Traditional Hopi Dining

Ernie in 2012
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This is Ernie, our inspiring guide at the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. After our 4-hour visit to the Hopi Villages and a number of spiritual sites, he played his flute for us.

Our tour was done, but Ernie continued to share. He shared his music and more stories of growing up on the reservation. He spoke about living in California where Native American children were sent to be educated. He gave us  an opportunity to "meet" his Kachina mask with some special words and a food offering. He gave us each an special feather to keep. 

Ernie also gave me my first taste of Hopi food!

​Piki Bread
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Ernie shared some of his piki bread, given to him by women in the village. They offered him this very special bread, as a gift for performing at a Village Ceremony.    ​

It takes days to create piki bread, which is made from blue corn and ash. It  looked a bit like some kind of rolled up paper, carefully toasted over a fire. When I took a taste, It flaked off like a very thin chip. It tasted delicate and smoky... then disappeared on my tongue. The curious bread was like nothing I've ever tasted.

I learned later that piki is a sacred bread, that takes much patience and skill to produce. It is served at very important ceremonies. I'm sad that I did not know more when I tasted the unique bread. I have since tried to educate myself. 

​Lunch with Ernie
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​This is as much as I can share in a photo of our lunch experience with Ernie.  (no cameras allowed) He was eager to take us to the village store, which was packed with much more than groceries. The deli in the back of the store unfortunately served mostly Mexican food, I was hoping to experience more Hopi foods. ​

Traditional Hopi food is still cooked by some of the village elders, but more and more Hopi have turned to Americanized foods. Don and I enjoyed some tamales and burritos with Ernie, while locals shopped and dined nearby. It was clear that Ernie knew every person who entered. I wish I could remember all the sweet stories he told.  
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 Another Traditional Hopi Food

We parted with Ernie after lunch and headed towards the Grand Canyon.  We stopped for gas at Tuuvi's gas/cafe in Tuba, AZ, on the edge of the Hopi Reservation. When I went inside, I was delighted to see a cafe menu, featuring traditional Hopi food! 

Even though I had just eaten, I was eager to buy some Mutton Stew. I ordered it to go.  Mutton and dumplings!  I would be able to add Hopi (representing North America) on my list of 50 International & Cultural Dining Experiences!

​Fry Bread
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​​And how about Fry Bread... with a little honey! Kind of like a sopapilla.  It filled the car with the yummy smell of funnel cakes!

So how did the stew and bread taste? The honey made the fry bread almost dessert-like. I wish I could have eaten more of the crispy, sweet bread, but I can only eat so much fried food.

Mutton Stew? I should have known this meal might not be ideal, since I'm not a fan of lamb to begin with. My mutton stew initiation was a little challenging. Out of my 42 international dining adventures, I've dealt with a few foods that have tested me a bit. Maybe it was the fact I'd already eaten, or maybe it was the atmosphere of my car, that made me unable to enjoy my first taste of "mature sheep". The bold flavor and chewy texture could have been better enjoyed out of a bowl... at a table, not in a moving car!  
I replaced the lid and set it aside, feeling disappointed in myself that I couldn't embrace the flavors and textures. I always feel I can learn to appreciate all foods from different cultures, if I have enough time! Maybe in the future I can give Hopi dining another try.

30 POINTS for HOPI DINING

No negative points for my mutton stew. I didn't fall in love with the traditional Hopi dish, but I got to taste mutton for the first time and that's worth 10 points! 20 points for positive People Encounters and for the experience of tasting tiki bread. I will never forget my varied experience with food on the Hopi Reservation! I hope to return again and experience some more traditional foods.