Transcript
002: Rocio Vasquez of Eat Like a Local Mexico City

Theresa Christine: Welcome to The Wild and Curious Podcast, a show that's part travel 

Suzanne Schmedding:Part feminism 

TC: And completely inspired by extraordinary women worldwide. I'm Theresa Christine, 

SS: And I'm Suzanne Schmedding.

TC: Heads up to our listeners that some of the issues in this episode could be triggering. There will be mention of physical violence against women, nothing graphic, but we did want to let you know in advance. Also, we recorded this episode before Coronavirus, was declared a pandemic and became a really serious thing. So, we will be talking about a trip we've planned. However, we are in no way encouraging people to travel right now. We have no intention of traveling ourselves. And this trip is supposed to happen much further in the future. We hope that it does but if not, thank goodness for free cancellation. Have you been, you haven't been to Mexico City before?

SS: I have not been to Mexico City I've been Tulum and one time I went on a cruise and we docked in uh...not, not 

TC: Cozumel?

SS: No, no. Not Cozumel. Ensenada. Yeah, we talked in Ensenada, but I was really sick. So I did not actually get to go. But I was technically there. So...

TC: You were in Mexican water.

SS: I was in Mexican waters. So that's, that's a pretty cool travel story.

TC: Yeah, very, very authentic. Sounds like

SS: Oh, yeah, yeah.

TC: We're going to Mexico City. I've heard it's an amazing destination. Like I think the thing I'm most excited about, aside from just really getting a cultural experience, because I've heard that. Mexico City is like, you can really get the culture there and it's also a safe place and a good place for women to travel to, but I'm, I'm genuinely excited to just see what the city looks like, and like see the buildings. I don't know architecture really intrigues me. 

SS: Yeah. 

TC: What about you?

SS: I think you know what I'm gonna say. I'm really excited to eat! I just want tacos and cheese and guacamole and salsa. Like, that's, I, yes, I, I'm very excited to see buildings but I love food so much.

TC: You're going to be in heaven, 

SS: T, if I could eat all day long...I would. 

TC: It's also, you know, it's such an easy way to get a piece of the culture like, for lack of a better word, to get a taste of the culture.

SS: Actually, that kind of leads me into how excited I am to be chatting with who we are today. Um, Ms. Rocio Vasquez. 

TC: Beautiful! 

SS: Thank you. No big deal. I just roll my 'r's'. You can just call her 'Ro.' She is the founder of Eat Like a Local Mexico City, and her food tours are some of the top rated in Mexico City. She is a big proponent for responsible tourism and she only works with women.

Rocio Vasquez: So basically Mexico City is like a culinary hub because in Mexico, we have this centralized everything, like, the government is here, the big companies are here, so a lot of people have to emigrate from there, or you know, cities to Mexico. So they come with their culinary traditions. So basically here you can find everything. Of course we change it a little bit to adapt it to ourselves. And then people from their original cities they hate us because they think that we change their stuff. It's like Mexico City style, like everything. So, in Mexico City, we have a lot of street food, is, is something that you will see everywhere. Like the only that I have seen as many as street food is Vietnam, for example, that you arrive and you see all this food, food, food, food food. And this has to do because we had very, very long commute, commutes to come to the city. So a lot of people can go back to their homes, or like they have to eat in the street. It is complicated to do it in your house in Mexico City. So you have to eat out, and you have to eat something fast. The minimum wage in Mexico City is $100 a month. So you have to eat something cheap, also. And it has to be delicious, of course because like, you have to eat it every day. So, our main culinary culture is the street I think. We also have a lot of 'fondas,' we call them. Fondas are tiny places where you can have homemade food that will cost between $2 up to  $4 or $5 for everything. So you have a soup, rice and beans or pasta and then you will have a main dish like you can be used to or grill meat or grilled chicken. You can also have taquitos or something else, and then they will give you a dessert and fruit water. So that's basically what we eat in our homes. Because people can go back to their own homes, they will eat in these fondas, and they're usually managed by women that look like your mom or like your grandma. So this is basically what is more extended in Mexico City, You eat in these fondas from Monday to Friday, When you need to experience the real Mexican food, like a homemade, you have to go to a fonda.

TC: And that's interesting because, like, here in the United States, like, I eat out because I want to eat something that I didn't have growing up, I want to eat something that is foreign to me and different and it sounds like eating out in Mexico City, it's so much more about like, something that is part of your culture. Yeah,

RV: Yes and no. Like, maybe on the weekends, you will be like, more adventurous because it will it will be something like a celebration or something to go out. But on the weekdays you try to go to fondas or to have something in the street. Sunday's are like family days so you have to eat with your family. But on Saturday you can go out to a restaurant or, or something later

TC: And is it typically like, the mother or the grandmother or the sisters who are cooking these meals? Or are you seeing like it's, it's equal men and women

RV: Depending. Like, if it's just like homemade food, they will be women. But if you're making carne asada...Carne asada is basically a grill, it will be the men. Those guys are in charge of the carne asada. They grill meat.

SS: Yeah, it works that way in my family, too. My mom and my sister handle everything in the kitchen and my brother in law does all of the meat. But I love how you said that, like, you know, the the people who are running the fondas they look like your mother and grandmother, you know, which I don't know, it kind of, it sort of brings that sense of community to this, to the street food, that is a necessity, you know, and how how does that idea of having women kind of running these fondas and you know, looking like your mother or grandmother, like, how does that kind of change the roles of a woman in Mexico? 

RV: So it's complicated. We're changing right now, like, the country is very big. And like what happened in Mexico City is not always what happens in the rest of the country. Because this is like the most progressive city, for example, and is a city that has like, gay rights and abortion rights and all like these very open ideas. So the role of women are, is changing in Mexico City. In the rest of the country, there's still a lot of stay at home moms, or they're working on both days to cook everything. In Mexico City we still have the traditional fondas, but a lot of people are changing because we're becoming like more modern. There's still stuff that only women do. For example, quesadillas. It goes back from the Aztec tradition with the women just to be the ones that made the tortillas. And quesadillas are always made with handmade tortillas. You won't have a street quesadilla with a traditional, like a premade tortilla, they will make the tortilla right there in front of you. So that's a woman thing. But for example, tacos are made by men, because it's like killing the animal. You know, it's a male job. The only tacos that a woman will make are the stew tacos. There are different stews, are basically homemade stews. So it's not like killing the animal like the carnitas or the barbacoa. But other than that, most of the tacos are made by guys. And 99% of the quesadillas are made by women. And if you see a guy making a quesadilla, you won't trust.

TC: Like those quesadillas, they look they look a little sheisty over there. 

SS: Yeah, they're suspect.

TC: I've been really lucky. I was in Mexico, and I have seen like an older woman and she was making the tortillas and doing the quesadillas, and it was the best quesadilla I've ever had in my life. But it was really cool to watch her and see her hands at work, you know,

RV: Yeah, it's actually something that comes from centuries, because they have been making quesadillas in 1500 when they started, or before the Aztecs, so, they, it's a tradition that continues and continues on, it's really, really beautiful.

SS: That is beautiful. I love the idea of, of history and tradition, you know, getting something passed down generations that's so tactile and nourishing. And I think, I think one of the things that really appeals to me about that is the idea that like it is passed down from generation to generation. Is that part of the reason why you work with women only?

RV: A little bit, but no, it's the community part, but it's basically something different. In 2017, I had a very abusive boyfriend, and basically he became too violent until the point that it was like life threatening, so I have to run away, but my business was just starting. So basically, I stayed there for too long because I didn't have a lot of money to go to another place. I didn't have money to hire lawyers. I have no idea how to talk about this. I was ashamed. I thought that people were going to judge me because like, oh, why you're with a boyfriend like that or didn't you know, when I finally got back on my feet after a month of therapy, and of course, I went to the police. And they were amazing with me, because it was also March 8. So it was weird, because all the attention was on them. So basically, they were very good with me because it was International Women's Day, very coincidental that was on that day. And so after I was back on my feet, I realized that the main thing that allows us as a women to run away from any bad situation is financial independence. So I decided that when I, when the moment to grow was like, ready, I was going to only employ women and give them the best wages in the whole industry. So that's why we're women only.

TC: And that's that's something that comes up a lot with our podcast and what the show is how equality is so tied into those things that if you prevent women from getting an education, or you prevent women from having these, like, well like, good paying jobs, then they're never going to be equal.

RV: Exactly. And also, as women, you need to be financially independent to be, like safe and to be, to be powerful and to be able to leave. Because a lot of people, a lot of women, they, they're married for a long time and their husband is an a**hole, I can say that word? 

TC: Sure. 

RV: Okay, sorry. So their husbands are bad guys. And they can't leave because they don't work and they don't have money and they're terrified. And I don't want women to be like that. So basically, that's why I hire women. And not only give them like the best wages, but also give them like gym membership, so they can take care of their body, not because they need to be seen or anything, just because they need to feel good with themselves, and I give them continuous education and I give them an atmosphere where they can express themselves and they can, like uplift their outer low self esteem. So I think they can be, like to be the whole package. And when you're like that, even like, if your boyfriend is bad, you will feel like more safe and you will be, you'll be able to leave that situation. So we tell, we tell also women in the markets, that their body belongs to them, that they shouldn't allow their husbands or boyfriends to slut shame them or to take their money. For example, we're encouraging a lot of women to have like, private or secret saving accounts or stuff like that. And it is a new concept for them in the market. But we're, we're starting from that to show, to teach them how to make budgets, because they haven't, they don't, they have no idea what a budget is. They have no idea that they can have a savings account. They have no idea of all these little concepts that we all know but they have no access to that, or simple stuff. Like we're teaching the girls at the market that they should not smile, unless they want to. Because their smile is their smile and nobody can tell them what to do with their body. These are revolutionary concepts in the market. And I know that we know this because we're part of this feminist world, but in the market, they don't know these things. So we're trying to also educate people in the market with these concepts.

SS: And just just to touch back on, on a little something you, you mentioned that, you know, a lot of, a lot of men are bad a-holes. And I was wondering, you have, you have that a lot on your website, that you refuse to work with, with people who are not kind of on the up and up, too. And I wanted to, I wanted to kind of talk more about how, how that policy of not working with bad people has really contributed to your company becoming one of the most responsible tourist companies in Mexico City.

RV: I think that is basically a way of making a stance, like I started seeing that a lot of people were being abusive. They were not paying their little suppliers. They were like, a wine vendor, that a big restaurant owes her a lot of money and she was struggling. And then an ice cream maker that, very famous restaurants owe them a lot of money. And then I started seeing that, and I was like this, this can't, this can't be like that, there's something that we should do. And I talk to the restauranteurs, and I told them guys, if you don't pay, I will stop working with you. And I was starting, so they were like, 'Haha, whatever.' They also told me like that I shouldn't, I shouldn't take sides. And I was very angry because I was like, why, like, if you don't take sides, you're on the side of the oppressor, basically, and I don't want to be on the side of the oppressor. So then I decided that I needed to be more, like, bolder in what I was saying. I shouldn't be like, afraid of saying what I think. And I started saying that on my website, and I started saying that to my people, to my guides, and we started like, taking a stand and being like, really, really responsible. But it all came from these guys telling me that I shouldn't take sides. And I was like, NO, like, I should take sides and I should be bold and I should say what I think and that was like the first path to become responsible because I was like, these guys are thinking that I will stay like quiet and I will keep working with them. That's not gonna happen like I won't, I won't do that I will go to the other side, I will be completely responsible. I will be completely outloud saying what is wrong, because basically people started like resonating with my message, and I started getting like better and better and getting guests and now we have amazing guests coming here that all agree with what we're thinking. And I think that that's amazing because we get to spread our word and more people are understanding that we shouldn't give our money to bad guys.

TC: Yeah, and I mean, that's the thing that you're saying about attracting, not to sound too woo-woo, but like, the energy you put out is the energy you get back kind of thing. Where like, yeah, I mean, you're very talented and knowledgeable about the culinary scene in Mexico City. And if you had just been complicit and been quiet and you know, just did what they told you to do, you'd probably still have some level of success, but because you took a stand with your own personality and for your own business, people see that and that excites them and it resonates with them. In general, responsible tourism is like such a hot topic for travelers going to a place. What should they be looking for so that they find something that is responsible, and that has the kind of ethics that you have?

RV: So for example, the first thing that you should look for is a company that is local. Because the main thing with tourism is, when you go to a country, you produce certain damage, like not because you want to damage stuff, but it's, like, it's what it is. So you're consuming the resources, and you're like taking places where the locals go and they can't go anymore. So the first thing to do is to actually leave money in that country. So first try to look for really local people. Like if you see an international agents, probably they will keep all the money and they will just pay some salaries, but it's better that the money stays in the country. So look for somebody that is local. The prices are a good indicator, because if they are too cheap, they won't be able to pay good salaries or pay good wages to everybody or to actually pay for prices to the vendors. So that's a good indicator if they're like, very, very cheap it's not good. They will be asking for kickbacks from the vendors. So they will ask him for free stuff. So that's another indicator. And, like try to actually research them, because there is a lot of companies in Mexico City that they say like 'We're women only', and then just search at their staff and they have all guys and you're like, uh...

TC: That's a bunch of lies right there. 

RV: How are you women only if I can see your guides and you have like three guys there?  So, and I actually tried to find a company that actually committed with the community because a lot of the companies are like, 'Oh, we donate money.' And it's like, 'Oh, nice for you, amigo, why you don't go get involved and actually do something?' And not only donate, that's too easy, you know, like try to actually be there and get involved. And see what they need from you and see what you can do to actually be make the community better. So try to search for companies that are actually not only donating but actually doing something. That's another stuff like, I actually try to avoid a lot of the resellers because they take 30% of everything you pay from them. So for example, if you book a tour at Expedia or stuff like that, that will take 30% of the vendor your booking, you can't be competitive and you can't be responsible if you're paying this huge commissions. So that's why I only work like, I did it only on my website and I don't work with anybody, not resellers, nothing because that 30% instead of paying that to them, I am investing it in my city, in all the programs, in my women's salaries and all this stuff. So try to book directly. Instagram or social media it's really good because you can actually see what's happening, like, they can lie on their, on their websites, but if you see their stories and they're actually doing stuff, it's a good thing to see. And look for the reviews, also a lot of people search, like go to the places and they see what you're doing with the community so, so it can be a good, a good sign that the company is actually responsible.

SS: I think Rocio is so cool, I cannot wait to meet her. I love everything she was doing, she is saying.

TC: That is one of the really special things about getting to chat with women around the world is when we go to these places, then we get to meet them in person and like, 

SS: I know!

TC: We'll get to see all these cool things she's talking about in action.

SS: One of the things she mentioned that really stood out to me was how she's teaching these women to be like, really empowered by their own bodies, even in something as small as telling them 'You don't have to smile when you're in the marketplace.' You know, I come, I come from a very long history of working in the service industry and having to be like, very like, 'Yes, absolutely! Anything you...'

TC: Whatever you want!'

SS: Yeah. And so the idea that, that she's just actively teaching these women that you can have this kind of value even when you're out working, that doesn't rely on, on something as small as like your smile.

TC: And when that is the case, then it makes the times that you're smiling, so much more meaningful to you, as a person, because you're not just smiling because you feel like you should, or smiling because you feel like it will bring someone over to your table or whatever. You're smiling because you feel genuinely happy. And it's fair, it's so empowering to women to, to just think about even the actions that you do and the time that you spend on certain things. That is yours to give out. You, you are not obligated to give that to anybody if you don't want to. 

SS: Oh my gosh, I cannot wait to meet her and for her to tell me in person that I don't have to smile.

TC: Yeah, she can, she can give you a taco while you're frowning,

SS: I mean, that will probably make me smile. Because I love tacos.

TC: So you will hand out your smiles for tacos.

SS: I will! A taco is a smile you can eat. 

TC: Oh, that's beautiful. 

SS: Thank you. I'm gonna put that on a greeting card.

TC: A bumper sticker for sure. If you'd like to learn more about Ro's work, head to eatlikealocal.com.mx, or you can follow her on Instagram at @eatlikealocalmx. You've been listening to The Wild and Curious Podcast, hosted by me, Theresa Christine 

SS: And me, Suzanne Schmeling. If you've enjoyed this episode, there's more where this came from. Subscribe to The Wild and Curious Podcast wherever you listen to your favorite podcast. You can also follow along with our adventures on Instagram. Our handle is @_thewildandcurious_ and we will also put that in the show notes for you

TC: We are always looking for extraordinary women to talk to you on our show. If you have someone in mind or you are that someone go to thewildandcurious.com to let us know