Vieja Lira Trattoria & Pizzeria - Oaxaca Restaurant Review
Alvin Starkman M.A., LL.B.
Thankfully the recent expansion from 24 to 40 seats hasn’t detracted from the intimacy and quaintness of this downtown Italian restaurant and pizzeria. It still has classy yet welcoming décor of deep cranberry and white walls, simple pine tables and cushioned chairs stained dark to enhance a bistro-like feeling, and not to be overshadowed, floor-length draperies well-matched to the magenta / wine tones. The soft sound of jazz heard from the street is alone enough to make you want to take a peak in, and then you’re hooked.
You’re warmly welcomed by Italian owner Simone, who is almost always on hand. His presence remains, yet more in the nature of consultant, available to make suggestions, innately knowing when his attention is needed, and when not. He advises regarding selections from the printed menu, or large blackboard. We’ve never been disappointed with his wine recommendations, each having been carefully chosen by Simone so as to ensure appropriate pairing of food with wine, as well as affordability for middle-of-the-road patrons.
The primary culinary reason for visiting Vieja Lira is its pizzas. However, the fish, seafood, pastas and zuppas run a very close second. And even if the temptation to order a traditional plato fuerte is too great to resist, and you’re inclined to pass on the pizza, suggest to others in your party that pizza as one of the appetizers might satisfy the curiosity if not secret yearning of all.
Drinks arrive almost as readily as the crusty, soft yet dense bread, hand-cut to be drizzled with the herb infused olive oil or perhaps some paste-like salsa de chile de arbol.
The pizza is one generous size, with crust as thin as I’ve ever chomped, surely worthy of winning an award. It borders on the thickness of a tortilla or perhaps tlayuda. For this cena our eight-slicer had cheese, tomato and the usual herbs and spices, each quarter with a healthy topping of one of artichoke, black olive, mushroom and pepperoni. While it was the first appetizer to arrive, and we knew there were more entradas to follow, the four diners in our party were drawn to devour it all, without even a single, obligatory “no, you take the last piece.”
Our appetizers were rounded out with a bowl of ten or so medium-sized garlic shrimp, skewered, and an order of bruschetta of chicken liver paté, dare I say good enough to remind me of my grandmothers’ recipe from The Old Country. Watch out asiento, schmaltz is making inroads into Oaxaca.
My wife’s seafood bouillabaisse consisted of a medley of seafood and fish, juices appropriately spiced with a blend of fresh local herbs including your standard Italian selections, served in an oversized bowl. I continued with the crustacean theme, indulging in a hefty serving of fettuccini with seafood including squid, octopus, shrimp, scallop and local langostina in their shell. One of our guests ordered seared tuna over a bed of mixed exotic greens. She’d requested “rare, much less than medium,” I piped in “almost still swimming,” yet the plate arrived disappointingly overcooked, bordering on well. Without question or discussion the dish was removed, and in short order another serving, properly grilled, arrived with appropriate apology. The final entrée was one of the daily specials, rabbit with choice of penne or linguini, in a tangy tomato sauce.
Two bottles of Italian merlot having been retired, the restaurant by now almost empty, we were nevertheless still inclined to continue with just a bit more catching up with good friends. A couple of brandies and herbal teas, a tiramisu, and a coconut Ice Cream served in its half shell, most agreeably put the finishing touches on an evening of overall contentment.
Vieja Lira
Trattoria & Pizzeria
Pino Suárez 100
Centro, Oaxaca
Hours: 1 - 11 p.m., closed Tuesday
Tel: 516 – 1122
About the Author
Alvin Starkman together with wife Arlene operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast ( http://www.oaxacadream.com ). Alvin received his masters in social anthropology in 1978, and his law degree in 1984. Thereafter he was a litigator in Toronto until taking early retirement. He and his family were frequent visitors to Oaxaca between 1991 and when they became permanent residents in 2004. Alvin reviews restaurants, writes about life and cultural traditions in Oaxaca, tours couples and families to the craft villages, market towns, ruins and other sights in the state’s central valleys, and is special Oaxaca consultant to documentary film production companies.
10 POINTS! BEST ANSWER GETS 10 POINTS!!!?
I have a Tennis Ball, and already have the following games that I can play with it, please add any games of your own that can be played with 2 or more people.
I Already Have:
Cricket Bowling Competition - See who can hit the Stumps
Slapball - A game in which you have to hit the tennis ball against the wall in turns with other people, and have to execute special moves such as “Return”, “Cucumber”, “Chestnut” and “Tomato Slicer".
I also have Wallball and 500.
Please do not add any games that use more than 1 Tennis Ball!
Thanks In Advance!
I will decide on Best Answer by who gives the most amount of games to play with a Tennis Ball!
Throwing and Catching.. pretty simple. Can be made more interesting by introducing rules eg. if you drop it, you've got to go down on one knee etc.
Bowling type game
Dodgeball
Can't think of anymore right now x
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Tomato Slicer
Thank You. We hope you found the
Tomato Slicer
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5 Innovative Kitchen Appliances to buy this Dhanteras by Jeff Hardy
Dhanteras is round the corner, and planning for the new purchase has begun in every home. While mom wants to buy new kitchen ware, dad wants to buy a handicam. Bro thinks its time for a bike for him, and I am considering buying an ipod. Before I go on further, a bit about Dhanteras.
Dhanteras is an Indian festival two days before Diwali, every year. It marks the start of Diwali and is celebrated to seek blessings of goddess Laxmi. It is an auspicious day, when people buy gold, silver, kitchen accessories or anything that can be considered as acquiring wealth.
Though jewelry and kitchenware are the most popular purchases on Dhanteras, there are other things also that you can lookout for; like you can buy idols of Goddess Laxmi, or you can get a new vehicle, or can look at gadgets and hardware accessories or may be home decor items. All of these are considered to be auspicious purchases. It is also a nice day to make any other important investment that you have long been planning to. Dhanteras is the ideal time for setting up businesses, commencing new projects, housewarming, deciding wedding dates, buying cars and jewelry. Exchanging gifts on this day is an extremely popular custom, and therefore, markets are flooded with special gifts for Dhanteras. After jewelry, kitchenware is the most preferred purchase for Dhanteras celebrations, and I would like to highlight some of the new, innovative electric appliances that are finding their place in many of the households these days and making the lives of lakhs of women better around the world.
Some of the suggestions for this year's Dhanteras shopping are:
Hand Blender
Hand blender is a sleek and handy equipment that can be used for blending liquids and semi-liquids, chopping and mixing. It is not a very expensive item, perfect for a small kitchen. It comes with a removable handle, which makes it easy to keep and is easy to clean. It can be used for multiple purposes like, chopping and grinding onions, tomatoes, nuts, making purees and shakes and other mixing and blending needs. If you still dont have it, do not wait; get one this Diwali.
Fish Grill
Fish grill is one of the many kitchen grillers, specifically designed for cooking delicious fishes. It is one of the most essential appliance in a kitchen where non vegetarian food is the choice of people. The appliance is perfect for braising and searing the entire fish.
Egg Cooker and Poachers
Egg cooker and poacher is a simple to use appliance for boiling eggs and making a poach. Just add water according to the included measuring cup, poke holes in the eggs with a poker and turn it on. Egg cookers have slide in trays to prepare poaches. Just the perfect kitchen accessory for all eggitarians, specially bachelors 
. Perfectly boiled and perfectly poached eggs without any kind of a mess. These cookers are usually compact and easy to clean; just an easy rinse and its done.
Tea Pots
Tea pots need no introduction. Just go out in the markets and find the one which looks good. They are the perfect tea table accessory to make a nomal cup of tea, a royal experience.
Garnishing Set
Garnishing is a wonderful way to make food look better and appealing. The act of garnishing can be simple to elaborate and there are various garnishing tools available that make food taste even better. For example: Apple slicer Citrus stripper Corn Slicer Ice cream Scoop Lemon Squeezer Pineapple slicer, and many more.
Also I came across a very innovative kitchen equipment, with a glow light, that allows you to cultivate herbs, vegetables, and flowers aeroponically (no soil needed) on your windowsills in half the time. With this equipment you can grow small herbs or vegetables inside your kitchen only. Ideal for both novice and expert gardeners, Usually it is compatible with any type of seeds. I could not find about it much, but I am very curious to understand how it works. If easily available, it is a great kitchen equipment!
About the Author
For more information of kitchen grills griddles and
kitchenware accessories.