Mexican Cocina (Kitchen)?

We're pretty lucky in California to have some awesome Mexican eats. But trying the really thing is authentic...so,

Thought I would highlight some Mexican cuisine that you might have tried or not. Here are a small listing that might be helpful to you as you are wandering through PDC or Puerto Morelos for some local eats.

Also check back on the blog articles "PDC - Playa del Carmen" & "Puerto Morelos -eats & Drinks" for more restaurants & eateries.

Lomo - Pork Loin

Asada - Steak

Pollo - Chicken

Lengua - Tongue

Pata - Pig or Beef Feet

Tacos Dorados - Crunchy Tacos

Tacos Suaves - Soft Tacos

Ceviche - Fresh raw seafood marinated in fresh lime juice garnished with tomatoes, onions, chillies and cilantro

Sope - thickish small circle of fried masa with pinched sides, topped with meat or fish, onions, salsa, lettuce

Machaca - Shredded beef scrambled with eggs and some vegetables

Carnitas -pork deep cooked in lard & simmered served with tortillas

Chile en nogada - Problano pepper stuffed with ground pork & beef spices, fruits,raisins & almonds, friend lightly battered with a walnut cream sauce

Gorditas - thickish fried corn tortilla, slit & stuffed with choiceof beef pork or chickenwith or without lettuce, cheese, tomatoes & onion.

Tacos al Pastor - Thin sliced of flavored pork roasted on a revolving cylinder dripping with onions slices and juice of fresh pineapple slices. Served in small corn tortilla ith chopped onions & cilantro.

Torta - a sandwich , usually on bolillo bread, typically with sliced avocado, onions, tomatoe with chice of meat and often cheese.

Photo provided by Flickr.christophermacsurak

Puerto Morelos' Eats & Drinks

In my Fodor's guide book, the restaurant "John Gray's Kitchen", the chef was formerly from Ritz Carlton. Known for use of local freshest ingredients with an international palate. It is Puerto Morelos' gourmet vs local cuisine establishment. "La Suegra" meaning mother-in law and is also related to Chef John Gray. This restaurant creation here is however, Mexican cuisine.

"Los Pelicanos" is a family owned seafood restaurant. FYI, heard somewhere in my exploration that the shellfish are shipped in. So stick to the fresh fish of the day! This restaurant also offers a variety of 4 hour day trips that include fishing, snorkeling & cooking at the restaurant. To take this tour you need to call at minimum a day in advance. Another Mexican restaurant is yet one of Puertos Morelos' oldest is "Posada Amor" Live music at night, memorable whole fish dinner (Diana's favorite) & a rich seafood bisque is their highlight that was noted. And finally, I least leave out a restaurant for Randy & Russell, a "hole in the wall" restaurant 'Loncheria El Tio". Yucantan specialties such as "salbutes", flour tortilla, shredded turkey,cabbage, tomatoes & picked onions and for Russell "panuchos", beans chicken, avaocado & pickled onions on a flour tortilla. Sounds like an after bar survival feast, right boys?

Oh, as far as a bar recommendation in Puerto Morelos? "Bara Bara"seems the best ...a nightclub and serves martinis as well as beers. Personally my thought is stay at the resort, it's guaranteed to be cheaper and you can stumble into bed a lot easier.

Also if you want to do more then just eat, perhaps Mexican cooking is up your alley? Check out the link Little Mexican Cooking School . There is also some additional recommendations as to where to eat in town on their website, worth a look as they highlight some pointers on the establishments. If 'venturing beyond the resort is your thing.

Check out more details about The "NOW Jade 'Eats & Drinks" in yet another posting in the blog.! If you would like more specifics for Puerto Morelos eateries/bars info check out Fodor's website or LocoGringos

Photo provided by Flickr.cloud2013

Puerto Morelos & Riviera Maya - The Caribbean Coast

On the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo, south of Cancun on the Caribbean Coast, stretching from Punta Tanchacte to the Punta Allen is the area known as the Riviera Maya. The area along this coastline consists of scrublands, jungle, mangroves, ecological reserves, small fishing villages, glitzy resorts, white sand beaches, ancient Mayan port city, as well as the second largest coral reef about 1800 feet off the beaches of our Now Jade Riviera Resort and Spa. The reef and mangroves are a national park and will require a licensed guide for visitation.

We all will be flying in to the Cancun International Airport which is located approximately 12 miles north of our resort in the small fishing village of Puerto Morelos. Driving south to our resort the main highway visibility are dense vegetations, lots of billboards, road side small markets & signs indicating entrances to hotels & attractions. 1/2 to 1 mile from the highway are dense layer of vegetation before you can glimpse to see the Caribbean beaches.

The town of Puerto Morelos is small but quaint with a zocalo which is a small town square surrounded by shops and restaurants. "The pace is slow, the vibe is relaxed and the atmosphere is bohemian" as stated by Fodor's 2010 guide book Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan Peninsula. A bit of old Mexico, wouldn't you say? Many of the locals feel blessed that Puerto Morelos is protected by environmental laws and strict building restrictions keeping this small village and its area from over development that their neighboring counterpart Cancun and Playa del Carmen are experiencing firsthand.

Besides our home for the week, NOW Jade resort. Puerto Morelos has a landmark lighthouse and fishing pier which makes for a nice photo opportunity for those inclined to say you were here. Off the town plaza toward the beach is Pelicanos which has a nice view of the Caribbean and some good local eats. Being a small local village, town prices are known to be lower then areas such as the two popular Cancun & Playa del Carmen.

In Puerto Morelos on Sunday, 9:30 - 2pm is Jungle Market, a non-profit organization that assists Mayan women & their families in generating income by featuring dances, regional foods & homemade crafts. More details on the website for Jungle Market & Spa services.

For more local shopping, "Colectivo de Artesanos de Puerto Morelos" daily from 8am to dusk, local artisans selling their art in a series of palapa-style buildings. Which I'm not sure whether it is also known as the "Mayan Handicraft Center" as well. So inquire when you are in town.

Other highlights for Puerto Morelos includes a reptile/animal run farm by biologists called Croc-Cun and Yaax Che Jardin Botanico del Dr. Alfred Barrera Marin. This is the largest botanical garden in Mexico I understand it features a 40 meter suspension bridge, three observation towers, tree/orchid & epiphyte nursery, an authentic Mayan house Archaeological site and a library equipped with reading hammocks...now we're talking. I also heard that there is a bookstore called Alma Libre which has English written books in case you forgot yours. I am sure you can check with the hotel concierge and they can get more information if you are interested.

Photo map provided by CancunTransfers