DAC is hands down, without a doubt my all time favorite store in Playa del Carmen. And best of all it is a healthy and reasonably priced store. No they don’t sell shoes, clothes or perfumes. DAC is a fruit and vegetable market with a small but nice selection of organic items, a meat and dairy counter, international canned foods (mostly Italian and Asian), and several types of rice, couscous, quinoa, nuts, spices, dried chiles and dried fruit and beans, etc.

DAC is one of the most colorful places in Playa, many fruits and vegetables are displayed in crates on counters in the aisles and you can pick and choose what you want to buy. If you don’t see what you need, don’t be afraid to ask. Yes in Spanish! Delicate items like fresh herbs need a cool environment and the big storage cooling area is in the back of the store not accessible to the customers.

Here’s a few things to ask for in Spanish:

Basil – albahaca

Mint – menta local or hierbabuena (there is a difference but I don’t know what it is)

Coriander – cilantro (this is usually sitting in a wicker basket in the store)

Parsley – perejil (can be found next to the cilantro)

Dill – eneldo

Chives – cebollin

Sage – salvia

Outside, adjacent to DAC you will find their restaurant La Ceiba. Here you go for Mexican food and healthy salad choices at a reasonable price, anything from breakfast chilaquiles and huevos rancheros to lunch enchiladas rojas, burritos, great salads, grilled chicken, etc. The best thing you can get at La Ceiba in my opinion are the smoothies and fresh fruit juices. You can order them in or to go and they’re truly awesome. I love the Xama-ha, some mix of orange juice, strawberry, honey and ginger.

Once you start to get to know some people in Playa you’ll find you will run into almost anyone at DAC or La Ceiba. Some will be hung over from the night before and others will be fresh and awake just returning from a yoga class or on the way to the beach.  No matter what the activity , a fresh fruit juice gets or keeps them going. Well, it does for me.

DAC and La Ceiba are located on 30th avenue, between Avenida Constituyentes and Calle 20

Open Mon – Sat 7am – 8pm, Sun 7am – 2pm

It was a Friday after a long, tough week and Jurgen and I decided to treat ourselves to a new lunch experience.   To begin our search we made our way to the corner of 38^th Street at 5^th Avenue, a rapidly developing area with a very nice variety of eateries.  As we strolled around discussing our options, I recalled a recent comment from my sister about a delicious chicken dish at La Bodeguita del Medio.  I had enjoyed a mojito or two at their old location, but neither of us had eaten there.  So, La Bodeguita del Medio it was. 

We were the first to arrive, shortly after they opened at 12:30 pm and opted for a table outdoors in order to enjoy the beautiful day and to do a little people watching.  Our waiter quickly arrived to provide us with menus and to take our drink order.  Since it was a Friday afternoon and because we were treating ourselves, we each ordered a traditional mojito.   I forget how much I enjoy a cool, refreshing mojito.

Mojito - traditional Cuban cocktail made with white rum, sugar, sparkling water, lime and mint

Unfortunately, the Pollo Cubano dish that I was hoping to try was not yet available, but there were plenty of other options on the lunch menu that looked appealing.  We decided to share several items and placed our order for 2 different shrimp tacos as starters and a creole style shredded beef dish as an entrée.  As we sat, chatted and enjoyed our drinks, we were presented with a small taste of a lovely, rich shrimp consommé as a botana to accompany our beverage.   A botana is a small snack commonly served along with an alcoholic drink.  From 1 pm to 6 pm daily, La Bodeguita del Medio offers free botanas with purchase of cocktails or buckets of beer.   

Specials offered by La Bodeguito del Medio

 It wasn’t long and our shrimp taco starters were delivered to our table.  We ordered the Tacos Comandante ($38 pesos) and the Tacos Capeados Camaron ($35 pesos).  Each order came with 2 hot, yummy tacos. 

Tacos Comandante – grilled shrimp, melted cheese and purple onion

Tacos Capeados Camaron – large fried shrimp with purple cabbage and tamarind sauce

I thoroughly enjoyed both styles of tacos, but if I had to pick a favorite, my vote would decidedly go to the Tacos Capeados Camaron.  I am a big fan of both fried shrimp and tamarind sauce.  In fact, these shrimp tacos are now on my list of favorites.

Next to arrive was our main dish, Ropa Vieja ($95 pesos), a wonderful plate of shredded beef in a tomato based creole sauce accompanied by black beans and rice and fried plantains (plantanos fritos).  We both really enjoyed this filling, slightly spicy beef dish.   Jurgen even claimed that the rice and beans were some of the best he has ever eaten.  We both agreed that the fried plantains were a delicious addition.

Ropa Vieja – shredded beef in a mildly spicy creole sauce, black beans, rice and fried plantains

As we finished the very last morsel on our plate, both the day manager and the general manager stopped by to chat and to make sure that we enjoyed our meal.   Just to make sure we left happy, complimentary moxitos were delivered to our table.  The moxito is a new creation prepared by La Bodeguita del Medio in the same style as a mojito, using tequila instead of rum.  I enjoyed both the mojito and the moxito equally.  I believe that I would (happily) need to conduct additional taste tests in order to determine a favorite. 

The moxito, made in the style of a traditional mojito, using tequila instead of rum

Both Jurgen and I agreed that La Bodeguita del Medio was a great choice.  The atmosphere, service, food, drinks and value all came together to make for a very enjoyable lunch.  I still want to try the Pollo Cubano and will return some evening soon for what I anticipate to be another wonderful meal.  I also look forward to enjoying some live music as I conduct my very important mojito/moxito taste testing.

Open from 12:30 pm to 2:00 am daily, La Bodeguita del Medio is located on 5^th Avenue, between Calles 34 and 38.  They offer live music nightly (except Wednesdays) and, in my opinion, some of the best mojitos in town.  Don’t forget to ask for a pen to write your name on the wall, ceiling or where ever you can find some space.

For months I have seen Mama Mildred’s cart sitting near the corner of Calle 38 and 30^th Avenue.  We pass this corner frequently as we go about our daily obligations and nearly each time we pass I tell Jurgen that I would really like to stop and give it a try some day.  The shrimp empanada calls my name.  On Sunday we made a point to stop here on our way to the beach.

Mama Mildred La Cocina. She calls to me.

I’m not an expert on empanadas and I’m not completely clear on the difference between an Argentinian style empanada and those typically found here.  It would seem, based on my personal empanada taste tests, that the difference may be in the in the dough.  The Argentinian style empanadas that I’ve eaten seem to have a lighter, flakier dough than their Mexican cousins.  They have also been fatter, with more of the delicious filling.

Jurgen, waiting for our order of shrimp empanadas

We each ordered a shrimp empanada and a shared bottle of agua de jamaica.  In a matter of minutes we were presented with freshly made, hot and crispy empanadas.  Then (and this is probably my favorite part) the young man behind the counter explained the many different salsas available.  There were 7 or 8, including chimichurri, tamarind, mango, pico de gallo, chipotle mayo, habanero and more.

Argentinian style shrimp empanadas; freshly made, piping hot and oh so good. Washed down with a refreshing agua de jamaica.

Our empanadas were wonderful, stuffed full with a very tasty, slightly spicy mixture of shrimp, tomato and mild peppers.  This gringa usually likes a little spice, but today I shied away from the more picante pepper based salsas and opted for the touch of sweetness of the tamarind and mango salsas.  Perfect.  The chimichurri sauce was delicious as well.  I could eat it by the spoonful. It only took a couple of bites before we both decided that one empanada would just not do and ordered another round.

From mild to knock-your-socks-off hot, I love the selection of homemade salsas!

For a grand total of $70 pesos (approximately $5.50 USD) we both left Mama Mildred’s completely sated AND with pesos left in our pockets.  We will, of course, be back to try the other menu items. Frequently.

Tasty AND inexpensive! This will surely become our go to spot for very yummy, cheap eats.

Mama Mildred La Cocina is a very cute, small white trailer located at the corner of Calle 38^th and 30^th Avenue.  Open daily from 7 am to 4 pm.  Provecho!

Our dog, Radar, was hoping for leftovers. There were none.

I’ve been hearing a lot about Chez Céline for some time now.   My neighbor raves over their croissants.  Another friend recently announced on Facebook that she had purchased a baguette, still warm from the oven.  Each time I pass, there is always a nice crowd enjoying the outdoor seating.   With all of the good reviews, it was time I see for myself.  Conveniently, I had two lunch meetings scheduled at Chez Céline within a week’s time.

On my first visit, I had a difficult time deciding what to order.  The longer I studied the menu, offering an assortment of sandwiches, salads, soup and quiche, the more difficult the choice became.  I finally decided on the roast beef sandwich – roast beef on a baguette with spinach and caramelized onions, served with a horseradish cream on the side.  What a great choice!  The bread was sooo fresh, the thinly sliced roast beef was moist and tender and the caramelized onions added a wonderful little touch of sweetness.  To drink, I had a refreshing limonada with ginger.

Yummy roast beef sandwich

Five days later I had the opportunity to enjoy another lunch at Chez Céline.  Deciding what to order was even more difficult.  I had enjoyed the roast beef sandwich so much; I wanted to order it again.  But there were still many other menu items that I wanted to try – the brie salad or sandwich, the quiche of the day, the onion soup – so many choices and all sounding so good.  I closed my eyes and put my finger on the menu.  The croque monsieur was my fortune.  This traditional French ham and cheese sandwich was wonderfully rich and filling.  A definite winner.

Cheese topped croque monsieur

Each of my lunches ended with a trip inside to purchase a fresh baguette to take home and to ogle the cases filled with the many other lovely breads and sweet treats that they offer.  With good food, attentive service and reasonable prices, Chez Céline has found a repeat customer in me.

An éclair to go, please

In addition to their lunch menu, Chez Céline also offers a daily lunch special (drink, quiche and desert for under $100 pesos), a menu of sweet or savory crepes, as well as a menu of appetizers with wine paring in the evenings – so much to try.  Chez Céline, located on the north end of 5^th Avenue at 34^th Street, is open from 8 am to 10 pm, Tuesday through Sunday (closed Monday).  You can find Chez Céline on Facebook or visit their website.

I will order this salad with grilled vegetables and melty brie cheese on my next visit

Are you looking for a place in Playa del Carmen where you can get a fresh, healthy, and balanced breakfast or lunch? Look no further! Fresh at the Gym is where you can find all of this and more.

Fresh at the Gym

On December 21st 2009, Jennifer and Cesar opened the doors of this new breakfast and lunch place located right next door to The Gym on 1st Avenue between Avenida Constituyentes and Calle 16 bis. Fresh has an extensive menu that includes all-day breakfast, a variety of sandwiches, and signature salads. My favorite is the “create you own salad” option. For 60 pesos you have a beautiful fresh salad that includes salad greens + 5 extra items (think nuts and seeds, bacon bits, cucumber, peppers, onion, olives, celery, anchovies, etc) and a salad dressing (the house cilantro is really good). All of this is served take out style (in a plastic bowl with cover) but they have plenty of nice space to sit and eat your salad on the spot as well. You can even opt to sit so you have a view of the gym .. it might make you want to sign up right away!

create your own salad - here with a salmon and a vegetable pattie

Other great items on the menu are smoothies (add protein if you want), fresh fruit juices, and fruit waters. According to owner Jennifer they’re very flexible as well: if what you’re looking for is not on the menu, just ask. If you want a healthy and balanced meal while in Playa del Carmen you can’t go wrong at Fresh at the Gym!

Fresh at the Gym smoothies

Fresh at the Gym - drinks and home made goodies for sale

Fresh at the Gym opening hours are: Mon – Fri 8 AM – 9 PM, Sat 9 AM – 5 PM, closed on Sunday’s

Fresh at the Gym - next to The Gym on 1st Avenue

Bermann & Bermann is a coffee shop annex cafe that opened a few months ago in Casona. Casona is an “interior design center and concept store” with great furniture, fabrics, and art. It is located on Avenida 25 between 26^th and 28^th street. This means it is away from the main tourist area, and right in the middle of Villas del Carmen, where many expat “locals” live.  A perfect location to build up a clientele consisting of many “regulars”, and a regular is exactly what I’ve become in the last few months.

Casona - interior design center and concept store

Casona - interior design center and concept store

Bermann & Bermann terrace

An interesting fact about Bermann & Bermann is that the owner, Isac Bermann, is the son of the owner of the Babe’s restaurants, a long time Playa favorite. At Babe’s they serve specialty Thai noodles with a Swedish twist and although the menu at Bermann & Bermann is completely different you do taste the Asian influences in many of their dishes.

This is what’s on the menu at Bermann & Bermann at the moment:

soup of the day – 43 pesos

wraps – chicken, salchicha, meatball, or veggie – 48 pesos

lasagna – meat or veggie – 63 pesos

special – beetroot salad with Swedish meatballs – 43 pesos

the special of the day 43 – 68 pesos

the soup combo – 68 pesos

Bermann & Bermann meat lasagna

The combo is my favorite, it is a wrap with a cup of the soup of the day. I’ve had 4 different soups there so far: spicy carrot-coconut, potato & leek, tomato, and mushroom & broccoli. All four of them were fantastic, but the spicy carrot – coconut is my favorite. I’ve become a real Bermann & Bermann soup-freak and I don’t even really like soup, but guess I can’t say that anymore because the soup is the main reason I go there. The wraps are freshly made, so it does take a while, I love the falafel wrap which, I’m sure, will have a permanent place on the menu soon. It is filled with crunchy fresh vegetables,  hummus, mildly spicy feta or tzatziki sauce, and falafel, mmm very good.

Bermann & Bermann falafel wrap with potato & leek soup

There is one more food item on the menu you absolutely have to try:  the Swedish chocolate truffle! Chocolate at its best. With an espresso or a cappuccino. Fantastic. Yes, I’m a fan. You’ll be a fan too, I promise.

Bermann & Bermann is open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 8 PM

Casona, Avenida 25 entre calle 26 y 28, Playa del Carmen