One of the first people I met when I went to work at Oxbow Public Market, as a shop attendent for Whole Spice in early 2008, was Ricardo Huijon.
While unfailingly pleasant, Ricardo didn't talk about himself much; but I soon learned that he was a well-known and much-liked expert on cheeses who had worked for years at Dean & Deluca before signing on at the Oxbow Wine and Cheese Merchant.
Last Monday, a friend and I stopped by Oxbow and saw that the Wine and Cheese Merchant had closed early. A handwritten sign said it was due to the unexpected death of a staff member. Only later did I learn that it was my former comrade Ricardo, who had died the day before.
This evening, from 5 to 9 p.m., Oxbow workers and their employers are holding a "Fiesta de Huijon" in Ricardo's memory. Some businesses may close early to take part.
Vaya con Dios, Ricardo. You are missed.
