Frutti de Mare-Isla Mujeres
All through Sicily and our sojourn up the west coast of Italy, we ordered either a mixed seafood pasta or pizza at every opportunity. The variety of seafood was changeable depending upon what the local catch had produced and species native to the area. The varieties would usually include: prawns, mussels, clams, calamari, conch and whitefish.
On Isla Mujeres the seafood choices are as plentiful and the chefs as expert. I can especially commend La Brisa’s Grill right on the beach (off Medina) and Angelo’s on Hidalgo.
I actually got to sample La Brisa’s Frutti de Mare linguine twice.
First time at La Brisas
The first time we were a large table and were able to sit right in the sand on a beautiful evening. I employed a spoon and a fork to get a perfect bite of seafood and pasta with every bite and used up all my pasta before I could consume all of the seafood-that’s how plentiful the seafood was. I took home the prawns and got to enjoy them in a picnic lunch the next day. When my daughter arrived on Isla and heard my ravings about La Brisa, she requested that we go there for lunch near the end of our stay.
Lunch at La Brisas
Three of us shared the linquine again, along with an order of their Frutti de Mare pizza to compare it to Angelo’s.
La Brisa’s Pizza
Although it was my first time to La Brisa’s, I’ve enjoyed Angelo’s many times during the years of our stays on Isla. On this night the weather was variable and we started the evening at a table on the street; but as the rain made an appearance, they were able to move us all under shelter in the open restaurant.
Angelo’s Linguine
D ordered the pasta on this occaission and I the pizza. Except for the pieces of mussel shell that surprized me a couple of times-I was as crazy for the pizza at Angelo’s as I had been for the pasta at La Brisas’s.
Angelo’s Pizza
I would say that La Brisas won the Frutti de Mare pasta round and Angelo’s the pizza one. Two fabulous restaurants serving up Italian fare as good as is found on the Italian coast, on the little piece of land known as Isla Mujeres in Quintano Roo, Mexico. Who woulda thunk?
Kath’s quote: “Do not overcook this dish. Most seafoods…should be simply threatened with heat and then celebrated with joy.” –Jeff Smith
I’ve been dying to go to Italy! I learned about your blog through Winnipeg Women and thought I would check it out! Great job!
Welcome here. Do go to Italy-I love the people, the countryside but especially the FOOD. In the mean time though, there are some treasures like Isla Mujeres that are closer to home (assuming you live in Winnipeg). You can sleep in your own bed, have a Tim’s before your flight and be having lunch on the beach by noon.