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

2 Davis' 4 Dinner @ NOW Jade...please!

Been surfing the internet a bit to explore and see if I can get any idea of the restaurant scene for the NOW Jade Riviera Cancun Resort. Haven't found much other than 1. names and descriptions of the restaurants 2. which restaurants require a dress code 3. the resort restaurants do not take reservations 4. the seating capacity are small with approximately 10 or so tables per establishment, so potential delay for getting in, count on it!

The reviews seem to vary on opinions and often there are whiners or mix matched hotel guests. So these reviews I take with a grain of salt. However for those guests of ours who have been loyal blogerss...did want to let you know that Roger and I will be checking out each of the restaurants during our stay and on Wednesday after our cocktail reception. We will try out the 'Tamarindo", mexican cuisine....hopefully this will be the easiest to get in...we shall see or maybe change out at the last minute?

Oh and all else fails, because you decided to hang out at the bar...don't forget room service it's part of the all inclusive service and 24 hours to boot!

Hope you all have begun laying out your outfit. Below is a recap of the appropriate dress code

for each of the dining establishment at the NOW Jade Riviera Cancun Resort.

DRESS CODE: "CASUAL ELEGANCE"

Capers - "Italian Cuisine" Dinner Only

Mercure - "French Cuisine" Breakfast & Dinner

Tamarindo - "Mexican Cuisine" Dinner Only

Spice - "Asian Cuisine" Dinner Only

Cin Cin - "Mediterranean Cuisine" Dinner Only

DRESS CODE: "CASUAL"

Carnival International Buffet Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Castaways - Lunch Only

Coco Cafe - Premium Coffee & Deli

Photos provided by Apple Vacation

Foodie, the Brave & Curious...Mayan Cuisine

What is Yucatan or Mayan Cuisine? Without going into the details of the Yucatan history and periods, what I can gather is that an influence of the Mayans who introduced to the New World corn, chocolate, honey, venison, wild turkey, pheasant, squash, cucumbers, chillies & tomatoes AND Spain who brought Pork and Seville Orange which is a sour flavored orange AND finally the Dutch who shared Edam and Gouda Cheese.

Add the Yucatan cuisine spices that seem to influence it's international fame such as pumpkin seed powder, oregano, red onion, sour orange, sweet pepper, lime, achiote or recado colorado paste-sauce,capsicum pepper (Xcatik), Habanero pepper & corander.

Plus, bring habaneros and recados, the basic ingredients in Yucatan cuisine - recados are marinated pastes made of cloves, black pepper, oregano, cumin,garlic, coriander and vinegar. Most common is the red paste version which gets its color from adding "achiote" (annatto seeds) to the mixture.

Replace the local pheasant and deer with turkey & pork (Don't panic for those not that brave). And don't forget an important table sauce often used is called "Xnipek" which is a type of salsa/sauce that is made of habanero chilies, scallions, citrus juice & cilantro. Then you have the basic foundation of Mayan cuisine.

Listed below are some of the Mayan cuisines I have found through my exploration and hope to try at the Yaxche Restaurant in Playa del Carmen. After all basic ingredients don't come about with a good chef or cook, right?

I have also added below some links that were helpful to me and hopefully for you to visit and enhance my very limited snapshot of what this fascinating cuisine has intrigued me to taste and savor . Hope this helps!

DRINK

Xtabentun - similar to icy margarita. Made with local anise & honey Liquer

Chaya Drink - made of ground rice, chaya (regional plant or Pitahaya)

Micheladas - tangy mix of lime juice, worchestshire sauce or soy sauce,tabasco & good dark Yuctan Beer

Chelada -which is a Michelada without the tabasco,peppers & other seasoning Just,beer/Lime & Salt

SNACKS/APPETIZERS/BOTANAS

Papadzules -hard cooked eggs wrapped in corn tortilla with pumpkin seed sauce

Soap de Lima - chicken tortilla soup flavored with local variety of sour lime.

MAYAN (YUCATAN) ENTREE

Cochinita Pibil - pit roasted pig marinated in sour seville orange juice, garlic, achiote & yucatan spices

Queso Relleno - stuffed cheese rind of edam cheese filled with mixture ground beef,raisin, olives, almonds & spices

Panuchos - layered hand made corn tortilla stuffed with beans, topped with shredded turkey or chicken, lettuce, red onion rings and xnipek salsa

Chilmole - turkey in a dark spicy sauce

Poc-chuc - charbroiled slices of pork with onions, marinated in a sour orange sauc

Pescado Tikinxic: fish marinated in achiote sauce wrapped in banana leaves and charbroiled. Served with a tomatoe & habanero sauce.

Huevos Motulenos - Friend eggs atop a tortilla garnished with beans,peas,ham,sausage, plantains & grated cheese - Yucatan specialty

Pavo relleno negro - a stuffed turkey yucatan style, filled with chopped pork & beef cooked in a rich dark sauce

Food and Wine - Yucatan Adventure

Colors & Flavors of Yucatan Cuisine - Cancun.com

YucatanToday.com -Yucatan Cuisine

MexConnect.com - Cuisine of the Yucatan - a Gastronomical Tour of the Mayan Heartland

Photo provided by Yaxche Restaurant website gallery

R & D for "Yaxche" Mayan Cuisine

That's Roger & Diana, not Research and Development...well hold on, hmm? Maybe it is...

Not to take away from our incredible snorkeling adventure to Yalku Lagoon. But after a good swim and enough salt water in your mouth. I know Roger and I are gonna be ready for a cold drink and lunch! Well anyone who knows me (and can see me), knows that I am a "Foodie" and since I've never been to the Yucatan, well Mayan cuisine has got my curiosity. So through some research... here we are.

During our visit to Playa del Carmen (PDC) the Yaxche Restaurant has me personally intrigued. So that is our PDC tourist destination - First Mayan cuisine and if there's time after we will stroll and explore.

Below are some information and links about this very unique restaurant. It is not a "hole in the wall" joint and not the 5 Star restaurant either. Moderately priced is what my 2010 Frommer's Guide stated. Meal to cost between $10-30 pending what you get. The draw here is that this is the closest we can get to on this trip for true Mayan cuisine without having Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmern with us from the Travel Channel! So check out the information if this is of interest for you. R & D are planning to head to Yaxche (that's pronounced, jag-shey)!

Yaxche Restaurant Website

PlayaInfo.com - Yaxche Restaurant

TripAdvisor-Restaurant Review

Chowhound- review

Photo provided by the Yaxche restaurant website gallery

PDC ...Playa del Carmen

PDC otherwise known as Playa del Carmen. Located about 30 minutes drive south of our resort. This is the second largest town next to Cancun in the Riviera Maya. It was once known for it's quiet fishing village, deserted beaches and the only foreigners were those catching the ferry to Cozumel. Now PDC has become one of Latin America's fastest growing communities with a population of 135,000 plus, ugh!

La Quinta Avenida is considered the town's main thoroughfare. Running parallel to the beach so you get your bearings down. Fifth Avenue is a pedestrian walkway full of colorful street performers, little shops and cafe for people watching. Avenida Juarez is the town's commercial strip. You will find banks, grocery & gas stations. The other area that has buzz is the street that leads to the dock where the ferry heads back & forth for Cozumel. Shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels & food stand are located here. Want more sun & beach...head north along Playa Mamitas!

Listed below are some source of restaurant options in case you want to do some pre-checking...

Playa del Carmen seem to pride them self on a International Palate. There is Italian, Lebanese, Asian, Swedish, Dutch, American Fast Food., Mexican and yes Mayan cuisine as well. The cost of the restaurants are definitely higher on the 5th Avenue walkway as they do cater to tourist. Oh and this goes for shopping as well. In fact I have been reading that the vendors can be aggressive so be careful and cautious.

This might also be a good time for me to warn you to be careful with theft and safety. There is no doubt lurking among the crowd of tourist little banditos...so be alert and watch how many margaritas and cervesas you drink...ok?

Below are some restaurant links you can explore and decide what sounds worthy of your adventure...

Travel Yucatan.com

Playa del Carmen Restaurant guide

Playa del Carmen Restaurant guide

PDC Restaurant Guide - May Cuisine an Mexican

Bars & Restaurants

Recommendations for PDC Restaurants & Bars

Good Graphic map

TripAdvisor.com

"Cheap Eats" Recommendation from TripAdvisors

Sounds like a Travel Channel Andrew or Tony kind of place to eat!

LocoGringo.com

Loco Gringo - "Cheap Eats"

Chowhound.com

Chowhound-Cheap Eats

Foodie running post of recommendations for cheap eats in PDC

Map provided by mexonline.com

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