The idea of La Mesa came to Paige Miller while reflecting back on her time walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. For those that don’t know, the Camino is an ancient network of pilgrim routes across Europe, primarily leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It is a popular, 1,000-year-old pilgrimage walked by many for various reasons including spiritual growth, reflection, and adventure.

“Almost nightly I found myself surrounded by new friends and faces, and with limited dining options available before 9:00 pm in Spain, I often ended up organizing the creation of a meal that my new friends could all enjoy together.”

“Nightly, we ate well; we laughed hard; and we shared stories from our home countries, as well as stories from that day on the Camino. We left the table feeling more connected to life and humanity, with full bellies and overflowing hearts.”

Paige’s hope is to recreate that feeling of community here in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. While she is not a professional chef, she’s a fine cook who draws on her wealth of knowledge of the recipes learned throughout her world travels to 97 countries and counting.

Now this pop up event is happening with some frequency.  The evening I joined the table it was Moroccan night, inspired by Paige’s travels through that country.  It was held in the space shared by Dulzura Argenta Bakery and el meraki located on Juarez. The roof top location was the perfect setting. And the owners of those two establishments are providing support to Paige as she pursues this vision.

As we were greeting we were all given name tags with our first name and a word that came to mind when we thought “Morocco”.  I was Sue “Marrakech”. We spent the first half hour mingling with our fellow dinners, eventually settling to two long tables for our family style meal.

Paige started us off with full baskets of tender flat bread and a large platter of garlicky hummus and assorted vegetables.

The salad course of tender greens tossed in a cumin citrus vinaigrette was a lovely transition into our main course.

Bowls of fluffy couscous with toasted almonds accompanied

delicious chicken stewed with apricots and black olives. A very traditional Moroccan meal. It was lovely to pass the food around the table and enjoy it communally.

For dessert we had two options prepared by the talented Gabriela of Dulzura Argenta Bakery. Orange blossom cake with cardamom

or poached pear in star anise syrup. I had a taste of my friend, Tammy “Dancer” perfectly poached pear. I had the orange cake which while scrumptious, was too large for me to finish so just like family, it was passed down to table mate Frank “Camel” who happily helped me out.

While I very much enjoyed the food, it was the people that made this night so special. Sitting at my table were people from the U.S., Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Isla, by way of the EU and UK with ages ranging from young ones in their mid 20s to those in their 70s. Paige had placed some conversation starters under each plate but there was no shortage of chatter as people shared about themselves, their travels and their love of the island. It was was a wonderful way to be reminded that we all have more in common than we do things that separate us.

You can follow La Mesa, Isla Mujeres on Facebook or Instagram for upcoming events. If you would like your own private event or have a group and want to invite others to join your table, that can all be arranged by contacting Paige.

Kath’s quote: “It was was a wonderful way to be reminded that we all have more in common than we do things that separate us.“- Sister Sue

Love never fails.

When you think about dining in Mexico, Chinese take away is not likely at the top of your list of expected options, but Chef Aaron Castaño decided to change that when he opened El Dragon Isleño in 2020. I asked him “why Chinese?”, his reply, “because I like it”.  And you can tell that is true when you sample his yummy food.

El Dragon launched as strictly delivery, out of a friend’s garage, later moving into the Cañotal market. They settled in their current location two years ago.

Located on Medina, at the south end of the air strip, and across the street from the four Emmanuel Sanchez murals. They have a small number of tables where they provide sit down service.

While the vast majority of their business is delivery I’m glad we experienced the food onsite, for a number of reasons. Chef Aaron will tell you that food that has to be transported in “to go” containers is never as good as food straight from the kitchen to your table. Based on the popularity of this restaurant’s delivery the take out must be very good, but the food we enjoyed in-house was even better.

The small rectangular black plates, the tear drop dipping bowls, Chinese tasting spoons, angular noodle bowls, and chopsticks perfectly set the theme of the cuisine adding to the aesthetic. In contrast the wooden tables and chairs and concrete floor remind you you’re in a Mexican neighbourhood restaurant, where in my opinion the best food is often found.

We started our evening with delicious flash fried tuna coated in black and white sesame seeds and topped with a cilantro sauce. This dish is referred to as an “amuse-bouche” French for a “mouth amuser”. It’s a complimentary treat from the kitchen for those who dine in house. It’s designed to showcase a chef’s style and prepare the palate. It changes often so you never know what to expect.

Next we had veggie spring rolls served with a dark sesame and mirin dip. I’m a fan of sweet and salty so I dipped my spring rolls in the very tasty sweet and sour sauce. The perfect flavour combination, the rolls were piping hot, crispy and packed full of veggies.

Next up was a big bowl of lo mien. Served with six meaty jumbo shrimp, these noodles were flavourful without overpowering the delicate taste of the shrimp. The noodles were toothsome with a perfect texture. I can not wait to eat the leftovers later today.

The grand finale was the Costilla bourbon. A pork rib that was slow roasted for five hours and coated in the Chef’s specialty sweet bourbon sauce. The way the unctuous bit of fat melted in my mouth, coating it with flavour, will not soon be forgotten. This stellar piece of meat was served with fried rice, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables.

So if you’re craving some Chinese delivery, give El Dragon a call. But to fully appreciate the work of Chef Aaron I would recommend dropping by to enjoy the full experience, including watching the chef in action and enjoying some great conversation. If not everyone in your party is into Chinese, never fear, there is a separate taco menu to choose from as well.

Kath’s quote: “I was eating in a Chinese restaurant downtown. There was a dish called Mother and Child Reunion. It’s chicken and eggs. And I said, I gotta use that one”. — Paul Simon

Love never fails.

Last year I had the pleasure of meeting Andrea, the owner of el meraki, an incredible vegan/vegetarian restaurant in Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

I was so impressed with her passion for healthy, delicious food and her desire to bring together community. It hadn’t been an easy road for Andrea and the el meraki team. The struggles faced by small specialty restaurants on the island are real. From very slow low seasons to the rising costs of rent, it can be an uphill battle.

Recently she found herself unable to continue in the space el meraki had occupied for three years. With a month and a half till she would no longer have a space, she reached out to her community. The result was the most amazing partnership was formed.

Enter Gabriela and Marita, owners of Dulzura Argenta Bakery. These sweet ladies have run their bakery located in Centro since 2018. It’s a wonderful space on a rooftop with seating and the bakery. They felt they could accommodate the needs of, the soon to be homeless, el meraki into the space.

It’s a perfect partnership. The bakery operates daily from 8:00 – 6:00 serving the most delicious empanadas and offering all kinds of decadent baked items, as well as custom cakes.  el meraki is open 9:00 – 3:00 providing vegan and vegetarian breakfast, lunch, juices and smoothies. Customers can order from both menus at the same time. They also share a, not very large, kitchen. Which, on a typical day, has five women working in it simultaneously, sometimes as many as seven. The good news is it is working well, due to these three women sharing a common vision.

They compliment each other so perfectly. Marita and Gabriela provide wisdom and experience, while Andrea and team bring a youthful energy. They bounce ideas off each other and both Gabriela and Andrea told me they feel less alone on this journey.

Now, on to the food. My friend and I started with a juice of the day. It was a refreshing combination of pineapple, mango, orange, cucumber, celery, and carrot. It is so nice to taste juice that has not been altered and is in its purest form.

We shared two plates of breakfast as we both like a little savoury and a little sweet. Starting with the omelette that was filled with zucchini, onion, mushrooms, and yellow peppers, all perfectly seasoned. There is something about the eggs here that put the eggs at home to shame.

Next we had the “Sunrise of memories”, oatmeal banana pancakes, served with agave and fresh fruit. Gorgeous in taste and presentation.

But alas, we had only experienced half of what this joint establishment has to offer. We absolutely had to have some Dulzura dessert. Though we could only manage half of it at the restaurant, the pieces we took home were fabulous later that day.

We had to try Gabriela’s special postre chajá, a traditional cake of her homeland. A vanilla biscuit base, moist sponge cake, along with layers of dulce de leche, whipped cream and peaches. It was light and creamy and the peach added a touch of tang.

Next up was Marita’s Patagonia tart, from her region of southern Argentina. This is a chocolate lovers dream. A rich chocolate crust is layered with dulce de leche caramel and chocolate ganache with a bit of whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

This place is so much more than great food and lovely beverages. It’s community. You feel it as soon as you reach the top of the stairs. Both friends and first-timers are welcomed with equal enthusiasm. The ladies love to bring people together through events such as a recent chocolate making workshop, their Spanish conversation table, or themed evening dinners. It’s a place to nourish both your body and soul.

Kath’s quote: “Food brings people together on many different levels. It’s nourishment of the soul and body; it’s truly love.” – Giada De Laurentiis

Love never fails.

On this trip I decided to check out more of the great take out options here on Isla Mujeres, Mexico. When we first started visiting the island, more than twenty years ago, I had never heard of anyone ordering food for delivery.  Of course there was a wide variety of food carts where you could pick up a bimbo dog or a taco. We loved to pick up a rotisserie chicken or find Tito, the Rib Man, on a Sunday afternoon. It was a nice change to relax in our room or around the pool instead of always going to a restaurant.

 Isla food scene changed significantly when Covid hit in 2020. Restaurants shut down and people stopped going to the corner taqueria. Restaurants started offering home delivery and people started selling food from their home kitchens. The result is there is now a wide variety of takeout and delivery options available.

Last night we had the pleasure of having dinner from El Fogoncito. We had the medium sized chicken burger which came with fries. The fries were thin and crispy, just how I like them. We ended up cutting the burger into quarters and I was only able to eat a quarter. Of course we also ate another dish. But to say this burger was huge is an understatement. I can’t imagine how big the large size is. The chicken was breaded in a crunch coating and was layered with ham, bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato, with just the right amount of mayo. A yummy combination. The large sesame bun was fresh and provided a good bun to burger ratio.

The other dish we shared was the chicken cordon bleu. The breaded chicken was tightly wrapped around a generous portion of ham and cheese, very flavourful. Served with pasta al burro that was buttery and delicious, along side carrots and zucchini. Again the medium portion was more than we could finish.  But we are thrilled to be having the leftovers for dinner tonight.

El Fogoncito, meaning “the bonfire” in English, is a two year old family business owned by husband and wife team Jesús Chan and Zury Yazmin.

Jesús shared “our specialty is hamburgers and breaded chicken” and I can see why it’s such a hit with locals.  The offerings are economically priced, especially considering the large portions, and obviously made with much love.

You can follow the Isla Mujeres’ Food Facebook page to see their menu posts. Order on WhatsApp where they’ll be able to help you in Spanish or English.

Kath’s quote: “Live, love, eat!”- Wolfgang Puck

Love never fails.

If you have joined Kath and my Facebook page Isla Mujeres’ Food, you will have been asked the question, what is your favourite bite on Isla? Well today I had my favourite bite of this trip so far. Let me tell you about it. 

If you’ve never been to Xaman because it’s a vegan / vegetarian restaurant, and you are not a vegan or vegetarian, you have no idea what you are missing. As many of you that follow my adventures know, I eat at a lot of restaurants on Isla Mujeres. And the food at Xaman is some of my favourite. It totally leaves my head that what I’m eating is vegetarian because the flavour is amazing!

It was wonderful to be welcome by Yadi and Memo the team behind Xaman (pronounced shaa.muhn, like the spiritual healer). This second floor space, located above Caribbean Brisas, has such a great vibe. Murals on the walls pay tribute to symbols of Mayan culture creating a rustic and tribal decor.

I noticed one particular table with two really comfy looking chairs where I can imagine myself sipping a tea and getting lost in a good book for an afternoon. Not far from that table is a lending library where you can pick up a book.

Xaman has just launched a brand new menu and alongside creative new dishes, I was relieved to see my past favourites were still there. We started our afternoon with beverages. I had the pink drink lemonade flavoured with rose petal and dragon fruit. I loved that it was refreshing and full of flavour but not too sweet. My friend had an iced caramel latte that was topped with a froth she described as being like fluffy marshmallow. Keep in mind that Xaman is an alcohol free establishment. 

When it came time to order our food, I kept thinking about the “traditional” croissant breakfast sandwich I had last year. I literally have dreamed about it since then. This year I selected the NY croissant pesto. It’s usually served on a “New York” style round croissant but they were out. Remembering how delicious Yadi’s sour dough croissants were I said I’d be happy to have it on one of those. It did not disappoint. This sandwich was smeared with pesto, topped with mozzarella, tomato, spinach, and a fried egg. The perfect breakfast anytime of the day.

Our second selection was a pulled mushroom bocata baston. Served on a rustic Spanish bread roll, similar to a baguette, it was overflowing with mushrooms cooked in hoisin sauce and topped with pickled radish, carrot, cucumber and cilantro with a kiss of sriracha. It reminded me of a bahn mi sandwich, but like the best bahn mi sandwich I have ever had! This is going to now be the Xaman dish that haunts my dreams and my “best bite” so far this trip. 

We loved the baking so much we had to treat ourselves to a few items to take home. They arrived to our table piping hot, as Yadi just pulled them out of the oven. Talk about fresh. The next day we sampled their very popular almond croissant as well as their parmesan bagel. And of course, I had to have another of the sourdough croissants. How she makes a croissant without butter that tastes better and is more layer and crunchy than a traditional croissant, is sheer magic. 

Back home I have a vegan friend who always has limited choices when our group goes out for dinner. If we had a Xaman in my hometown I’d pick it for us every time. It would give my friend an huge selection of dishes to choose from and we non-veg folks would be delighted with our meals as well. 

Check out the Mapchick app for hours, address and their full menu.

Kath’s quote: “You don’t have to love cooking to cook, but you have to do more than love baking to bake. You have to bake out of love.“-Tom Junod

Love never fails.