Life's a Beach | Expat Life in Playa del Carmen : Restaurants/Bars, 2009

Babe's Celebrates 10 Years in Playa!!

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:10:00 GMT

Last night Per Langoe and Lena Bermann invited all of their friends to celebrate a truly momentous occasion: the 10th anniversary of Babe's Restaurant in Playa del Carmen. Without a doubt, Babe's is now practically synonimous with Playa del Carmen, a landmark restaurant flocked to by locals and visitors alike. In a city that sees restaurants come and go with the seasons, having not one but two successful locations is a real accomplishment, one that deserves great kuddos. Clearly, a great number of people agree as last night's party was packed with well-wishers eager to congratulate Per and Lena on their accomplishments. Rob and I were among their many customers and friends, there to share in the celebration and enjoy the great food, strong mohitos and fabulous music provided by DJ Patti, another member of Playa's unique Swedish contingent and girlfriend to Per and Lena's son Isaac.

As one would expect from Per and Lena, the party was fantastic! So many people turned up to share in the fun and DJ Patti kept the crowd dancing with favorite hits from the eighties. It was a wonderful night and it was obvious the positive impact that Babe's and it's proud owners have had on this community. Congratulations Per and Lena! We are looking forward to another 10 years of great food and great fun!

"Hope for Haiti" Benefit in Playa del Carmen a Huge Success

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:06:00 GMT

Yesterday afternoon, the beach in front of Wicky's Restaurant in Playa del Carmen was the place to be for great BBQ and live music! The fundraiser, "Hope for Haiti", benefiting, Doctors Without Borders, was hosted by Wicky's, attracting hundreds of local residents and visitors alike. Many came to enjoy the excellent buffet presented by Head Chef Collin Kelley, others came to enjoy the beach and the entertainment provided by J.J. and The Nasty Bastards Band, Chris Bolister, Brent Parkin, Mike Grabow, Barefoot Skinny and Gary with his Gringos Perdidos! The weather was not as cooperative as we would have liked with persistent wind gusts forcing the BBQ line up inside, but the sun was shining bright and everyone in attendance had a great time. I was pretty busy at the ticket table selling t-shirts and buffet passes and I did not get to take as many pictures as I wanted to during the height of the party, but I did a chance to snap a few shots here and there. Kay Walten in Akumal has some great pictures from their "Hope for Haiti" Akumal event posted as well with more to follow I am certain.

I heard so many nice compliments throughout the day,about the food, the location and the music. It really was a terrific event and I was proud to be involved. It was nice to see so many people come out to show their support and I appreciate each and everyone of you who took the time to attend. I should have the final numbers for the day tallied soon and will post them on the "Hope for Haiti" Facebook Event Page. There are a lot of people to thank for their assistance in the organization and execution of this event and I will endeavor to name as many as I can in no particular order:

Many thanks to Kay and Gary Walten of www.LocoGringo.com, Damon Gerke, General Manager, Collin Kelley, Head Chef and Linda Burchette, Director of Sales and Marketing for Wicky's Restaurant. Also, thanks to Nicola Inwood and Dave Tomlinson from Hotel Tropical Casablanca and Abyss Dive Center, Rob Kinnon and Glenn Harris, Jeff Johnson and all the talented musicians who gave their time and talents to the day and Cheryl, Aurora and Mitch who helped me throughout the event. Thanks also to the local vendors and food purveyors who donated product to the event so we could keep our costs low. They include Comercial Norte Americana, Deli Playa, Artisenal Swiss Breads, Dac, Exim del Caribe, Pacsadeli, Corona and Coca Cola. Special thanks to "Bob" the winner of the 50/50 raffle who donated all of the $3000 pesos back to Doctors Without Borders.

If you were unable to attend yesterday's event but would still like to make a donation, you may do so securely, by credit card, through our "Hope for Haiti" Donation Page. There are also t-shirts still available which can be purchased at Hotel Tropical Casablanca on 1st Ave. next to the Abyss Dive Shop and the Dirty Martini Lounge. They are $200 pesos a piece with all proceeds going to the charity.

"Hope for Haiti" Fundraiser in Playa del Carmen

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

On Sunday January 24th, fund-raising events will be executed simultaneously in Playa del Carmen and Akumal to raise much needed funds for the victims of the devastating earthquake that wracked the small island nation last week. This initiative, “Hope for Haiti”, is a local, grassroots campaign whose mission is to raise badly needed funds to support the relief efforts going on in Haiti.

"Hope for Haiti" Playa del Carmen will be held on Sunday, January 24th 2010 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm on the beach at Wicky's Restaurant. Wicky's has generously volunteered their beach and their culinary skills to make this event a huge success. There will be a fabulous BBQ with pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, veggies and all the fixin's you can eat for $200 pesos per adult, $100 pesos for children 12 and under. Children under 3 eat for free! There will also be great beer and drink specials running all day and a 50/50 raffle!

Playa del Carmen’s own, J.J. and the Nasty Bastards Band, will be providing entertainment with guest performances by some of Playa's favorite musicians! Proceeds from the event will be sent to Doctors Without Borders to support their relief efforts in Haiti.

I hope you will all join us on Sunday. Enjoy the newly reclaimed beach, the live music and the delicious food and help us help our Caribbean neighbors. For more information visit our Facebook Event Page or email me directly michelekinnon[at]gmail[dot]com.

New Cooking School Opens in Puerto Morelos

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:17:00 GMT

The Little Mexican Cooking School officially hangs out its shingle on December 8th and will continue with what they call ‘cooking class adventures’ every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of April.

The school was born as a result of the passions of Australian, Catriona Brown and Canadian, Patti Murphy, both ‘foodies’ and world travelers. The classes are 6 hours per day and involve a introduction to all the ingredients of our famous Mexican palette. School and guest chefs will offer expert advice on the techniques of Mexican cuisine; and participants will have the opportunity to prepare a full menu of dishes. The finale of the day promises to be a true Mexican feast. ‘Cat’ Brown is a well known business owner and Charity Leader in Puerto Morelos. She fell in love with the Yucatan while on holiday a few years ago, and decided to plant her roots here. Patti Murphy had her first career in the restaurant business and now produces FOOD TV. She has an insatiable desire to extend her knowledge of local cuisines to the rest of the world. Their idea is to create fabulous day long food adventures for tourists at resorts in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Brown claims that the school also will entice the growing community of expats in the area.

There are three main reasons why people will enjoy these cooking classes according to the dynamic duo heading the school. The School chef is Mexican, Claudia Ramos Cellis who was trained in several Mexican Universities with graduate training at NYC’s Culinary Institute of America and who speaks 4 languages. Claudia brings to the table a vast knowledge of all regions of Mexican cuisine, and her portfolio of world classics. Brown and Murphy are offering a special “Chef Week” once a month when one of a several International Celebrity Chefs will take over the spatula. They also promise a rotating menu each week during the month to whet everyone’s appetite. Billed as an Authentic Food Adventure for Curious Travelers The Little Mexican Cooking School looks like a sure bet for fun, excitement and taste. Visit their website at www.thelittlemexicancookingschool.com for booking information.

Big Love for Playa Legend Captain Dave

Rob Kinnon — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:48:00 GMT

A few days ago, many Playa del Carmen residents,including our family, received a message from Miss Sarah, Captain Dave's sister up in Memphis Tennessee. It seems after a battery of tests, doctors have discovered that our favorite pirate has small cell cancer that has taken up residence in various areas of his body. Captain Dave is one of our oldest and most fascinating friends in Playa and we have no doubt that he will fight this battle with his everything he's got. According to my pal John, Memphis is home to some of the best cancer research and care facilities in the country and our dear friend Dave is in the best possible hands with the oncologists at The West Clinic.

So, while the Captain is up north of the border fighting the good fight, we are all down here in Playa sending our prayers and most positive energies in his direction. Last night, the bar was packed at Bad Boys. Everyone coming together to see how they might help and support Dave while he is away. It was a great night with Chris Bolister taking the stage to play all of our old favorites, songs that evoke fond memories of all the good times we have shared together at both Captain Dave's on 10th and Bad Boys Beach Bar.

Dave, if you are reading this, get yourself better and get back down here! We look forward to making many more memories with you. Until then,we will all be keeping an eye on things for you and taking lots of pictures for you to enjoy! I didn't bother this time to name everyone present. Consider the collective caption for all the pictures to read "People who love Captain Dave". Big love and hugs from all of us in Playa del Carmen and from all your fans scattered across the globe!

Movin' and Groovin' at Bad Boys Beach Bar

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:13:00 GMT

Recently, Captain Dave invested in a new sound system, some top of the line equipment to support Playa's favorite house band, The Nasty B.astards. We have been a little tied up lately, getting the kids settled back into school, working with clients and that little food festival I worked on and we have let a number of weeks pass without making the trip down to the beach for some fun at Bad Boys Beach Bar. Low season is definitely taking its toll but that didn't mean the dance floor was empty. J.J. and the boys had the small but enthusiastic crowd movin' and groovin'! The new sound system is everything it was rumored to be throwing crisp clear sound all the way out to the shore line. Cole took his customary spot next to Enrique the drummer. Birdie was behind the bar working up a storm with Erica and Anita. Rob and I sat and enjoyed a few too many Centenarios with sangrita and snapped pictures of the antics.

Janet and Jim with friends who I met but whose names I have forgotten. Darn tequila.

Birdie rockin' the blender drinks

Claudia and David

More NBB groupies!

Colleen and Kim

Tom and Lynn

Jeff sings "Margaritaville" in the third set.

Silly Kim

Jeff and JJ

Jeff and Christine

Cole helping the band break down

Nasty B.astards with not nasty Colleen and Cole

Captain Dave and Kim

"Mmm, mmm, mmm I love this bar."

John Gray Welcomes the Owner of Adobe Guadalupe Vineyards

Rob Kinnon — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:11:00 GMT

On Friday evening, Chef John Gray invited friends, foodies and members of the "Uncorked Club" to enjoy a special tasting of three wines from Mexico's prestigious Adobe Guadalupe Vineyards. This beautiful estate was established by Tru and Don Miller in 1998 on 80 acres of land in the Valle de Guadalupe, an area which boasts a climate and terrior similar to that of France's Rhone Valley and Bordeaux growing regions. After retiring from a successful banking career in the United States, Don decided to pursue his dream of planting his own vineyard and building his own wine estate. He and Tru settled on this beautiful parcel in the Baja, the heart of Mexico's wine producing region. They enlisted the talents of passionate artisan winemaker Hugo Acosta and achieved their first harvest in 2000. Today, Adobe Guadalupe is among a handful of boutique wine houses dedicated to producing world class wines in Mexico. This working vineyard also functions as an elegant bed and breakfast and has an equestrian center where Tru pursues her passion, breeding and selling rare Axteca horses. Tru Miller herself was on hand this evening to greet guests and talk about the wonderful wines from their vineyard. She is a charismatic and exciting woman and it was a pleasure to have the chance to speak with her about her history and about wine making in Mexico.

Each of the wines crafted by Adobe Guadalupe is comprised of grapes all grown in their proprietary vineyard. The wine house is known for their unusual and ethereal blends, each a unique expression of the winemaker and the winery's vision. In keeping with this ethereal theme, each of the wines is named for an archangel. Local distributor representative Jacqueline Jiminez narrated our evening, giving the guests a thorough history of the wines, the varietals used and the aging process for each selection.

During the evening we had the opportunity to taste three wines: "Uriel" 2008, a claret styled wine, which is a blend of tempranillo, syrah, chenin blanc, zinfandel and moscatel. It was served chilled and paired with shrimp sauteed with chirasa chilies on a bed of spicy slaw. The wine is young and bright with notes of watermelon and strawberry. This is the perfect "picnic red", easy drinking and accessible. Second in line was "Miguel" 2006, a red blend of 70% tempranillo with 17% cabernet sauvignon and 8% grenache. This was served with thick meaty amberjack over potato puree and sauteed spinach. This fruit forward wine may have overpowered the fish had it not been finished with a rich pork sausage infused butter sauce. The predominant temperanillo was just tannic enough to cut the oiliness of the fish and butter. We finished with "Kerubiel" 2007. Crafted to resemble Chateauneuf du Pape, this is a blend of cinsault, syrah, mourvedre, grenache and viogner. We enjoyed this wine with John's famous spicy duck tacos wrapped in bib lettuce. The wine's peppery finish was the perfect compliment, emphasizing the chile rather than softening it. The Kerubiel is a big plummy red with hints of tobacco, leather and dark chocolate. I'd like to buy a few bottles and cellar them for awhile as I think a few more years will only serve to make this vintage a bit more accessible.

John and Rob discuss the finer points of Rob's new "man room".

Nicola, John and Rob.

It was a great pleasure to taste these unusual wines and experience some of the cutting edge wine making that is going on right here in Mexico. With a production of just 6000 cases, I'm not sure wine lovers in Playa del Carmen will be seeing these wines in local grocery stores. I'm checking on the availability and will edit in the distribution details in when I have them. For those of you who may have previously written off Mexican wines, I strongly encourage you to ask for these and similar small production bottlings when you are travelling in Mexico. With unique, high quality wines such as these being introduced to consumers, I have a feeling that retailers and restaurants who have predominantly populated their shelves and wine lists with wines from Chile and Argentina will be paying closer attention to the boutique wine houses right here in Mexico.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Rob Kinnon — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:11:00 GMT

At long last, our beloved Mayte Vargas has her very own place. Mayte and her friend Ale have opened "El Bar", a cheerful, open air, rooftop bar located across from the Hotel Kinbe on calle 10 in downtown Playa. From my perch on the swings, I could look down the street to Playa's landmark lighthouse and all the way out to the Caribbean. It was a beautiful evening with the breeze coming up from the beach and a great night to inaugurate this new venue. Of course, Keith was there, obviously very pleased, making last minute adjustments and helping to make sure everything was just right for the girls' big opening. One after the other, a familiar face would appear at the top of the stairs, eager to congratulate Mayte and Ale on their new venture.

Seeing all our friends gathered together to celebrate the girls' hard work, it was hard not to reminisce about the good old days, back when Keith's place, Captain Dave's on 10th was the place to be, a place where everybody knew your name....or at least the name you were using that week. I fondly recalled the many evenings spent in that bar with Grady, Memo and Carlos entertaining the crowds and Mayte, her little sister Alex and Craig behind the bar putting out beers faster than we could drink them. I remembered how nice it was to drop by during the day for a quick beer while the boys played dominoes. I thought about the old crew, friends who have moved on in life who I know would have liked to be there: Tori, Jana, Troy and Helen, English Robert, German Andi, Megan, LA, DJ, Crash and Hattie. Of course, I thought about all those we have lost over the past years who I know are watching over us now: Warren, Bones, Zenon, Jerry, Ronnie D, Joanne, Jimmy. If you believe in guardian angels, you would have to believe they all have a hand in this new place.

Birdie LOVES Mayte!

Anita, Susan and Deborah

Salut!

Michelle and Jorge

Ken and Anita

Sharky and Jez

Birdie and Stuart

Cole and Rob

Man, myth, legend Captain Dave!

Tom Lee and Jilly

Chief Brian and Miss Edie

Keith with Jill (yes, we see you too Birdie!) Gils and Leanne and Larry and Jan.

Of course, Rocky was there and all smiles!

Las chicas!!

There are plans in place for live music so stay tuned to find out which of our many talented musicians will be taking the stage. No doubt Chris Bolister will be manning the mic the next time he is in town. Maybe we can convince Mr. Michael Grady to get himself on a plane anddown to Playa for a guest appearance.

We wish Mayte and Ale the best of luck with their new venture. As they are two of the hardest working chicas in Playa, I have no doubt that "El Bar" will quickly become a favorite locals watering hole, filling the vacancy left in the expat social structure after Keith's place finally closed its gates for the last time. No doubt you will see us there from time to time!

1st Annual Taste of Playa an Overwhelming Success!

Rob Kinnon — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:53:00 GMT

Finally, after three months of hard work and countless hours of planning and organizing, Taste of Playa went off to rave reviews. The event saw nearly three thousand Playa del Carmen residents and tourists come through the grounds. Some came just to look around. many more stayed to enjoy the fabulous food, the music and the time to catch up with old friends. It seemed that everyone I know was there, eating and laughing under the hot Caribbean sun.

As we hoped, the 25 participating restaurants, bars and specialty food vendors all brought their "A" game to the event. Each one of them, dressed in their best chef whites, put out their signature dishes, the food and flavors that distinguish them as chefs and artists. As I walked through the event, stopping at each of the tables, I was so happy to see everyone smiling and chatting, promoting their businesses and having fun! I am really proud of the event we created and look forward to doing it even better in 2010. There are hundreds of people to thank and I plan to do so very soon. So many people contributed to the success of this event and we are truly grateful for all their support and assistance.

In the end, we consider this 1st Taste of Playa to be a success. The restaurants were all happy and got a lot of promotional bang for their buck. Our corporate sponsors got some good exposure and a chance to contribute to the local community. The attendees, from all reports, enjoyed the atmosphere, the music and, of course, the fabulous food, all for a reasonable price. A lot of people have asked me why we chose to to hold this event in the low season, the toughest time of year for most businesses. Sure. We would have had an even bigger turnout and made a lot more money during the high season when the city is packed with flush tourists, but that is not entirely the point of this festival. It is our hope that Taste of Playa will grow over the years to become a real destination event, something that travelers make their plans around in order to be able to attend. It is our hope that this event, and others like it that will surely follow, will help to shorten the usual "low season" by a week or two and put some much needed cash into the pockets of local businesses. As Taste of Playa grows and becomes more well known, certainly the participants will benefit but so also will the local hotel owners, shop keeps, taxi drivers and tour guides. In the end, the whole city benefits from supporting these community events!

There are many more pictures to come but here is a nice sampling from the day.

2009 has been a challenging year for the business owners in Playa del Carmen and all along the Riviera Maya. Many of the people we approached this year for the 1st Taste of Playa simply could not afford to take part this year due to financial restrictions. The fact that so many people did participate in and contribute to this untested, fledgling event is truly remarkable and I hope we managed to make it all worthwhile and valuable for everyone. In an effort to make Taste of Playa 2010 even better and more successful, we would like to hear your feedback. If you attended Taste of Playa 2009 and would like to give us your comments and suggestions, please complete this quick and easy Guest Survey.

***If you would like use of any of the photos in this entry, please contact stutravelling@yahoo.com.

Tickets Available Now for Taste of Playa !!

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:36:00 GMT

This week, leading up to the First Annual Taste of Playa International Food Festival on September 5, 2009, an event that features some of the most talented chefs in the Riviera Maya, tickets went on sale at various locations in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

“So far, the response from the public has been overwhelming” said Nicola Inwood Chairperson for the Taste of Playa Executive Committee. “We have fielded hundreds of inquiries about the event over the past few weeks. It’s exciting to see the community support for this event.”

This exciting culinary event is open to the public and offers two ticketing options for attendees: Taste of Playa “pesos”, sold for 10 MN a piece, are general admission tokens that are used to purchase the culinary creations, portion by portion. The all-inclusive VIP Passports for 400 MN entitle the purchaser to sample all of the signature dishes offered by the participating restaurants and beverage participants, including one hour of a private tasting before the general public arrives. Both ticketing options are on sale prior to the event. Only the Playa “pesos” will be on sale during the event on September 5, 2009. General Admission is at 3 pm and VIP Passport holders will enjoy a special preview starting at 2 pm.

Tickets are available for purchase at Hotel Tropical CasaBlanca on 1^st Ave between 10^th and 12^th street or at Luna Blue Hotel on 26^th between 5^th and 10^th Ave.

Over 25 of the region’s diverse chefs will come together on Saturday, September 5^th to show both visitors and residents what makes Playa del Carmen a world class dining destination. The event will be located in the recently renovated city center, Parque Fundadores, from 3pm until 9pm. Organizers anticipate a tremendous turnout with the heaviest traffic occurring after 6pm.

Taste of Playa is a community oriented culinary event that celebrates the creativity and diverse cultural influences of chefs throughout the Riviera Maya and promotes the unique culinary perspectives that have contributed to the cosmopolitan reputation of Playa Del Carmen. Playa del Carmen is widely recognized as one of the top vacation destinations in the world. The city has gained this distinction by not only celebrating and maintaining the integrity of the Mexican heritage but also by embracing and incorporating the cultural influences brought by visitors from all over the world. Corporate Sponsors include Buy Playa Real Estate Advisors and Bric International. For more information, visit www.tasteofplaya.com.

Birthday Fun in Cancun

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:56:00 GMT

This year, our dear friend Kim, decided she wanted to do something "different" to celebrate her birthday. Great! we thought anticipating some fabulous dinner in a restaurant that is not one of our regular haunts. Perhaps an elegant evening at one of the fine dining destinations at Mayakoba, Gran Velas or The Mandarin Oriental was what she had in mind. Our mouths watered with anticipation, looking forward to trying something new. Well, it turned out that when Kim says "different" she really means it. In this case "different" meant an evening of sushi and bowling in Cancun! Now it is no secret that I am a lover of all things sushi. Slap a plate of raw fish down in front of me and I am the happiest girl in the world. However, my sentiments toward bowling run in the opposite direction. Mind you, I have only bowled once before, in the third grade. It was an unremarkable experience and one I have managed not to repeat for the past 35 years. Promised an extraordinary meal of fresh fish and hot sake, (and because we love Kim) we reluctantly agreed and Rob and I made plans to join the group for the trip to Cancun. Bombero Brian and wife Edie arranged for transportation to haul us to and fro and on Friday evening, with roadies in hand, we piled into a van and headed north.

It turns out, I was not to be disappointed. At Yamamoto Japanese Restaurant we met up with the rest of our group, a pack of unruly Canadians (actually, all good friends from Playa) who had already pre-ordered some their favorite rolls on the menu and we quickly followed suit. Rounds of hot sake quickly turned into sake-bombers with the addition of imported Japanese beer. Spirits rose quickly as did our volume as round after round of rolls and expertly sliced sashimi made their way to our table.

The birthday girl!!

Jill and Edie

Edamame

The Maya Roll, the evening's big winner! As a rule, I am a sushi purist, but even I could not contest that this was delicious!

Um...sorry Kim. Sake is somewhat of an acquired taste.

But everybody loves Sake-bombers!!!

Most especially, Mr. Kinnon!!

Kim and Edie

Fresh yellowtail. Yummmm.

Assorted sashimi including tuna, snapper, salmon, mackerel and octopus.

Some delightful concoction with unagi (fresh water eel) and ikura (flying fish roe). Yummo!!

After a delightful dinner, we piled back into the van for the short trip to Paseo Cancun, home of Planet Bowl. We acquired our dreaded rental shoes and were assigned a lane in the dark side of the hall lit only with black light. I was relieved, hoping that here, my bad bowling might go unnoticed. No such luck. As a clan, the Kinnons officially stink at bowling.The mostly-American team squeaked by the first win but were unceremoniously trounced by the Canadians in the second round.

Edie getting fitted with shoes.

Brian's turn. Lucky Edie!! ;)

Doug rocking his rentals with black socks. A bold move, sir!

Jilly and me sporting the traditional white bobby socks.

Canada vs. USA

Strike!!

Mr. Kinnon pulls out a big strike but it's not enough to topple the Canadian powerhouse!

All kidding aside, we had a delightful evening full of fun with good friends. Best of all, it was most definitely "different". If you like Japanese cuisine and sushi, I highly recommend a trip to Yamamoto. If I had any clue how to find it again, I would suggest a return trip for Rob and myself.

Chef John Gray Unveils New Signature Bottling

Rob Kinnon — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:37:00 GMT

Last week, at our weekly "Uncorked Club" outing, Rob and I had the good fortune of getting a sneak preview of John Gray's new signature wine, "El Corazon". Made from grapes sourced in Mexico's beautiful wine region, Valle de Guadalupe, in the Baja, just a few hours south of California's Napa Valley, the blend, orchestrated in 2008 by John himself and longtime friend James Suckling, a senior editor for Wine Spectator Magazine, is a mix of Old Vine Zinfandel (35%), Petit Syrah (35%), Syrah (15%) and Grenache (15%).

On Thursday August 27th, John and his team will roll out this new vintage to the public in his beautiful Cancun venue, "John Gray's Downtown". If you are able to attend this exciting wine tasting and food pairing event, please RSVP to jg_restaurantgroup[at]hotmail.com. Reservations are highly recommended. This limited release of just 2500 bottles will be available only from the John Gray Restaurant Group. Based on our experience, I don't imagine that supply will last long!

Fine Dining in Playa del Carmen at Cocina 38

Rob Kinnon — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:54:00 GMT

For months, Rob and I have been looking for an excuse to check out Cocina 38, one of the newer fine dining establishments in the burgeouning north end of Playa del Carmen. Back in June, during the initial organizational phase of Taste of Playa, Roberto and his family invited our group to meet at his restaurant and treated us to a wonderful tasting menu. A few weeks ago, we had the good fortune of enjoying their carefully crafted hors d'oeuvres at the open house for El Taj Beachfront. We were so impressed with their efforts, we just knew we had to schedule in a special dinner. Joined by good friend and fellow foodie, JJ Johnston, we were all curious about what Roberto and brother Diego might have in store for us.

Cocina 38 is located, not surprizingly, on Calle 38 in an area of town that has exploded with development over the past 5 years. Situated in a locale in the new VIA 38 condominium complex, the clean modern design of the restaurant blends perfectly with the architecture of the complex surrounding it. Decorated only with traditional masks from Guatemala, the home of the chef and his family, the dining room is simple yet elegant, a lovely place to sit and watch the comings and goings along la Quinta. There is a small but stylish bar inside and several tables outside which is where we settled ourselves for dinner.

We were promptly greeted and seated and served our requested wines, the house Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, both perfectly chilled and well poured. We had heard rumblings that early on, the pours were very light, so I was on the lookout. Any portioning problems, have obviously been corrected and the wines were served to us in large, delicate goblets, each time filled to the correct level, the very widest part of the bowl.

The meal started with an amuse bouche, a mouthful of lightly-cooked local white fish, Grouper I believe. It was just enough to whet our appetites for our following courses. JJ and I both started with the soft shell crab, battered lightly, tempura style and perched atop a delicate and aromatic salad dotted with edamame and an Asian inspired sesame-soy dressing. The crab was perfectly cooked, juicy and well seasoned. It may be the best soft shell crab I have ever eaten. I highly recommend a visit while this is still on the menu. Rob chose the pork belly and it did not disappoint. Three large, slow braised pieces of pork were sandwiched between queen scallops with dollops of warm apple puree. It is fair to say that my husband was in "hog heaven". The flavor of warm apple made the marriage of the pork and scallops complete, a perfect sweet foil for the salty smoky undertones.

For our main courses, we had selected, the prawns in coconut milk and the pan seared duck brea.st with vanilla potato puree. Both entrees were delivered piping hot and perfectly prepared. My shrimp were large and tender and served with the head on, which I appreciate. The boys both enjoyed their duck, cooked just right, and raved about the vanilla mashers. It must have been wonderful because I didn't manage to get a single bite! We had been warned that the portion sizes were a bit small, something I consider being married to a larger than life man. I find that assessment to be partially accurate. The portions on the proteins, the meats and fish, were just fine but I would have liked to see a few more vegetables on the plates. (Of course, that could just be the diet talking.)

We all passed on desert as friend and fellow Taste of Playa committee member Nicola joined us late in the meal for a glass of wine and a special vegetarian treat, whipped up "a la minute" by Chef Diego. With after dinner coffees and digestivos we were served up the most exquisite complimentary chocolate truffles, on their own worth the trip up town and a nice little "thank you" from the chef and his family. Small gestures like this will go a long way, especially with the locals.

Obviously, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at Cocina 38. The staff could not possibly be nicer, the food was thoughtfully created and properly executed and the atmosphere (although somewhat marred by the African drumming class going on across the street) was calming and relaxing, exactly what we all need after a hectic work week. We will be back to Cocina 38 and look forward to turning more of our local friends on to this great family run restaurant. We are pleased that they have agreed to participate in Taste of Playa 2009 so that everyone will get a chance to sample a bit of the magic coming out of their kitchen.

Good Eats Playa del Carmen - La Cueva del Chango

Rob Kinnon — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:28:00 GMT

One of our very favorite spots in Playa del Carmen, one of the first we ever dined in even before moving to Mexico, is La Cueva del Chango. When we arrived, five years ago, this restaurant, nestled in the jungle off of Calle 38, seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, far from the action of downtown Playa. Well, downtown Playa has grown by leaps and bounds and Cueva is now right in the middle of the action, an oasis in a sea of modern development. Owners Pedro Gomez and Andres Friederich have made some improvements to the property over the years but nothing that in any way detracts from the "Old Playa" tropical atmosphere. The restaurant is completely open to the jungle and centered around a natural water feature which sends a steady stream running through out the property. Colorful glass bottles set into the free-form cement roof create a fanciful kaleidoscope effect inside while the garden tables are surrounded by tropical foliage and wandering vines, a quiet place to enjoy lunch with friends or a romantic dinner.

Executive Chef Rafael Montes has created a menu filled with fresh takes on traditional Mexican flavors. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the kitchen at Cueva del Chango is always a buzz with activity putting out old favorites like chiles relleno, chiliquiles and empanadas alongside crepes, sandwiches, fresh salads and grilled local fish all accompanied by their house made salsas. This day, Rob and I both went for our old standby, the creamy poblano pepper soup with Oaxacan cheese and fresh crema. I followed with a large garden salad topped with grilled white fish and a chilled yogurt dressing with dill, for Rob, a grilled chicken breas.t sandwhich, loaded with veggies on wholegrain bread. As always our meal was delicious and filling. The service was attentive and friendly and we left promising Andres that one day soon we would return to enjoy dinner in the garden.

La Cueva del Chango is located on Calle 38, just east of 5th Ave. going toward the beach. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday 8am - 11pm, serving breakfast lunch and dinner, Sunday 8am - 2pm for breakfast and early lunch. I am also pleased to report that La Cueva del Chango will be one of the participants in Taste of Playa - 1st Annual Sampling taking place on September 5, 2009 in the Parque Fundadores. If you are able to attend, be sure to come by their table and say "hello" and try some of Chef Rafa's signature dishes!

The Mojo Zone Celebrates One Year of Good Music and Good Times!

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:29:00 GMT

The Mojo Zone was THE place to be last Thursday evening as musicians and music lovers from all over the Riviera Maya packed into Bad Brad's place to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of this popular live music venue! It was standing room only, and just barely that as Brad and his band opened the stage to visiting drummers, guitar players and vocalists, all eager to entertain the throngs of friends and cheering fans. Brad, graciously greeted guests, handed out free drink vouchers and offered tasty hors d'oevres in the upstairs lounge. It was a very special evening and the outpouring of support from the local community as well as visiting friends speaks volumes about Brad the contributions he has made to music scene of the Riviera Maya. We congratulate him on his success and look forward to another year of great music at The Mojo Zone.

The Mojo Zone is located on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen between Calles 10 and 12, just south of the Tequila Barrel.