have become suspicious after seeing him with a camera collecting information According to local reports authorities have been unable to establish the chain of events that led to his death given the dearth of witnesses Munoz had worked on films such as Man on Fire Mel Gibson's Apocalypto and the fourth film of the Fast and Furious franchise "We are aware of the death of Carlos Muñoz Portal and offer our condolences to his relatives The facts are still unknown as authorities continue to investigate what happened," its statement said Newsweek has reached out to Netflix for comment on the future of the production Narcos would not be the first production chased from Mexico by violence about the wife of a Mexican drugs smuggler were forced to pull out of filming in Mexico's Sinaloa province In recent years an increased number of international productions have filmed in Mexico, spurred by government tax incentives, Variety reported in March. "There's definitely been an uptick in international location shoots in Mexico over the past two years," said Cristina Velasco director of film production support at the Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía the Mexican Film Commission provided services to more than 130 international productions Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all Cooks like Tia Adelita operate makeshift restaurants and street carts across eastern Los Angeles County. Below, a few locations that specialize in Mexico's wood-fired meats. Barbacoa Actopan 3100 East Imperial Highway, Lynwood (310/764-5590) Located in Lyn wood's Plaza Mexico, this family-owned restaurant serves maguey leaf—wrapped lamb barbacoa on tortillas with smoky salsa and sides like lamb soup with chickpeas. El Borrego de Oro 2403 Whittier Boulevard, Los Angeles (323/780-4213) The name of this casual restaurant translates as "the Golden Sheep," a reference to its specialty. Lamb and mutton barbacoa are cooked and served in enchiladas, gorditas, and a dozen other ways. El Hidalgo 10345 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Pacoima (818/890-5524) This modest restaurant serves Hidalgo-style food from central Mexico during the week but offers barbacoa in tacos with green salsa, chopped onion, and cilantro on the weekends. The meat is cooked in an above-ground, outdoor pit. Lonchera "Candy" Truck Main Street between 23rd Street and Adams Street, Los Angeles From 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. on weekends, this food truck serves one thing only: barbacoa de cabeza tacos, filled with the tender, flavorful meat from the lamb's head. a few locations that specialize in Mexico's wood-fired meats Barbacoa Actopan 3100 East Imperial Highway Lynwood (310/764-5590) Located in Lyn wood's Plaza Mexico this family-owned restaurant serves maguey leaf—wrapped lamb barbacoa on tortillas with smoky salsa and sides like lamb soup with chickpeas Los Angeles (323/780-4213) The name of this casual restaurant translates as "the Golden Sheep," a reference to its specialty Lamb and mutton barbacoa are cooked and served in enchiladas Pacoima (818/890-5524) This modest restaurant serves Hidalgo-style food from central Mexico during the week but offers barbacoa in tacos with green salsa Lonchera "Candy" Truck Main Street between 23rd Street and Adams Street this food truck serves one thing only: barbacoa de cabeza tacos ADVERTISEMENTADADWant more SAVEUR?Get our favorite recipes Articles may contain affiliate links, which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use. Journalists say blame lies in ‘grey zone’ between organised crime and authorities Journalists in Mexico have said the new government is failing to protect them after three reporters were murdered in less than a week. Jorge Ruiz Vázquez, a reporter with the Gráfico de Xalapa newspaper, was the latest victim, shot dead late on Friday night in Actopan, in Veracruz state. He was supposed to have received protection from state security forces but this was missing on the night of the killing. Last year he had accused the mayor of corruption and his home was attacked. He was scheduled to testify before state authorities this month on threats the mayor had allegedly made against him. Mexico has been a deadly place for journalists over the past 13 years as a crackdown on drug cartels and organised crime has worn on. Measures taken to try to protect the press have included appointing a special prosecutor to pursue crimes against journalists. But the political will to protect journalists appears stubbornly absent, especially in states such as Veracruz, a long and sweaty sliver along the Gulf coast where politicians often act in cahoots with narcotics traffickers. “There’s an impunity rate of 99% and no political will to clear up these crimes. There’s only rhetoric on [the issue] from the state government,” said Miguel Ángel Díaz, the publisher of Plumas Libres, a Veracruz news outlet. Press freedom organisations caution against pinning the blame on organised crime as many of the threats made against journalists come from public officials uncomfortable with scrutiny and used to operating without oversight. Carlos Bravo Regidor, a journalism professor in Mexico City, said: “Most of this aggression, most of these murders come from a murky grey zone where it’s not clear where organised crime ends and public authority begins. It’s the everyday reality in many parts of Mexico. The National Human Rights Commission has reported 152 journalists’ death since 2000, and the misery has deepened in 2019 despite the change of government. The president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, promised to calm the county and stop the killings of journalists but his relationship with the media has turned testy since he took office. He has called publications critical of his administration “conservatives” and “fifís” (toffs), language now copied by politicians in the provinces where local journalists usually earn miserable wages, work without benefits and moonlight to make ends meet. López Obrador’s supporters often use social media to besiege any reporters asking tough questions at his daily morning press conferences, and the president recently berated the newsweekly Proceso for not taking his side. Javier Garza, a former director of the newspaper El Siglo de Torreón, said: “This government hasn’t put much attention on this problem so it continues growing. They’re giving a bigger budget to baseball than the mechanism for protecting journalists, if you want an indication of the interest.” Mexico’s murder rate hit a record high in the first six months of 2019. Nine journalists have been killed for carrying out journalistic duties this year, according to press freedom organisations. A reporter in Guerrero state who also served as a municipal official was shot and killed on Friday. Earlier last week a reporter who covered the police in the same state was found dead in the boot of a vehicle. There were signs he had been shot and tortured. Last Wednesday El Monitor d Parral suspended its print edition after its offices were firebombed. And recently assailants ransacked the Cancún-area home of Lydia Cacho, a journalist who investigates human trafficking, child sex rings and the powerful men behind them. They stole documents related to her investigation and poisoned her two dogs. Logout Gateway to the global feed industry Livestock and Fisheries (SAGARPA) has confirmed that the death of 600 head of cattle in Actopan was caused by urea poisoning through poultry manure Poultry manure contains large amounts of urea which is transformed into ammonia inside the stomach of the animal and generates amino acids or proteins substances that cause excessive intoxication. The delegate of SAGARPA said the death of 600 cows in the municipality of Actopan was caused by poisoning by consumption of a cheap food of bad quality called ‘pollinaza’ (manure) which the stock ranchers gave to their livestock without realising the consequences. “After conducting a study of dead animals it was discovered that cause of death was the consumption in excessive quantities of a feed comprising a cheap and shoddy chicken litter which poisoned the animals that died,” he said. “The results showed traces of urea independently of this we are awaiting the outcome [of the investigation] of the manure," explained the federal official Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open You are visiting us because we have something you value Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. AN IRISH PRIEST has died following a tragic accident in Mexico died on 12 April last after falling from a ladder while carrying out repairs on a roof at his home in Actopan in the state of Hidalgo The 75-year-old was ordained at the age of 32 and was a missionary in Mexico for over 40 years with the Divine Word Missionaries He worked in many areas of Mexico from Mexico City to Actopan in the state of Hidalgo Fr Eddie was a hugely popular figure in his native Ringsend where he still has family He returned home every three years on vacation and loved visiting family and friends His family described him as “a very kind and thoughtful person with a wicked sense of humour.” He was also an animal lover and while based in Mexico City he re-homed more than 30 dogs When he passed away suddenly he was still caring for six dogs and four cats “He saw the best in everyone and touched the hearts of many He came home on vacation every three years and loved meeting up with neighbours and friends “He was a very active and fit person who exercised every day and walked his six dogs for miles every day in the mountains He is survived by his loving sister May Pullen brother-in-law Jimmy Pullen and niece Wendy Smyth as well as a wide circle of friends and colleagues Fr Elliott will be buried in Mexico at a future date while a service of remembrance will take place at St Patrick’s Church in Ringsend in the coming days Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user Create an email alert based on the current article Genshin Impact version 5.5 introduced the Atocpan region in Natlan a vast island located southwest of the nation ruled by the Pyro Archon and the ancient city of dragons hidden beneath the surface a brand-new region means tons of Primogems as it introduces exciting new world quests the Luxurious Chest in the Shrine of Depths offers the highest amount of Primogems along with other useful loot like Hero's Wit and Character Talent level-up materials In this guide, we have shared the locations of all the Natlan Shrines of Depths in the Atocpan region of Genshin Impact There are two Natlan Shrines of Depths in Atocpan, bringing the total to eight shrines as of version 5.6. Both sites are on the surface of the Atocpan region, meaning you won't need to complete the Chronicler of the Crumbling City quest series or unlock the Ancient Sacred Mountain Here are the locations of the Natlan Shrines of Depths added in Genshin Impact version 5.5: To reach the first Natlan Shrine of Depths in Atocpan Travel to the teleport point and walk west to find the Shrine of Depths The second Natlan Shrine of Depths is located west of the Remnants of Tetenanco in Atocpan use the teleport point southwest of the Remnants of Tetenanco You can use a Tatankasaur or a Collective of Plenty character like Varesa or Iansan to break the rocks blocking your path you will find the second Natlan Shrine of Depths in Atocpan Also Read: Genshin Impact 5.0 Shrine of Depths locations Opening this chest rewards you with 80 Primogems Are you stuck on today's Wordle? Our Wordle Solver will help you find the answer Your perspective matters!Start the conversation