We had flown into Montreal from Winnipeg the afternoon previously and even though things didn’t exactly go smoothly (luggage took 2 1/2 hours to get, we missed a French dinner out and our Uber didn’t pick us up at the Air BnB), we were pleased to get to Cancun relatively early in the day. Bro K and SIL L met us at the ferry dock. Oh my gosh, it was lovely to be “home” again.

Our pasty white selves.

Sister #3 had already moved into her apartment next door to where we would reside for our first 2 weeks. She had a welcome snack and refreshing drinks for us as we unpacked. Even though we had to mooch hangers, coffee mugs and glasses from Sister #3, we were happy with our relatively comfortable and affordable choice.

We managed to get organized enough to walk to Centro Beach for our first sunset. We were still pinching ourselves that the moment had finally arrived!

Perfection in paradise is relative I guess, because our sunset view was almost immediately blocked by another couple of travellers.

I was not discouraged, I simply wished them away (with a new setting on my camera).

Soon thereafter, we made our way to La Lomita. It was the first place we had ever eaten on the island in 2005. I can’t count the number of times, we have returned since then, bringing more and more loved ones into the Fans of La Lomita Club.

L chose my new favourite Mexican dish of the Enchiladas Suisse. I don’t remember whether I asked her for a bite but I couldn’t wait to taste them again. She too is hooked on them. Especially La Lomita’s version.

D ordered up another La Lomita fav-Chiles Relleno stuffed with cheese. They were glorious as always!

I wasn’t hungry enough for a full dinner so I did what I often intend to do, but never follow through on-I chose a plate of La Lomita’s fries. I consider their French Fries the standard for other IM restaurants to strive for. In other years I would have selected an entrée that came with fries, even though I wouldn’t have been hungry enough to eat it all. “No more” I pledged (with it being my first night on the island). And even though they were served after everyone else was finished eating-they were perfection with a squeeze of lime.

La Lomita was still as amazing and affordable as I remembered it. I don’t know why we just didn’t eat there every night!

We moseyed back to our little apartment via the Malecon to stare at the waves for a moment and once again, let it sink in that we were finally on the island again. We vowed to take a last glimpse of the water every night of our stay in Centro. But, we never did. Tiredness and the draw of our latest novels, assured that.

The only other event that evening was our first night in a Mexican double bed. Whenever I rolled over, D thought I was intentionally bouncing up and down on the mattress and me, him. Both of us are light sleepers and we knew that we would be in trouble if this were to continue. Thank heavens our little apartment had a second bed (underneath our hammock perch)!

Kath’s quote: “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.”
– Bill Bryson

Love never fails.

While travelling I have realized how many people in the world have their own neighbourhood pub, bistro or coffee shop. Try as we might, we have never established one in the neighbourhood where we have lived for 35 years. When we are on Isla, El Patio is the closet thing we have to a consistent hang out. If we want one last night cap while in Centro, we never have to think where we will go-El Patio it is.

There is typically live music during Happy Hour which is a big attraction along with their food and drink specials.

Their frozen mojito was one of the best cocktails I had on this trip. And it was a HH special.

Whether it was their fish tacos, coconut shrimp or beef nachos, we were always impressed by their HH specials.

One day this visit, D’s brother and family joined us from Cancun for a day on the island. They wanted to know what we loved about Isla Mujeres. At lunch, we took them to the loncherias which they loved. In fact, I too was blown away by the presentation of the meals. That afternoon we spent at Centro Beach and before they had to catch the supper time ferry, we visited El Patio. They had enormous grins on their faces the whole time we were there, saying “Now we get it. This is so much more fun than the high end places in Cancun”. By the time they left, they were making plans to return for a longer stretch. In the end, it occurred to me that El Patio epitomizes what we love about the laid back, unpretentious island.

On this evening though, we started with a refreshing beer and a very generously poured glass of vino tinto!

Since we had sampled so many of their appetizers at HH, we opted for a Mediterranean charcuterie board. Charcuterie is a favourite way to dine for us and El Patio’s offerings are one of the few on the island. We had tasted their traditional board in the past so this was a refreshing treat. I especially enjoyed the flatbread and their rich and creamy hummus.

D had quesadillas and really enjoyed them. Especially because he was looking for a lighter supper that evening.

I loved my parmesan encrusted fish, Greek salad and fries. When the Fisherman’s Co-op was in Centro, I would often have their version of this recipe. I had missed it over the years. I also really enjoyed the salad. It had some Mexican touches like avocado and a less salty version of feta. The evening was lovely but I wasn’t surprised. We have enjoyed El Patio’s food and libations tremendously over the years.

What would Hidalgo be without El Patio? They are open daily from 12:30-midnight. And there infamous Happy Hour is 4:30-6:30 daily.

Kath’s quote: “Where everybody knows your name.”-Cheers theme song.

Love never fails.

We live a blessed life. When I am not at home in our perfectly located house of 35 years, living at the lake or on Isla Mujeres, we are often planning other sojourns. Right now we are considering Italy again (if airline prices come down). Isla and Italy are pretty much tied with me for a favourite place to visit. I would say “live” but I would miss my immediate and extended family too greatly.

So when we are on Isla and we get the opportunity to enjoy a piece of Italy, we jump at the chance. I can’t say I have sample every Italian food restaurant on the island and that is because I stopped when I thought that I had experienced the best. We have dined at Sardinia Smile on a number of occasions. Some of my all time favourite meals were eaten there.

What makes our visits particularly authentic is that Sylvia and her staff mostly speak Italian, so in the same way that I have trouble expressing myself in Italy, so too the task is troublesome on Isla. But somehow we always manage. It adds to the charm.

It was late afternoon when we arrived and Sylvia had just opened the restaurant. We had foolishly double booked ourselves. She encouraged us to sit inside because of a potential rain storm. We always sit outside which is also the case in Italy, so I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed. But only for a few moments, because sure enough, rain started falling in enormous drops and it came on as if a dike had been broken. Fortunately it didn’t last long but I was happy for the suggestion that Sylvia made of the dry table inside.

We started with Sylvia’s suggestion of Aperol Spritzes. A refreshing cocktail that we had first tasted in Sienna, Italy. It was just what the doctor ordered and we settled in without a care of being double booked or the inclement weather.

Why doesn’t every restaurant in the world serve an amuse bouche? My dining experiences are always elevated by this gesture! You take a readily available product like tomatoes in Mexico and pair it with toasts made from what is likely excess bread and voila! You have “amused a guests’ mouth” and it cost very little to do so!

We decided to share a soup as one of our appetizers. When D settled upon tomato soup I secretly thought that his choice was a bit pedestrian. Oh my gosh! I didn’t share my thoughts with him because the creamed soup with extra cream garnish was the best creamed soup I had ever tasted; anywhere! I was actually sad when the bowl was empty and whenever I get a soup hankering, I think of this sublime bowl every time.

Offer me anything in garlic and wine and I can just about guarantee that I will love it. especially when what is floating in the glorious duo are tender and oh so fresh seafood; black mussels in this case. A generous squeeze of lime brought out a spritely essence. We dipped the fresh bread into the broth to ensure we did not miss out on a drop of the nectar.

When I love a taste, I LOVE A TASTE! It may have been surprising that I ordered almost a duplicate dish for my entre, but it was really the ultimate complement to the Chef!

In the mean time, D chose a hearty seafood risotto. He too was enamored by the mussels and there were clams as well as enormous shrimp. The rice was perfectly soft and bursting with flavours that had been locked in by a slow heat and constant ladles of broth.

At this juncture, I excused my self to the ladies room saying” I am too full for dessert UNLESS we get offered Sylvia’s panna cotta”. Guess what was sitting on our table upon my return? I can’t resist the sweetened cream and the mini servings are the perfect size!

Sardinia Smile has been a mainstay on the south end of Hidalgo for years. They are closed Wednesdays but open every other day from 3:30-11 pm. Do yourself a favour and same a bundle on air fare to Italy!

Kath’s quote: “Art, passion and family traditions for three generations.“-Sylvia owner of Sardinia Smile.

Love never fails.

Don’t you love it when good guys finish first? Let me explain. I have not met Chriss Medina in person, try as we might to connect, but I have met her wonderful family in the two restaurants operated by them on the Island. We visited Rinconcito Kahlo in 2022 and found our way to the Garden of Frida in 2023. Both are much loved by locals and visitors alike for authentic and affordable tacos and a couple of more unusual offerings.

When I say “found our way” I mean it literally. We looked it up on the Mapchick App and asked my sister to drop us off from her golf cart. We drove by twice, without knowing we were there. Then I texted Chriss and got more specific directions. The mystery was solved when we realized that Garden of Frida is adjacent to Empanadas Tito. In fact, it kind of looks like they share the restaurant. So it took a bit of extra effort to find it. But we were so glad that we did.

I love the branding of the restaurants, especially that Frida Kahlo was a woman of inner strength with a love for Mexico and its culture. I don’t think I am out of line by saying the owner Chriss embodies those strengths as well. Frida is also popular in Malaga Spain where I visited last fall. I sent Chriss photos of her whenever I spied them.

We started by sharing a shrimp taco and and a pesca (fish) one. You will find that simplicity shines in this case. There was very little adorning the tacos so that the fresh fish and shrimp tastes were front and centre. The shrimp was so well prepared that it kind of snapped when you bit into it.

Next up was another taco trio-I knew that Pastor was on the left and I messaged Chriss to find out the exact names of the other two. I think we got lost in translation because Chriss says that all three were Pastor. I am sure the truth will eventually be told. In the mean time, whatever they were, boy were they tasty!

We washed everything down with a Frida Viva and a Papaya Juice. The chef puts the same amount of care into mixing the drinks as a high end mixologist. They were so refreshing.

The piece de resistance were the Quesabirrias that we had for dessert. We got hooked on these unique tacos when we visited the original Kahlo location in 2022. The dipping sauce is so amazing that D slurped it up with a spoon.

So this is what I mean. Don’t you love it when someone as lovely as Chriss succeeds with her restaurant businesses? Sometimes the good guys (women) do finish first.

Kath’s quote: “I love you more than my own skin.“-Frida Kahlo

Love never fails.

We first visited Jax in 2005 on our first trip to the island. Jackie, the owner of Jax recently shared with me that even on a holiday with Mexican food as amazing as the islands’, travelers eventually crave something from home. Over the years, she has determinedly ensured that when you have that hankering for a burger or a loaded baked potato, you will think of Jax. She is absolutely right because in 2005, we had wandered in for a hamburger.

Jackie’s manager and most of her staff are Islanders that have been with her almost back to those early days of the new millennium. Having been in the restaurant business ourselves, we know that that is a monumental accomplishment. Jackie claims that she doesn’t have any business secrets but that she strives to give her staff the best products using tried and true recipes, using the best tableware and restaurant accoutrements that money can buy and then empowers her staff do the rest.

Of course having one of the most beautiful locations on the island, certainly doesn’t hurt Jax’s success. We were there for Happy Hour one evening when the entertaining Ken Wanovich stopped singing to allow everyone to witness the glorious sunset! Sure the scenery has changed over the years, but the location is still absolutely stunning.

On this evening, we snuggled in to enjoy some of the tastiest fare on the island starting with selections from Jax’s extensive bar list. D was delighted by the variety of martini selections and was well pleased with his choice. I was in love with Jax’s glassware package and would love to order some items for our home.

I chose a Banana Cabana (on the right) made by blending Bailey’s, rum, banana liqueur and what else? Fresh banana of course. The taste was like a luscious banana milkshake and I would have happily ordered another one, except we started considering some food options.

Now by this time, quite by coincidence, our hometown NHL team was playing a televised hockey game. The bartender found the broadcast immediately and ensured that we could view it from multiple directions. Nascar racing was also being broadcast to the delight of a table of boisterous fishermen. Even though Jax welcomes the sports enthusiasts, Jackie wants the world to know that their offerings are broader than the standard fare at a sports bar. Case in point, a couple of appetizer selections had just been delivered to the table.

This exquisitely presented dish was mixed ceviche. Made with shrimp, octopus and conch, the unique veggies and herbs were a lovely spin on the classic Mexican dish. The edible garnish was not only beautiful but delicious too. We used the just fried tortilla chips to scoop up the avocado with the lime marinated seafood. The cucumber added fresh and spritely tastes. We gave the chef full marks on his artistry.

Loving the conch in the ceviche, we decided to order conch fritters, not haven indulged in them for a long while. They were beautifully shaped (including bread and eggs I suspected) and were perfectly fried without a greasy texture. The potato rosette and tomato garnish blew us away.

When the time came to order our entre, we were in a dilemma. D was leaning towards a steak because he had a craving for a loaded baked potato. I was inclined to fish and chips but then got distracted by the variety of seafood platters and didn’t know which way to go. Jackie suggested we have the fish platter but suggested she add a steak and a couple of shrimp choices too. The pic above is what was placed in front of us as a result.

The fish came grilled, fried AND blackened. No matter how it was prepared, there was no denying the fresh and delicate tastes of fish.

So too, the shrimp came fried, sauteed in garlic butter and breaded in a sweet coconut. There was even a succulent lobster tail. We loved the fabulous garnishes and felt like we were in a dining dream!

The biggest surprise was the filet mignons which were prepared exactly to our desired doneness. With goey cheddar cheese and real bacon on the spud, the steak and potato combo would have been completely satisfying all on its own.

Some skeptics might say “oh sure, that’s how the food comes out when the chef is tipped off by the owner” but we went back at least twice more for shrimp bowls, fish and chips and fried chicken and we were uber impressed each time. Service at happy hour is a bit hectic but that is because the place was jammed especially on Wednesday when we went back to hear Ken sing.

Jax is the real deal. Whether snacks or dinner, the food was expertly prepared and beautifully presented. Service was efficient and friendly. Sure you can watch your favourite game there, but Jax is so much more than a sports bar. Go for a romantic or family dinner the next time there ISNT a game that you don’t want to miss.

Kath’s quote: “Food brings people together, makes memories, and expresses love and care… no matter where the recipe comes from. I make food art like this to inspire & equip home cooks to pass down a resilient food culture – a precious heirloom – onto the next generation“. –Heirloom Food Project

Love never fails.