As with many unfamiliar places, until I had been there (twice now) I just couldn’t picture its locale.  One of the many reasons why Isla is so quaint is that addresses are more abut associations and relationships. This suffices in most cases, as you really only need an address for your first visit right?  But gringas like me like to bring our ways of categorizing things from home with us when we travel, so here is Chuuk Kay’s address:

Calle 16 de Septiembre Lte. 14 Col. Electricistas.

Whether you ask a cabbie, wander around yourself, or navigate Laguna Macax by boat-find this place! You will have found a little oasis without the  bustle of Hidalgo.  My husband arrives today and I am picturing a little table in the sand for a cozy dinner before we go.

Yesterday we sat under the palapa and enjoyed the free wii fii. The food was amazing, which was no surprise, as Ventura the manager has run some of the best dining rooms on Isla.

We started with a mixed ceviche.  I was appreciative of the tomatoes and red onions sliced into little slivers-it made scooping the fresh seafood onto a tortilla chip less precarious, as mine always has a way of toppling off and landing on my bosom.

Next came two lunch entrees which we shared-fish tacos and shrimp enchiladas.

Both were delicious but I was especially thrilled by the enchilada.  The shrimp were sauteed with a bit of heat and tomatoes & peppers to create some oomph.  But then the rolls were topped with a tomato cream which provided a delicious contrast.

We also plan on assembling the gang (there are over a dozen of us) and going back.  Four of us were there last weekend and Javi can create a party atmosphere to make it feel like New Year’s eve at 4 o’clock on a Sunday afternoon.  He and the full band (with no name) play a full range of favourites and requests, but their Mexican sets are my favourite.

Kath’s quote: “A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins.”-Laurie Colwin

I have been musing about food for over a year, but today is a first.  I rarely have the opportunity to enjoy a fine meal and then have the time to write  about it while the taste is this fresh in my mind.

I am crazy about the yogurt in Mexico-especially the banana, pear, peach, walnut variety that we have in the fridge right now.  With one of the mini bananas sliced in and an extra crumbling of crunch on top-I am addicted to this breakfast.

So it takes a bit of coaxing to get me to break my routine but this morning we did.  We arrived at Cafe Cito to find Sister #3 and an honourary sister just finishing up.  Steamy cups of coffee were presented with little bowls of fruit salad.  The eggs taste richer down here-perhaps it is from what the hens are fed.  My eggs were served perfectly over easy with sauteed potatoes, onions and green peppers.  A little basket of hot buns and toast are the cradle for the banana/coconut/pineapple jam.  It looks a little bit like baby food and tastes extraordinary!

V had the Mexicana.

Richard ordered the Savanah-scrambled. 

After breakfast we strolled through the market and now I am perched at my little desk with plans for another simply delicious meal ahead.

Kath’s quote: “I have had, in my time, memorable meals of scrambled eggs with fresh truffles, scrambled eggs with caviar and other glamorous things, but to me, there are few things as magnificent as scrambled eggs, pure and simple, perfectly cooked and perfectly seasoned.”-James Beard

Your love is like a rock.

By guest blogger Michael R.

To anyone who has  followed Kath’s blog, it is most apparent that good food plays a central part in our family celebrations, and most especially birthdays. After their eighteenth birthdays though, the large family affairs for the kids come to a stop. My lovely wife, aka sister number two, was casting about for a creative way to keep the good times rolling for our son and daughter after eighteen and hit upon the idea of an annual birthday dinner party for each of them with their friends. This year we celebrated our beautiful daughter’s 22nd year  by creating an amazing four-course meal for her and eight of her BFFs.

Now when I said “we” created, I actually meant Sister #2. My duties consisted of menu design, photography, serving and bussing, as well as some minor food prep. The rest of the evening was in the hands of our resident  food magician, as Sister #2 dazzled the girls with an inventive and mouth-watering menu.

After a glass (or two) of fresh sangria was enjoyed, out came course number one: Roasted pumpkin soup, featuring roasted local pumpkin puree with a hint of curry, garnished with cream and chopped red pepper.

Accompanied by home made bread toastettes topped with herb unripened cheese and cherry tomato, with a drizzle of balsamic reduction, this first at bat was hit right out of the park!

Next up was Raspberry and Goat Cheese Salad, featuring raspberries and goat cheese (of course!) on a bed of baby greens, tossed in a homemade raspberry vinaigrette, and garnished with a sprinkling of chopped pistachio nuts.

Light and delicate, yet very flavorful, this was a perfect introduction to the evening’s Entrée: Grilled Tenderloin Of Pork. Brine marinated grilled medallions of pork tenderloin, finished with blackberry wine sauce. Accompanied by Heritage Carrots, teased with butter and fresh dill, sauteed spinach and pesto filled zucchini, baked in a bread crumb parmesan crust, and lastly potatoes with cream and cheese, whipped and piped into a baked potato shell.

Last on the evening’s menu was Grand Marnier and Amaretto Ice Cream, home made Grand Marnier and Amaretto liqueur flavored ice cream with chocolate almond crackle, topped with a hand made sugar crisp. This was truly not only a culinary delight, but surely a visual one as well.

Well, the girls left shortly thereafter for parts (and parties) unknown, leaving me with the dirty dishes and many fond memories of a wonderful evening of fun and incredible gourmet delights courtesy of Sister #2. One lucky daughter and one lucky guy!

Kath’s quote:  “The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ain’t it good to know, you’ve got a friend.

It may sometimes seem to my readers that I never eat at home and some weeks that is quite true.  Because I work out of my house, lunch meetings are perfect for me.  I have been in my field for a very long time and have made many personal connections with my colleagues over the years.  Often the business projects fade away, but the friendships do not.  So when one of them declares “Oh, we must do lunch!”  I get out my daytimer.

The other cool thing about my business is that I have connected with a new generation of designers and communicators.  Many of them are the same ages as my kids but that doesn’t seem to make a difference to me or to them.  In yesterday’s case, I am also friends with my colleague’s Mom so the three of us got together!

Joey’s was the perfect central location and parking is ample.  We arrived at 11:30 which was wise because by the time we left at 12:45 there was a line up to get in.  The decor is open and gets quite boisterous.  But it is a very comforting feeling that you are in a room with so much energy and that you live in a vibrant community.

To say that I get stuck in eating ruts is an understatement.  Of the half dozen times that I have dined at Joey’s, I have always ordered the very same thing!  I try to psyche myself up before I get there with thoughts of fish tacos and pot-stickers but then I cave and order the Rotisserie Chicken.  I suppose that is a testament to just how good it is.  You can taste that the chicken has never been frozen as the flesh is firm and moist .  The dry rub that goes on before and the sauce after roasting is a wonderful blend of peppery and savoury tastes.  The servers are always willing to substitute sides and I got my veggie fix with a crunchy cole slaw and a zingy ceasar salad. 

I got filled in on all the news from friends and filled up with delicious and nutritious fare.  Here’s some irony-we stopped at the food court for a bite before an event at the MTS Centre later that night and we ate at -Joey’s Only!  What a crazy life.

Kath’s quote: “The smell of roasting meat together with that of burning fruit wood and dried herbs, as voluptuous as incense in a church, is enough to turn anyone into a budding gastronome.”-Claudia Roden

Love you A&A.

Winnipeg has a number of  excellent delis that I predict could hold their own when stacked up against Montreal’s or New York City’s.  Many of the cities’ best are in River Heights where I am content to reside, with its glorious elm-lined streets, character homes and lots of quaint shops and restaurants.  Bernstein’s  Deli has been around even before I moved to the neighbourhood and that was close to 20 years ago.  I suppose this is why a friend of mine was shocked to learn that I had never had a meal at this convenient location.  I have shopped at the deli counter and especially enjoyed their homemade frozen soups over the years but had never sat down to enjoy a good old fashioned deli plate.

On this day, I had an equal hankering to try their reuben sandwich as I did to taste their freshly cut, never- frozen french fries.  Luckily for me, I didn’t have to be embarrassed by my indulgent order as my lunch mate ordered the exact same thing.

The sandwich was piled high with top quality corned beef and what we detected was home-made sauerkraut.  I typically prefer Thousand Island Dressing on my reubens which answer the call of my sweet/salty cravings.  Bernstein’s uses a special mustard which is delicious but just not preference.   As I think back, I can’t remember anything about the cheese and then it occurs to me that it was not served with cheese, which I guess means that it was a kosher reuben. Perhaps that also explains the dressing-maybe someone with more knowledge of kosher law could send me a comment.  The mound of fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and potatoey on the inside-yum!   

I knew the people at the booth sitting behind us and thought to myself how nice it is to live in a city large enough to have all the amenities and yet small enough to know and often connect with your neighbours.

Kath’s quote: “I am not a glutton — I am an explorer of food.”-Erma Bombeck