D decided to totally rock our world by changing up our morning routine and moving a table out into the sun on the sidewalk outside our hotel. 

He also went to the bakery at 7 to purchase a variety of sweet pastries instead of tortas.  I had the one with a frosting on it that I pressed into crushed nuts-yum. We sliced pineapple and pears into our yogurt.  

We started the day with a stroll on playa la media luna.  Beachcomber that I am-I love scouring this little beach for treaures.  I once found a number of pieces of purple sea glass-the only beach in my travels, where I have done so.

At lunch time we made our way to the first restaurant that I ever visited on Isla- La Lomita’s.  As with many other places on Isla, when they set these condiments down, they explain which one is picante-in this case, the gorgeous green one.  Many years ago, a friend of ours was in the washroom when this was explained.  She grabbed a chip and scooped up the mixture thinking that it was a guacamole.  Before we could stop her, she had ingested an enormous mouthful.  Suffice it to say, that we almost had a medical emergency on our hands.  So take heed of what your server is telling you.

This is La Lomita’s famous bean soup that comes with many entrees.  D was kind to me and only ate half of this bowl.

These are the french fries that I hold up every other french fry that I ever taste against.  In my mind-the perfect fry, not overcooked and a very sweet, fleshy potato (even if the oil should have been changed).

And these are the much-loved and sometimes duplicated chiles relleno.  I have attempted to make them at home.  Sister #3 does a way better job with hers than mine.  But we have recently found a Latin market in Winnipeg that does a pretty fine job of them.

We basked in another glorious sunset later that day.

That evening our son and the newbie went to Da Luisa’s to celebrate their upcoming wedding anniversary.  They reported later that they sat all by themselves by the crashing waves and sampled grilled shrimp and a stuffed chicken.  The loved the wine selection there.  Actually, they loved everything about their evening.

In the mean time, Daughter #1 picked Lola Valentina’s for us to try. She had spotted it when we were at Fredy’s for Christmas dinner.

Here they are tasting their hibiscus margaritas. 

 

I choose this mango cilantro one.  I would say that I enjoyed mine the most.  I really appreciate that Lola Valentina’s is innovative enough to put a new spin on an a favourite but in my humble opinion, on a island that makes the most amazing margaritas at some of the most affordable prices, 70 pesos is excessive for the inclusion of cilantro. 

Mind you, the restaurant is really gorgeous and the little extra touches like woven tortilla baskets did not go unnoticed on my part.  So too, Kate our server from London, England did a first class job of looking after us.

The food was pretty much perfect and well priced for the care and ingredients that went into each dish. 

Both D and Daughter #1 had grouper (Filette Relleno de Salpicon) stuffed with crab, shrimp, garlic and cheese.  It was topped with Pipian- a creamy pumpkin seed sauce. 

I chose Pollo Relleno: Chicken stuffed with chaya, guava paste and double cream cheese.  It was covered with a sticky mango glaze. 

The service was so prompt that we had lots of time to roam Hidalgo that evening.  As we were walking by Sancochos, we couldn’t believe our eyes: the Jets hockey game being played in Winnipeg was on the big screen!  We ordered a round of night caps and settled in to watch an exciting game when our home team won in overtime.  But even if the Jets had lost it would have been another perfect day on Isla. 

Kath’s quote: “Beans are highly nutritious and satisfying, they can also be delicious if and when properly prepared, and they posses over all vegetables the great advantage of being just as good, if not better, when kept waiting, an advantage in the case of people whose disposition or occupation makes it difficult for them to be punctual at mealtime.”-Andre Simon

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