Posts Tagged ‘Mayan Riviera’

Chez Céline = Magnifique

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

by Tyra Hamilton

image002 300x225 Chez Céline = Magnifique

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.

image004 300x269 Chez Céline = Magnifique

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.

image006 300x236 Chez Céline = Magnifique

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.

image008 300x225 Chez Céline = Magnifique

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 5th Avenue at 34th 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.

image010 300x181 Chez Céline = Magnifique

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

How my tropical garden grows – a small obsession

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

by Tyra Hamilton

I have become a bit obsessed by plants and gardens.  Everywhere I go I am checking out the plants. I’m taking pictures of plants.  I’m chatting with people and asking questions about their plants. Plants this… gardens that.  I’m very sure this must be wearing on my friends a bit.  Now that I think about it, I think I believe I have seen a decrease in dinner invitations lately …

The good thing about being obsessed with plants is that here and there you will run across another one of your ‘kind’.  Gardeners like to share – knowledge, advice, cuttings, you name it.  One afternoon I arrived home to find a small Caladium in a sandwich-sized zip lock bag sitting in front of our gate – a gift from an anonymous plant person.  We’ve  received  offers to come get cuttings from others’ gardens, we’ve received gifts of oregano, cacti, a baby banana tree, elephant ears,  a coconut palm, a chaya plant, a lime tree and some plants that I have yet to identify.  Some will hopefully be stunning when they bloom (please grow, please bloom, pleeeeeease). 

image002 225x300 How my tropical garden grows   a small obsession

These Mock Bird of Paradise were cut from plants that are now in our garden

Sadly, some of the plants we received did not make it.  It’s kind of funny how I became more attached to one plant than another.  For example, when the Ixora bush died after we moved it, I was all, ‘Ho Hum, put something else in its place.’  On the other hand, I babied the banana tree until there was simply no hope at all. The demise of the coconut palm almost broke my heart.   BUT, many of my favorite plants, including the lime tree, seem to have made it and that’s all that really matters.

image004 206x300 How my tropical garden grows   a small obsession

Our lime tree!

We are very fortunate to have all of these great plants in our garden now.  But wait…. Who turned off the water?!?  Seriously, just days after the planting was done, the sky dried up.  There has been no rain for what seems like forever!  Occasionally we get a dark cloud or two that teases us into believing that some rain might fall.  Nothing.  Nada.  It really has been a struggle to keep these new plants alive.  Even the cacti have begun to droop.  I water like crazy.  What little grass we have growing amidst the weeds has begun to go brown and get crispy.  Whenever I see the tiniest bit of green grass, I water it.  The yard has become polka-dotted with tiny little patches of green here and there.  It has now become a game trying to connect the green dots. 

image008 227x300 How my tropical garden grows   a small obsession

You know it’s dry when the cactus droops

image006 300x230 How my tropical garden grows   a small obsession

A few small patches of green grass dot the dry yard

Aside from the near drought conditions and the few sad mortalities, most of the plantings are doing well.  As I water, I study them closely for signs of tender new growth and I am always happy and a bit proud to see a new little leaf popping out on a bare branch. 

- – - – - – - – - -

Post script:  When this blog was originally written, we had no measurable rain for close to 3 months.  EVERYTHING was suffering from the lack of rain.   I am happy to report that those lovely tropical rains have once again returned and our weeds are growing like… well, weeds!

If you’ve missed my previous blogs on my tropical garden, it’s not too late to catch up!

How my tropical garden grows – I have dirt!

How my tropical garden grows – a big  job ahead

How my tropical garden grows – a big job ahead

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

by Tyra Hamilton

We now have a yard and flower beds (and weeds)!  Hooray!  It is obvious that it has been some time since anyone tended the yard or garden and things have gotten out of control.  There are also some existing plants that are not thriving in their current location and will need to be moved.  A big job lies ahead.

In a previous life I might have gotten out the checkbook, called the yard guy, made a quick trip to the nursery for a load of new plants and by the end of the day, ta-da, a nice, neat yard with pretty flowers and lush yard.   But these days, with a limited budget, this garden will mostly grow (or not) from our very own blood, sweat and muddy tears.

moss rose 300x225 How my tropical garden grows – a big job ahead

I did break down and buy some moss rose

I am a planner.  I can also be a bit of a procrastinator.  I like to study the situation and formulate a plan of action. I stand in the yard or stare out the window, strategizing each step.  I want to research the different plants and their growing needs.  Sometimes I spend too much time planning (procrastinating) and get nothing actually accomplished.  My partner, Jurgen, on the other hand, is a jump right in and ‘get er done’ kinda guy, often known to say, “Let’s do something, even if it is wrong.”  So with Jurgen and our friend Alex operating the heavy equipment (a shovel), that’s exactly what we did.

The first task was to relocate several existing plants. A leafless vine with 1 yellow flower (Yellow Allamanda) was moved to the bed by the front entry.  I hope this plant survives as I picture it in full flower, climbing the wall by our front door.  A sickly Ixora bush was put in the ground near the bedroom slider.  I’m pretty sure it will need more sunlight than what it will get back there, but for some reason I am pretty blasé about this plant.  A healthy Ixora bush is beautiful.  This one, not so much.

image0021 300x225 How my tropical garden grows – a big job ahead

Will this Yellow Allamanda grow up to look….

image0041 300x225 How my tropical garden grows – a big job ahead

like this one?

The biggest job, by far, was to move 4-5 bougainvillea plants.  These plants were sad, spindly things with few leaves and no flowers (bracts).  They had been planted in the shady part of the yard and were in much need of more sunshine if they were to ever become the big, beautiful, flowering plants we wanted.  So out they came and back in the ground along the exterior wall of our property where they would receive full sun.  Here in Playa you frequently see enormous bougainvillea plants with mounds of flowers cascading over a wall.  This is our dream for these babies.

bouganvilla 300x225 How my tropical garden grows – a big job ahead

Some day we hope these bougainvillea will…

bouganvilla big 300x225 How my tropical garden grows – a big job ahead

climb up and over the wall like this

It was a full morning of back breaking work for Jurgen and Alex.  Just as the last of the plants were being watered in, we enjoyed a nice, warm tropical rain.  I will take this as a sign that Chaac, the Mayan God of Rain, is pleased with our work.

John Gray’s Place

Monday, June 13th, 2011

by Monica Hartlief

This post is long overdue. As a matter of fact I should have written about this restaurant at least 5 years ago and probably many times since because it is my all time favorite restaurant in Playa del Carmen. I must have eaten at John Gray’s Place every birthday, Christmas Eve and Valentines day since it opened in 2004. Because it is good, and when something is good you want it as often as you can. But it is pricy, so not really a restaurant you go to every week, unless you have really deep pockets, which I don´t.  And now all of this has changed. No my pockets have not gotten deeper but John Gray´s place has become more affordable. A lot more affordable. Really? Cheaper instead of more expensive? I’ll explain.

Copy John Grays Place May 2011 4  199x300 John Grays Place

A few weeks ago John Gray introduced a weekly changing, fixed price menu. Lunch now costs 100 pesos which includes a soda, refillable iced tea, or a beer. Dinner costs 200 pesos and this includes an appetizer and a main course. The fixed menu changes often, some things will be added, others removed. The old menu has gone, you can only order of the new menu which has something for everyone including several of the all time favorites like the pate, fresh fish fillet with mango salsa and ” The Duck” made over.

I can hear you thinking: they must serve smaller portions. Absolutely not. Check out the picture of the rustic vegetable lasagna with Portobello mushrooms I had for lunch, does that look small to you?

John Grays Place Lunch1 Copy 300x199 John Grays Place

or the Greek salad

John Grays Place Lunch3 Copy 300x199 John Grays Place

So then the food on the fixed price menu must be of inferior quality. Are you kidding me? It is the same great food I´ve always enjoyed at John Gray´s Place. Maybe better because there is so much choice with the changing menu. And you get to try new stuff every time which is great if you’re like me because I´ve had lunch there 3 times and dinner once since the introduction of the fixed priced menu. So I guess the new strategy is working. Or at least, it is working for me.

Basically John Gray wants a lot of people to come to his restaurant to eat his wonderful food. His strategy is to make it more affordable. I think he´s on to something.

Copy John Grays Place May 2011 8  300x199 John Grays Place

That's Tyra and me having lunch

John Gray’s Place is located in Calle Corazon between 5th Avenue and Calle 14, Playa del Carmen

For reservations you can call 984-803-3689 or email JohnGraysPlace@gmail.com

Opening hours are lunch Monday-Sunday, 1:00pm – 6:00pm and dinner Monday-Sunday, 6:00pm – 11:00pm

 

Indigo beach club

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

by Monica Hartlief

When I moved to Playa del Carmen more than 10 years ago there were only a few beach clubs to choose from. The places I used to hang out were first the Blue Parrot and later Costa del Mar (or El Pirata). Things have certainly changed for the better. We now have so many beach clubs it is hard to choose where to go. There’s Bad Boys, Fusion, Zenzi and El Faro / Wicky’s, Mamitas, KOOL, and Canibal Royal to name only a few.

Indigo 9 300x225 Indigo beach club

The beach at Indigo

Since 2010 there’s also Indigo Beach Club, located on Calle 14 and the beach. There are many things good at Indigo: the location (around the corner from my house), the sun beds, chairs and umbrellas (comfortable), the music (during the day it is low key lounge music with some exceptions), the food (Asian / Mexican fusion with Mediterranean influences), and the service (most of the time).

Indigo 276x300 Indigo beach club

Indigo restaurant terrace

Some things are exceptionally good like the breakfast buffet that is served on the weekends. It is an Italian style buffet that offers several types of (home-made) breads both sweet and savory, jams, cheeses, salamis, ham, olives, artichokes, fresh fruit, yogurt and cereals. You can also order a hot dish, ranging from the standard stuff, omelets and fried eggs, to the more adventurous like huevos a la Mexicana or chilaquiles (a typical Mexican comfort food breakfast dish). You can also try the Eggs Benedictine, perfectly cooked, served on a muffin. The price of the buffet is also very nice, 130 pesos with a coffee/tea and juice included. Not bad for a Saturday on the beach in Playa del Carmen.

Indigo 2 300x225 Indigo beach club

Indigo Beach Club

What annoys me however, and this is certainly not limited to Indigo, is the lack of transparency regarding the cost of the beach chairs. The beaches and beach clubs are all public in Playa, with the exception of the all inclusive hotels in Playacar, and most of them will be happy to have your business but nobody is ever able to tell you how much you will have to pay to use one or more beach chairs for the day. It seems to depend on how much you consume, how many other clients they have, how well the “season” is going, and if they like you (or not). It can happen that one day the chairs are for free and the next day they show up on your bill. It has been like this in Playa for as long as I can remember and if there’s one thing I’ve learned while living here, is that you don’t try to change, what you can’t change. So I just go with the flow. Grudgingly.

All in all Indigo is a wonderful beach club and restaurant, I’ll continue going there and not just because it is so close to my house.

Indigo 5 300x225 Indigo beach club

Indigo Beach Club at El Taj on the beach

Feel free to comment with your ‘Playa-beach-chair-rental-experiences’. I’d love to hear about it.

Indigo Beach Club on Calle 14 and the beach, open daily. For more information you can check out Indigo’s website or Facebook page.

How my tropical garden grows – I have dirt!

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

by Tyra Hamilton

I have always enjoyed gardening.  Well, not always.  I can still remember my mother asking me to water the plants and knowing this was the most horrendous chore that could be bestowed on a kid.  Time passes and things change.  Now, my favorite time of day is when I’m outside, quietly dragging the hose around the yard.

When I moved to Playa Del Carmen, I left the big yard, flower beds and lawn mower behind.  My first apartment in Playa had a cute little patio.  Tending a few ornamental plants in pots was the extent of my gardening during the first 5 years.   Now I live in an awesome little house with flower beds, a yard and lots and lots of weeds.  I couldn’t be happier.

image002 300x225 How my tropical garden grows – I have dirt!

view of the yard on the day we leased the house

We start with a small yard, towered over by a gigantic pine tree.  Yep, a PINE TREE growing only 5 blocks from the beach.  It seems a little out of place here in our tropical paradise, but I love this tree.  I love it not only because I think it is unique to the area, it also provides some nice shade for our house.  There is also another tree, covered in vine, toward the back of the yard.  A pergola has been built in this area and we like the jungle feel with the vines hanging just outside our bedroom slider.  There is nice sized flower bed that lines the wall from our front gate to the front door.  Another elevated bed runs along a big portion of the exterior property wall.

image004 225x300 How my tropical garden grows – I have dirt!

this pine tree towers over our house and garden

The yard is mostly weeds and dirt, with a little bit of overgrown grass and more weeds here and there.  Some of the yard and front flower bed have been free seeded with a plant producing blue (purple) flowers.  These plants grow like weeds (maybe they are) and left untended could probably take over the yard.   I like these flowers and plan to try to tame them and use them in the front bed.

image008 300x225 How my tropical garden grows – I have dirt!

these plants with purple flowers are everywhere

So that is pretty much what I start with. I think it is a good canvas to begin the art of gardening.  I am looking forward to my new hobby and the challenges it presents.  I don’t expect to create a showcase, but I do look forward to learning about the tropical plants, getting a little dirt under my fingernails and someday be able to sit back and enjoy my garden.  This will be my ongoing blog to chronicle the growth of my garden.  Along the way I also hope to receive, hints, suggestions and words of encouragement from you gardeners out there (help!).

image006 225x300 How my tropical garden grows – I have dirt!

vine covered tree and pergola

And the project begins…..

Good Times at Bad Boys

Monday, February 28th, 2011

by Tyra Hamilton

By day, Bad Boys is a laid back beach club offering loungers, food and cool refreshing beverages.  But it is on Thursday and Saturday afternoons that the magic really happens and Bad Boys is transformed into a rocking good time.   Bad Boys, located on the beach between 4th and 2nd Streets (Calles) has become the place to be when JJ and the Nasty Bastards take the stage every Thursday and Saturday from 5 to 9 pm.

image0021 300x225 Good Times at Bad Boys

There is always a big crowd at Bad Boys Beach Bar on Thursdays and Saturdays

On a recent Thursday I found myself in need of some entertainment and naturally I decided a trip to Bad Boys was in order.   I was not to be disappointed this day.  I arrived around 6 pm and the festivities had already begun.  Every table was full and JJ and the Nasty Bastards were cranking out the tunes.

image004 300x225 Good Times at Bad Boys

JJ and the Nasty Bastards perform every Thursday and Saturday from 5 to 9 pm

The house band at Bad Boys, JJ and the Nasty Bastards, plays a mix of popular cover tunes that will have you out on the dance floor (or dancing on the bar) and singing along with the band.  The band welcomes visiting musicians and vocalists to sit in during their third set.  From bagpipes to washboards, from well known recording artists to a drunken bachelorette partiers, I have seen some super talented (and some not so talented) people sit in with the band.   A highlight of this particular evening was the performance of blues singer, song writer and recording artist, Angela Strehli.  I have enjoyed seeing Angela perform at various venues back home in Texas and it was a special treat to see her on stage at one of my favorite places here in Playa del Carmen.

image010 300x225 Good Times at Bad Boys

A group of Good Girls having a VERY good time at Bad Boys Beach Bar from left to right, Jana, Heather, Deb, Tyra, Kim, Judy and Karen

As usual, I totally enjoyed  my  evening at Bad Boys.   Good music, good drinks, good service, and good friends = GOOD TIME!

ComoComo

Saturday, February 12th, 2011

by Monica Hartlief

If you’ve had any conversation that involved restaurants in Playa over the last few months I’m sure you’ve been hearing the buzz as well …. ComoComo. The name kept popping up around me so I thought it was time to give it a try.

ComoComo is located on 5th Avenue between Calle 38 and 40, in the middle of the new and fashionable 38th street area. Everything that’s hip and hot at the moment seems to be there and I’m not talking about clubs or bars but I’m talking restaurants, small bars, a salon, nice furniture store, etc.

Como Como 5 300x225 ComoComo

ComoComo

ComoComo is a relatively small restaurant with comfortable seating inside and outside on a pretty wooden deck. It is nicely decorated, basic, not overdone with beautiful candles from Artevelas. I got the feeling that at ComoComo the focus is on the food rather than the interior.

I took only a few pictures and was planning on taking many more but got distracted and lost in the food pretty much as soon as my starter arrived (of which I did manage to take a picture). Mussels and clams prepared the traditional Italian way with white wine, tomato and lots of garlic. The menu is mostly Italian or Mediterranean cuisine with a lot of daily specials that are not on the menu. As a main course we had a special of meatballs and mashed potatoes and fettuccini with olive oil, tomato and lobster that we ordered off the menu. I was fully expecting pasta with a few pieces of lobster but no … it came with an entire (small) lobster, way to go ComoComo! Needless to say I loved it and my apologies for not taking any pictures. I’ll have to go back to take some (that’s my excuse). We weren’t very hungry after the 7 meatballs and a whole lobster so we shared a dessert of apfel strudel with vanilla ice cream and some good Italian coffee.

Como Como 2 300x225 ComoComo

mmm mussels and clams

With prices that are around 100 pesos for starters and desserts and no more than 200 pesos for a main course the bill was a pleasant surprise.  The service is also worth mentioning, very professional and friendly. I felt was eating at a place where people actually know what they’re doing and understand the restaurant business.

If you want to try it out for yourself don’t forget to make a reservation first: 9848591646. You can find more information on the restaurant’s facebook page or website.

Coco’s Cat Rescue introduces the Kitty Kottage

Sunday, February 6th, 2011

by Tyra Hamilton

I recently had the opportunity to attend a small BBQ for the inauguration of the Kitty Kottage, the newest Coco’s Cat Rescue facility.  Coco’s Cat Rescue is a non-profit agency dedicated to reducing the population of cats (dogs too!) in the Playa del Carmen area.  With two full time veterinarians on staff, Coco’s has implemented a very successful spay/neuter program – a total of 363 cats and dogs were sterilized in November and December 2010.  Additionally, Coco’s is a no-kill rescue facility with a focus on finding loving homes for the kittens in their care.

image002 300x225 Coco’s Cat Rescue introduces the Kitty Kottage

The Kitten Kottage is a light and airy building filled with all of the things that kittens love

The Kitty Kottage was built by Roz and Dave, two of Coco’s tireless volunteers.  This unique facility was created to care specifically for newborn and special needs kittens, as well as other Coco’s kittens when needed.  The kittens that will be housed in the Kottage will often times require almost round the clock care and feeding.  In this new facility, under the loving care of Roz, these lucky kittens will be given every chance to become healthy and grow up to find forever homes.

image006 300x225 Coco’s Cat Rescue introduces the Kitty Kottage

Roz, Kitten Kottage den mother, and Sherry, Coco’s Cat Rescue Board Member

The Kitten Kottage is not open to the public, however Coco’s hosts Kitten Cuddling every Friday afternoon from 2 to 4 pm at their main facility.  Kitten Cuddling is not only a fun way to spend a couple of hours, it also an important step in the taming and socialization of the kittens.

image003 300x224 Coco’s Cat Rescue introduces the Kitty Kottage

The tent currently serves as a play area for the kittens, but can also be used by Roz when the kittens in her care require feedings every two hours.

I was very happy to have the opportunity to enjoy the afternoon with an introduction to the new Kitty Kottage, a chance to love on the resident kittens and to stuff myself on some yummy burgers, BBQ chicken and salads galore.  Many thanks go out to Roz and Dave for their hospitality, all of their hard work and their devotion to the kittens.

image011 300x235 Coco’s Cat Rescue introduces the Kitty Kottage

I fell in love with this little ginger kitten!

For more information on Coco’s Cat Rescue, please visit their website or find them on FaceBook at CocosCatRescue.

Season Bistro

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

by Monica Hartlief

As you might have noticed I did very few restaurant reviews the last couple of months, ok I did none, but yesterday evening we decided it was time to try out a new place. We choose Season Bistro on 8th street. The place has many wonderful reviews on Tripadvisor and were participants in Taste of Playa 2010 (but unfortunately never made it to the actual event) so we were eager to check it out.

Season Bistro 002 300x264 Season Bistro

Season Bistro entrance

Season Bistro changes its menu with every season, hence the name, so it being January we were treated to the winter menu. Nothing is more wintery than soup in my opinion so we had the onion soup and the Dos Colores soup for starters. The soups came looking very pretty, smelling great (melted cheese will do that), and tasting even better. The onion soup was thick, sweet, well spiced and it could have been an entire meal that’s how filling it was.  The Dos Colores soup looked beautiful, poured into the cup like a yin and yang painting. It is 2 different soups together in a bowl, roasted poblano pepper and creamy corn soup and they tasted surprisingly really well together.

Season Bistro 005 300x259 Season Bistro

Dos Colores soup

The main courses were a bit disappointing. We had shrimp and lobster lasagna that tasted good, but it was covered in, a bit too much, creamy sauce which also didn’t do much for the presentation . The venison we ordered was presented beautifully and tasted ok but could’ve been so much better. So on to the desserts we went.

Season Bistro 008 300x225 Season Bistro

Venison in a chipotle sauce with masked potatoes and asparagus

If you’ve read some of my other reviews you know I’m a sucker for crème brûlée so when they mentioned the apricot crème brûlée I didn’t hesitate for a second. We also ordered a flourless chocolate – whisky cake with vanilla ice cream. Personally I don’t think you should mess with crème brûlée, it is hard enough to get it exactly right when making the classic version so I think you should just leave it as it is but in this case I was completely wrong! The apricot crème brûlée was fantastic, light and fluffy, possibly even better than when made with the classic vanilla flavored custard, the caramel on top was exactly right as well contrasting nicely with the creamy custard. An A+ on my crème brûlée list (yes, there’s a list). But not to forget about the chocolate cake which was absolutely wonderful too, rich dark sticky chocolate and plenty of whisky – cake with good vanilla ice cream on top, and a great presentation. After putting most of it away and gaining several pounds in the process we asked for the bill. The prices are not exactly “old Playa prices” but where do you get those these days and to be honest the meal wasn’t old Playa style either. Overall we were pretty happy with our dinner, the setting is wonderful, the wine and drink list original and pretty complete for a restaurant, the food creative, tasty and beautifully presented and the service is good and very friendly. Will we go back and try the next season? Absolutely!

Season Bistro 011 300x92 Season Bistro

Chocolate whisky cake and apricot crème brûlée

Season Bistro is located on Calle 8 between the beach and Fifth Avenue. They’re open daily from 4 – 11 PM, closed on Tuedays. For more info and the latest season menu you can check out the restaurant’s website http://www.seasonbistro.com