M&J Cazuela’s-Isla Mujeres
Until recently, I understood that a cazuela was a baked omelet that I have sampled over the years at M&J’s various locations. I now know that the restaurant is so named for the little terra cotta baking dish that the egg blend is poured into for the cooking stage. I have also learned that because of the special high heat that the clay dishes endure, they take on special properties and your food continues to cook for an additional 5-10 minutes after the cazuela is removed from the oven. So when I have been disappointed that my eggs weren’t cooked to my desired doneness (with no “jigglies” as one of my 3 bros likes to say), it was actually because I was being an impatient tourista and consuming my brunch dish too soon!
There was a vendor set up for the locals for carnival a couple of weeks ago and I wish that I had purchased a stack of these affordable casseroles for home. They would have been great for the serving of our staggered breakfasts at the lake.
M&J’s original location at the unrenovated Roca Mar hotel had a magical charm. (When I peaked in on this trip there was a bride receiving a spa treatment). Tables were set out on the sidewalk at a busy curve of the route into Centro and you could look down the slope to the west shore and the Bay of Cancun while experiencing the roar of the crashing waves of the Caribbean just feet away.
M&J’s new home at the corner of Guerrero and Abasolo has a lovely, cozy feel. We sat under a trellis that allowed the dappled morning light to fall across our table.
And the Holbox Cazuela of tortillas, eggs, beans and salsa topped with fried bananas was cooked to perfection (or perhaps after all this time, I am learning the patience of the Mayan people who I so love, and didn’t dig in too soon).
V and I also shared a Crepa Amanecer- a delicate crepe surrounding ham, asparagus, herbs and that wonderfully rich Mexican cheese. The crepas are served with M&J’s potato casserole (a recipe I have tried to unpack for years). The coffee was wonderful and the freshly squeezed orange juice even better.
Marco and Julie-your new spot is a gem and I predict much continued success. My only regret is that I didn’t finally get to meet the infamous Julie who so many of my Isla friends speak of so fondly.
Kath’s quote: “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay home.”-James Michener
Fully agreed. It was absolutely delightful in every way. Mazeltov!
I will introduce you to Julie next time! She is a delightful person and a good friend.
aybe I can find some of the cassaroles for you in Peru. Should I see?
Jan-we had arranged to meet for breakfast sometime while I was on Isla but I left my card and didn’t hear from her. Something wonderful to look forward to on my next trip to Isla….
I would love it Laur but you are likely already going to have weight limitations.
I always tell my friend Denise to stir the Cazuela and the eggs will finish cooking themselves. Julie is hard to pin down for a meeting. She has a lot going on. I did coincidentally run into her at M&Js in January. She was having a send off breakfast with her son as he was heading out that day to return to England.
Good advice Jackie-kind iof like when you pull scrambled eggs out of the mic at home. Yes I look forward to meeting Julie sometime. But I also hope to hook up with you!