Mexican Mole

Red Cabbage
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
July 22, 2010
7ish pm

When asked where one could get the best traditional Mexican food in Puerto Vallarta, I heard Red Cabbage as the answer many times.  Therefore, we had to try it.

When I saw the turns and backstreets our cab driver took to get to the restaurant I was very thankful we didn't try to find this place ourselves or try to navigate the bus system!  We ended up in a neighborhood and I'm sure I wouldn't have recognized this place as a great restaurant if I was walking by, and on another note, I know that without my trusty tripadvisor.com reviews I would have never even had the opportunity to walk by, given the local!  But we were immediately warmly greeted by (what I assume to be) the owner's son opening our cab door to great us.  This was soon followed by the owner welcoming us at the front door. 

We were immediately seated and enjoyed looking at the tables decorated in different monetary bills from the different countries patrons visited from.  We realized we didn't need to add one from the US.  The ambiance seemed to exude family and friend centeredness.  Since it was a weeknight during the low season, the restaurant had a few tables of patrons, but was not busy and we put our orders in quickly. 

This restaurant is known for its mole sauce and so I had to try it.  Erik went with the chilles rellenos.  Now I have to admit I took a risk with the chicken mole.  Honestly, mole, with its chocolate and chili nuances, is generally not one of my favorite sauces.  However, I've also heard that it takes skill to make a good mole.  It is best slow cooked and generally a mixture of up to 40 ingredients.  I reasoned that possibly it wasn't that I didn't like mole, but it was more that I hadn't had the right mole.  So many people swear by a good mole, it couldn't possibly be that I didn't like it.  I figured I was in this dish's home country at a place known for the dish,  so if I was going to like it at all I would like it here.  So I went for it. 

Unfortunately, I found out that evening that mole is just not a dish I'm overly fond of having.  I could tell that this mole was a great one, it was by far the best one I had ever tasted, and it had a rich, complex flavor.   So this is by no way a critique of this restaurant's dish.  I have recognized that this is a case of my faulty taste buds, and nothing more.  The chicken filling was tender, slow cooked, and very flavorful.  The rice was good and I loved the added carrots and peas.  I will also admit that the mole grew on me the more I had it,  but I found myself wanting more of Erik's chille rellenos. 

Now, in my opinion, the chille rellenos were a different story.  These were really good and batter dipped, just the way I like them (and Rick Bayless says they should be)!

For dessert we decided to share the flan.  This flan was lighter and less custardy than the flan we usually have in the United States.  It had a strong nutmeg flavor, but overall was delightful. 

Overall, we really enjoyed the family style friendliness of this place, and the food was pretty good too! 

Bill Total:  ?? Absolutely no clue.  It was one of our pricier dinners in Mexico, but still reasonable compared to American restaurants.

Overall Rating:  3 buckeyes

The Best Breakfast Deal in the Marina!

Sea-Fare at the Marina
Marina, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

9ish am

July 21, 2010

Since we had a big adventure day planned of a high speed boat ride, riding a donkey up a mountain, waterfall rapelling, and all of this topped off with a tequila tasting; we decided we needed to start the day with a hearty breakfast.  We needed to be downtown by 10:30 and so wanted a convenient place near our hotel, but on the way. 

We took the bus most places which generally resulted in us taking a nice walk from our hotel to the other side of the marina where the bus stop was located.  The walk was always beautiful, but we soon learned it was also like "running the gauntlet".  The marina has a series of really nice shops, restaurants, and tour booths along the way with someone at each place trying to "entice" you to spend some time with them.  We had walked through this area probably half a dozen times already and perfected our polite, yet curt no's.  However, this time we were glad we'd actually get to say yes to someone! 

The Sea-Fare at the Marina won out with their daily breakfast special that couldn't be beat for only $3.99.  We both got the same thing which consisted of scrambled eggs with ham, chilaquiles, refried beans topped with queso fresco, fresh tortillas, and freshly squeezed orange juice!  I still can not believe we got this quality and quantity of food for $4 each.

The orange juice was so refreshing, and I had forgotten how much of a stronger orange flavor you get when the juice is freshly squeezed!  The eggs with ham were flavorful and perfectly cooked and the refried beans were great.  But the stand out was the chilaquiles. 

This is such a simple dish, but was oh so good!  It is composed of cut squares of tortillas lightly fried, topped with a slightly spicy red sauce, and then topped with sour cream.  The red sauce slightly softens a bit of the tortilla and you get a soft bite, with crispier edges.  Then the sour cream cools off the warmth of the dish and spice of the red sauce.  As I write this, I'm wishing I had a bowl of them right now! 

Erik and I had never heard of this dish before, but upon doing some research it apparently is a typical breakfast/brunch staple in Mexico and is thought to be a great hangover cure!  Maybe I should have gotten some more after our tequila tasting ;)  Upon doing even more research, for my local readers, apparently you can get a version of chilaquiles at Cabo Cocina and Cuco's.  We already have dinner plans for tonight, but I just might be making a trip to one of these establishments next weekend!
 
Bill Total:  around $10

Overall Rating:  4 buckeyes

And just for fun here are some shots from the rest of our day...

 

  

Nothing's Better than Tacos Al Pastor

Pepe's Tacos
Puerto Vallarta
Mexico
July 20, 2010
9ish pm

After our large lunch at Cafe de Ollo it took us awhile to become hungry for dinner.  After walking around town and enjoying the sights we decided we needed tacos for dinner.  Now tacos from the taco trucks around town are one of my all time favorite meals and  I even rented one for my 30th birthday party!  I couldn't wait to try them in Mexico. 

You could smell the freshly cooked meat and spices as you walked up to the stand.  We grabbed a table and a friendly server was quickly over to help us out.  Service was fast and the tacos were cheap ($1 each).  Within just a few minutes we had a delightful plate of tacos al pastor.  The pork is wonderfully spiced and cut from a spit comparable to the spit gyro meat is made from.  The cook shaves the meat off the spit and catches it in 2 corn tortillas. 

The tacos are then topped with pineapple, cilantro, and onion.  Fresh limes are brought out to squeeze over the tacos.  The cilantro and onion are fresh, but the pineapple is what makes the tacos!  The pineapple is roasted at the top of the spit and then a few slices are chopped off when the meat is cut for the tacos.  The sweet roasted pineapple pairs wonderfully with the cilantro, onion, and fresh lime juice. 

There are then a series of sauces you can add to the tacos such as a creamy advocado sauce (more liquidy than a typical guacamole), a tomato based salsa, a smoky chipotle sauce, and a tomatillo sauce.  I liked the tomato salsa or tomatillo sauce on the tacos best, but all flavor combinations were good.

Yum!  I started out with a plate of 3 tacos, but after those were done I kept going and ordered 2 more!  This is definitely one of my fondest dinner memories from Mexico. 

Bill Total:  Tacos were around $1 each

Overal Rating:  5 buckeyes!

The Buckeye goes to Puerto Vallarta

Cafe d'Ollo
Puerto Vallarta
Mexico
July 20, 2010
2ish pm

For our summer vacation this year we decided to sample some more authentic versions of our favorite foods and head south of the border to Puerto Vallarta.  We had heard this was a Mexican foodie destination and with the bonus of a great beach and our dollar stretching far, we felt we couldn't go wrong. 

We arrived in Mexico in the afternoon of July 19th and immediately headed to our pool bar (we were staying at the Westin Resort and Spa-Puerto Vallarta) to relax from our flight and try some amazing margaritas, chips, and guacamole!  The bartender was happy to oblige.

The colorful chips were great and the guacamole was flavorful.  However, I wasn't a big fan of the Cohita cheese (similar to a Parmesan) on top.  However, the star of this snack was definitely the margaritas!  The tequila is of higher quality than many made here and fresh lime juice is the norm.  A special bonus was that we arrived during happy hour where the special was buy one get one free.  However, this bonus quickly became a negative as I didn't quite realize how much stronger a Mexican margarita would be as compared to the usual at home.  I soon needed a nap! 

After vegging out the first evening in town we headed off to explore the next day.  We walked around and explored the vendors along the Rio Quale and then stopped for lunch at Cafe de Olla.  We had heard this was a must stop restaurant for many people.  The restaurant was quaint and the owner greeted us as if he knew us.

We loved how many restaurants had outdoor grills in an effort to minimize the heat of a kitchen in a very HOT locale.  We also loved the tree growing up through the roof on the inside!

As we sat down we were immediately brought bread and fresh salsas.  The chopped salsa was fresh with cilantro, cucumber, tomato, and onion.  It was my favorite due to the freshness. 

The darker one was a smoky sauce of chipotle, tomato, and some heat.  This one was great over rice and beans. 

We ordered 2 chicken tamales and the Mexican plate to share. 

The tamales were wrapped in banana leaves.  The chicken was plentiful and fall off the bone tender.  Overall, the dish was good, but I would have preferred some more spice. 

The Mexican plate came with a chile relleno, a chicken enchilada, a strip steak, and rice and beans.  We definitely weren't hungry after this lunch!  The chile relleno was a-ma-zing!  By far, the best one I've ever had.  The pepper was roasted, stuffed with masa, and then topped with melted cheese.  I don't think there was any one thing that made it better than chile rellenos here, but a combination of the ingredients available being fresher, more traditional, and higher quality ingredients than are typically available here.  It was exactly the way a chile relleno should be. 

I also liked the addition of peas and carrots to the rice and may try that at home.  The refried beans were great and somehow had a more "beany" flavor (like the sophisticated descriptor?) flavor than refried beans I'm used to.  Unfortunately, the strip steak and chicken enchilada were totally average. 

Overall, this was quite a filling lunch!  We'd definitely come back here for the hospitality and chile rellenos, but I'd want to try some other dishes before I'd feel the food was all it was cracked up to be.  The prices seemed to be more in the "tourist" range and I felt we could get similar food at places a little more off the beaten path for a better price. 

Total Price:  1 Coke, 1 beer, Mexican plate, 2 chicken tamales, and tip = somewhere between $20-25   

Sweet Granville

Victoria's Parlour
134 Broadway E
Granville, Ohio 43023
June 12, 2010
2ish pm

On a fresh and warm Saturday in June we decided to go for a drive and explore a little outside our familiar city.  I had read an article not too long ago in Ohio Magazine about Granville and we decided to check it out.  As we drove through town we were struck by the quaintness of the houses in the village and the great shops and restaurants along the main street.  We went a little farther and loved the rolling green hills and beauty of Denison's campus.  It was the picture of a great small American town. 

We spent a bit meandering down and around East Broadway enjoying the shops, admiring the houses, and trying to decide where we wanted to stop for a bite to eat.  There were many great choices, but finally we picked a cute old-fashioned ice cream parlor.  When you walk in you feel like you're walking back in time, complete with servers dressed in Victorian era garb!  We loved the classic black and white checkered floor and heart shaped, white iron soda fountain chairs.  We could just imagine a high school couple from long ago sitting, talking, and sharing a Coke with 2 straws!  There could not be a better picture of Americana. 

As we looked over the menu we saw classic soda fountain drinks with the flavor added in store.  I decided I had to try a blackberry Coke.  Alas, it was a bit too sweet for my preference; but Erik's cherry Coke was great! 

For lunch Erik went with a grilled cheese with roasted red pepper.  The bread was nicely grilled and had a great butter flavor.  The cheese and red pepper were a great combination!  This was a great sandwich. 

I went with a classic Caesar chicken salad.  It was exactly what you would expect with  expertly grilled chicken, fresh romaine, a sprinkling of cheese, and a good flavored Caesar dressing. 

After lunch we were stuffed, but figured we couldn't leave without actually trying the ice cream.  We decided to share a pistachio gelato and walk a little more around Granville (in a vain attempt to walk off some of those extra calories)!  The ice cream had a great flavor with nice chunks of pistachio in it, but it definitely had the texture of an ice cream rather than a gelato.  However, we're not complaining. 

What a sweet ending to a quaint village stroll and a sweet time!

Bill total:  2 flavored Cokes, a grilled cheese, a chicken Caesar salad, gelato, and a tip = $21

Overall Rating:  3 1/2 buckeyes

Giorgio's for Mother's Day

Giorgio Italian Restaurant
Clintonville
May 8, 2010
7ish pm

We had heard a few murmurrings of a good Italian restaurant in Clintonville and decided to give it a shot for our small family combination celebration dinner of Mother's Day and my birthday.  Italian was sounding like it would hit the spot! 

We arrived to a softly lit and intimately quiet restaurant.  The owner, I presume, warmly greated us and insisted we take the only open table (large enough for 6 or more, even though there were only 3 of us) rather than saving it for a potentially larger group.  We were thankful we didn't have to wait. 

The decor of the restaurant was Tuscan simplicity and I loved the solid wood furniture pieces used for service.

For an appetizer we decided to share the caprese salad which was standardly prepared with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozarella, a drizzle of sweet balsamic vinegar, and a chiffonade of fresh basil.  I was surprised with how high the quality the tomatoes were with it being so early in the spring.  It made me look forward to what my garden would have to offer later in the summer. 

Bread was brought out that had a crusty and flaky outside, but light and warm in the center.  This was served with a great herbed butter. 

Service was quick and just as we finished our salad our entrees were ready.  Erik went with the chicken parmesan.  Overall, this was a very good dish.  The breading was not too heavy, but not too light.  It was well browned and nicely coated with cheese.  The red sauce was light and not overpowering or sweet, but gave just enough bite to temper the heaviness of the chicken. 

My mother ordered the baked penne, which was a very good dish.  There were chunks of mushroom that added meaty flavor and chunks of fennel that gave the dish a different, but very good spin.  And of course you can never go wrong with an ooey, gooey cheese topping of mozarella, provolone, and romano. 

I ordered the pesto penne and I wish I would have gone with a more traditional baked pasta dish.  I ordered the penne without chicken (trying to save a few calories), but it came out with chicken anyway.  Our waitress quickly caught the mistake and brought me another penne fairly quickly.  The penne was cooked to a wonderful al dente and overall the sauce and pasta toss was nice.  I really enjoyed the roasted red peppers and spinach leaves in with the pasta, but the pesto was heavy on the olive oil and light on the basil.  I would have preferred the opposite for a lighter and more herby flavor.

Overall, we loved the atmosphere and friendliness of the staff.  The majority of our dishes were wonderful.

Total Price:  1 martini, 1 glass of wine, 1 Coke, 3 entrees, and tip = $60

Overall Rating:  3 1/2 buckeyes

Our Last Cuban Bite out of Miami

David's Cafe (If you click this link be prepared to be blasted with some loud Latin music.  Don't say I didn't warn you)
South Beach, Florida
April 7, 2010
10ish pm

Well, I definitely couldn't leave Miami without having a Cubano sandwich!  We heard David's had a great one as well as some other classic home style Cuban foods.  Also on the positive, it was open 24 hours!  So on our last evening in Miami we took our final leisurely walk down Ocean Drive stopping to people watch and having the occasional drink before deciding it was time for a later dinner.  Here's a quick shot of me after a drink at the famous Clevelander. 

As we walked over to David's we immediately noted the traditional South Beach decor.  Since it was later in the evening, but not yet time for the clubbers to be piling in, the restaurant was fairly deserted.  But we were warmly welcomed and took a seat at the counter. 

I already knew what I wanted, but Erik took some time to decide which Cuban delicacy to try.  While he poured over the menu we were served some Cuban bread to nibble on.  It was lusciously buttered. 

Erik decided on the albondigas catalana (meatballs) with yuca frita (cassava) and frijoles negros (black beans).  This dish was simply amazing!  The meatballs were light and tender and the sauce had an interesting mildly spiced flavor. There was just a hint of cinnamon and possibly cayenne that made for an interesting spin on what we are used to as the typical meatball dish.  We had never had fried yuca before and were pleasantly surprised by the tender, warm center and crispy fried outside.  This could easily be a great alternative to the french fry.  The black beans and rice were also nicely spiced and flavorful. 

I, as was aforementioned, ordered the sandwich cubano.  I must say I was a little underwhelmed.  It was not a bad sandwich by any stretch, but it also wasn't much more than a ham sandwich I might make myself for lunch when trying to conserve some calories by not adding too many fillings.  To me, the sandwich was heavy on the bread and light on the fillings.  The Cuban bread was fresh and good.  The ham and pork were also good, and the traditional additions of pickles and yellow mustard make for a good ham sandwich.  I just wanted more of it all!  I also was not a huge fan of David's style of fries.  They were julienned and very crispy, almost to the point of being more of a potato chip's texture than a french fry.  I missed the tender inside of a thicker cut fry. 

But honestly the highlight of the place, was the cook of the evening.  I have never been able to watch a cook who seemed so simply happy to be doing his job.  He took such care in assembling each dish, was truly interested in what we thought of things, and almost seemed to be whistling and dancing as he worked!  He just seemed to have a contagious positive zest for life that made dinner at David's that much more enjoyable.  And this was how he was at 10 o'clock at night!  Here's a glimpse as he puts another sandwich together (too bad I didn't get a shot from the front). 

Overall, we enjoyed David's.  The meatballs were fantastic, but the Cubano was just so so for me.  We'd definitely go back, but probably stay with the home style dishes and fried yuca! 

Total Price:  Not sure again, but things were very reasonable.  The albondigas were about $10 and the Cubano was about $9. 

Overall Rating:  3 1/2 buckeyes