A business associate asked to meet me her for lunch so that she could get some traveling tips about Isla Mujeres. The opportunity was a perfect excuse to think about warm temperatures in the middle of winter. We decided to meet in the vicinity of her office at Peaks Restaurant at 106 Scurfield Blvd. in Whyte Ridge.

I suppose it was because we were both contemplating fitting into our bathing suits, that we ordered salads. She ordered the Greek Salad and me the Strawberry Spinach Salad. Each of us added a grilled and sliced chicken breast. Large pieces of garlic toast were perched on the rims of our salad plates. They had been saturated in butter (a good thing) and were crispy as well as delicious.

I admired my friend’s salad from across the table not knowing her quite well enough to request a taste. I noticed that her Greek salad included plenty of crumbled feta and kalamata olives. Uncharacteristic of a traditional recipe, the salad also included home-made croutons. As she asked the questions and I did all the talking, it took me longer than her to consume my huge lunch.

The delectable slices of strawberries, toasted almonds, shredded mozzarella and red onions were a summery taste as we chatted about golf carts, seafood restaurants and the best beach spots. The restaurant’s own poppy seed vinaigrette provided both acidity and sweetness and made the varied ingredients sparkle like the sea.

When a call was placed to the owner of the restaurant to check on the spelling of the unusual family name (Skrbic), he hinted that they originate from Eastern Europe so I was not surprised by the generous portions having travelled to the area in the past.

Peaks Restaurant & Catering (as stated on their website), external sign reads: Peaks & Ridges

Kath’s quote: “The West wasn’t won on salad.”-North Dakota Beef Council

Love, that is all.

When Mel & Alda’s was situated in the Colonias we had the pleasure of visiting Fredy, Anna and their daughter Jennie. Boy, oh boy, can this family cook!

The gang ordered the sopas (a thick crunchy corn tortilla) topped with a seasoned chicken and pulled pork. Everyone agreed that they were sensational!

I asked for Fredy’s recommendation and tasted a bean, pork & queso quesadilla. It was delicious but did not make for a stellar photo.

Fredy sat down at the next table to have a visit with Anna and eat his own breakfast.

Perhaps he say us ooggling his plate, so he ordered a second one for us to share. These were fried tortilla strips, a light tomato sauce, topped with two fried eggs, cremo, and a great avocado sauce. They too were fantastic!

We intend to visit Fredy’s for breakfast when we are on the island in the near future. I cannot stop thinking about those eggs!

Kath’s quote: “An egg is always an adventure; the next one may be different.”-Oscar Wilde

Love, that is all.

No trip to Isla Mujeres would be complete without a visit to Fredy’s. Read here about past visits: long ago, 2011,  2013, 2014, 

We have been friends with Fredy for so long that Sister #3’s photo of them together once adorned his restaurant wall (prior to the most recent renovations that is). One year we even ate Christmas dinner at Fredy’s!

We don’t even look at the menu any more. Almost everyone knows what they will order.

Baked Chicken Fajitas for Sister-in-law #3.

Mexican Platter for Sister #3.

Double-boned pork chops for the rest of us (4 of us on this evening). My husband D had not been to Fredy’s as often as the rest of us and was absolutely blown away by his pork chop. He went on and on about the cut, the preparation, the grilling, the tenderness and the taste.

D has owned his own restaurant and was a broiler chef for years and years and he knows his stuff. He could not say enough about Fredy’s skill in the kitchen.

When we first sat down, Fredy brought out his chips with guacamole and pico de gallo. I rarely order cocktails at dinner but Fredy’s pina cooladas are stellar!

You owe it to yourself to check Fredy’s. His food and clever/dry wit will have you coming back for more.

Kath’s quote: “I have three sets of humor. One I keep in a bag of salt, because it’s the dry one.
” ― Jarod Kintz

Love, that is all.

Sometimes a usual and common place sight on Isla, strikes me as exceptionally beautiful.

I love the colours that Islanders paint their homes, especially all the turquoise hues.

We accumulated some fixings for dinner at our cozy apartment at Luna d’ Miel including flan from Pita Amore.

There was plenty of afternoon left so I ventured out again for some sea glass and other treasures.

This is the view from one of the other rooms at Luna d’Miel.

There was a gorgeous sunset that evening seen from the street side of Luna d’Miel.

So we shared our feast of rotisserie chicken as we watched the disappearing sun.

I spent the evening sorting the efforts of my beachcombing habit, watched a couple of episodes of Suits on Netflix and polished off a couple of chapters of my book. A perfect evening in a perfect place.

Kath’s quote: “Sometimes, the simple things are more fun and meaningful than all the banquets in the world …”  ― E.A. Bucchianeri

Love, that is all.

The north east corner of the city was where I grew up. The majority of my large family still calls East & North Kildonan “ home”. I have always felt sheepish that I reside in a south/central neighbourhood where I can walk to many of Winnipeg’s best restaurants and they have been somewhat restaurant “deprived”. The game-changer is 925 Bistro & Lounge.  My husband said this: “I’m sure that every neighbourhood would love to have a place like 925-basic and comfortable with fare that has been elevated by a talented chef.”

Stephanie is the manager of the Bistro which is owned by her family of Kelmar Bakery and Kelmar Meats right next door at Headmaster Row and Lagamodiere. We had the pleasure of meeting her on our first visit and she personally took care of us most recently.

We need her assistance to decide what to order. She started us with a shared order of Mussels which had been steamed in dill and white wine. Little spoons were delivered in advance so that we could scoop the seafood out of the shell and ladle the broth from the bowl at the same time. I have eaten mussels in Paris, New York and Montreal and I have never been offered this simple but ingenious touch. Grilled toast accompanied the dish for us to lap up the juices at the very bottom of the bowl.

My husband was tempted by the smoked ribs but decided upon the special that evening- a bison burger topped with foie gras (duck liver). The subtle buttery tastes of the foie gras were a little bit overpowered by the caramelized onion and fig marmalade, but the latter was so delicious that the special burger was a hit! The skinny hand-cut fries sealed the deal. Foie gras served in a strip-mall restaurant? That is what my husband meant by “elevated” fare.

My Slavic heritage pointed me to the Veal Schnitzel. Although the meat had not been thinned and tenderized to the delicate escalope that I am accustomed to, it held its own alongside the lemon caper sauce that adorned it. The buttered linguine and fresh seasonal vegetables ensured that the overall dish was a perfect choice for a cooler fall evening.

We arrived early that Monday night and as a result, we were sat at a quiet booth. On another visit I was there later in the evening and the place was hopping with a large group of excited diners. Be cautious about your arrival time if you are interested in intimate conversation. Stephanie tells me that they are strategizing to solve their ambient noise issue.

Kath’s quote: “My idea of heaven is eating pates de foie gras to the sound of trumpets.”-Sydney Smith

Love, that is all.