We have been eating quite well. First, we are making our own burritos to take fishing. Just marinate chicken or beef in ranchero sauce, fry up some bell pepper, onion, tomatoes with the saucy meat, add juice of 3 or 4 very small limes and wrap in a tortilla. Yummy! So we have been cooking more at home and only going out every other night. I have found rice packets at the local tienda that are 1 Cup so it is perfect for us for 2 meals. And last week Joe's Deli staff told us about a green grocer next door so we've shopped there twice. They have fresh broccoli, peppers, onions, fruits, etc. I did buy some "Safee" product to spray the produce, just in case, but it is much nicer and a larger selection than the local tienda (supermarket) has.
This is how I mostly fish on the panga, looking for bait balls and marlin fins.
This year we have tried many new restaurants in the area. I still want to go to LaRibera for 'linner' one afternoon before we leave but Los Barriles has everything we need.
1. Best tacos in town are at El Viejo. Hands down the best. Fresh, fresh, fresh! They have a toppings bar where you decide what you want to add to your breakfast omelet or your tacos - things like fresh chopped salsa, pickled jalapenos, onion, cheese, etc. Simple menu and you can choose grilled vs. fried on your tacos for N$2 extra (N$ peso = about 17 cents US) and well worth the cost. Grilled shrimp and grilled scallops were just amazing.
2. Herman used to be the fishing boat scheduler to see here at Palmas de Cortez. About 3 years ago he left and opened a small family restaurant above street level on the "main drag" called Terrazzo de German (Herman's Terrace). They have an open air kitchen and a very large wood grill. Special is grilled fish which is very good. Mike had his with cilantro sauce and mine was just grilled with lime on the side. We buy the same tortillas they use at the grocery store, piping hot and fresh. The tortillas have replaced bread in our diet...why by Oroweat 12-grain bread when you can have fresh maize (corn) tortillas?
3. We went to La Casita, a very small patio totally surrounded by a stick, privacy fence. They have actual stemmed wine glasses and cloth napkins, which is HUGE for this area. The menu is very upscale and different from most every other dining option in town. Can't wait to go back and try the grilled sea bass. And you'd never know it could be this amazing when you see the small house beside the road. In fact, we drove past it for almost 2 weeks before we realized it was the restaurant we'd been looking for...the map locator on Trip Advisor was WAY OFF! This restaurant also has sushi! We had salads, Mike had sushi roll, and I had coconut shrimp in a mango/jalapeño sauce. And the best lemonade - fresh squeezed into mineral water (agua con gas). That has become a new addiction and is so refreshing!! We order it everywhere now.
Mike says I look happy. I think I look goofy but the salad was soooooo tasty and fresh!
Mike's sushi roll
My coconut shrimp with mashed potatoes and veggies - delish!
4. There are signs all over town about El Gecko. We aren't telling our friend Jackie it is down a dirt road past a trailer park on the beach until she's here. Our greeter was a very well groomed French poodle named Tiki...I'm usually very good remembering dog names, it's the people names I never remember! So I got puppy kisses before dinner. They had Don Julio anejo tequila and made guacamole at our table side (extra spicy, of course)
Yep, made table side!
And El Gecko had molcajete bowls!!!!!!!!! Molcajete is generally used to grind up seeds or nuts, made out of lava rock. These bowls have a red or green sauce (mine was green) with meat, cactus, green onions, & white cheese served with rice, beans and tortillas. Mine was the grilled skirt steak bowl but could also have had pork, chicken or shrimp. The bowls are heated thru so everything in them stays nice and hot throughout your meal.
My happy face with my molcajete bowl
5. Our old stand-by is Tio Pablo's. It has been here since the 1990's. They have great waitresses and good, consistent quality, Americanized food. Daily specials include:
- Thursday - Reuben sandwich & fries
- Friday - fish & chips
- Saturday - 50% off pork dishes on menu (and you have to have the pork filet medallions)
- Sunday - Angus beef Prime Rib.
That Prime Rib is at least a pound of meat so we always split it and order an extra salad and potato. It is our go to spot when we don't know what we want to eat.
So we've gotten through our first month here. I'm anxious to see what the second 30 days will bring. And I'll keep you posted on that!
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