Cueva del Chango – Calle 38 between 5th Ave and the beach.

Como Como – Mediterranean, 5th Avenue between Calle 38 & 40.

Season Bistro – International gourmet, expensive. Calle 8 between 5th & 1st Avenue.

Wickys – International, best steaks, expensive. Calle 10 & the beach.

These are great choices Libby came up with so I wanted to share them. Let me know if you try any of them! Thank you Libby! – Sherry

Italian Specialty Foods

Sapori di Casa can offer typical Italian Sandwiches, Deli meats, cheeses, breads, pasta sauces, homemade and dried pastas, Italian espresso and coffee, sweets and much more. (I have been known to stop in for a dozen or more thin slices (100 grams or so) of prosciutto or mortadella and eat it before I leave the shop).

Italian Pastries

If you are having a battle with a sweet tooth, you will not be disappointed with the selection of delicious pastries at Sabrina Pasteleria Italiana! The best part of looking in the gorgeous case of sweets is that they have bite size treats (well, they are really 2 bites) which allows you to have one of many. Sabrina’s artesenal baked goods, authentic Italian bread and homemade pizzas and sandwiches and Italian coffee’s will make an impression on you.

You can visit both, Sapori di Casa and Sabrina Pasteleria Italiana in the Marketplace section of the Taste of Playa Culinary Event, November 21st 2010 or in their shops which are located  1 block from each other.

Sapori di Casa is located:
Ave. Constituyentes
Between 15th & 20th
984-120-9457
http://www.saporidicasamx.com/index.html

Sabrina Pasteleria Italiana is located:
Ave. Constituyentes
Between 15th and 10th
984-137-5973
983-138-8304

Try ‘em, you’ll like ‘em. – Sherry Stevens

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In Playa del Carmen we are blessed to have Business’ that get involved in supporting the community. Nicola Inwood, the owner of The Tropical Casa Blanca Hotel (Also called “TCB”) in Playa del Carmen, chose to support a local event, The Vidas Annual Free Animal Sterilization Clinic. Every Year a group of vets and vet techs come down to Playa del Carmen and offer free sterilization surgeries for the local community that otherwise could not afford this service.

Ublado Contreras Flores who is typically the night watchman for Tropical Casa Blanca Hotel has become known for his cooking skills! He is the chef for a bi-weekly BBQ that is hosted at the hotel. It is affordable and always delicious! With Ubaldo’s skill in mind, Nicola decided to support the Vidas group by preparing and donating a yummy lunch during their clinic work day. They also organized a  relaxing BBQ at the hotel for all the Vidas volunteers. It was lovely! It is such a beautiful setting to have an event.
The Vidas group safely sterilized for free 758 animals at the 2010 clinic.
Thank you to Vidas and to Tropical Casa Blanca for helping our community!

Consider stopping into the hotel on your next visit. They have a beautiful cenote on the property that is full of fish and turtles! They have hotel rooms and a gorgeous villa with 6 bedrooms. It is conveniently located in the center of Playa del Carmen on 1st Ave. between Calle 10 and 12! There is also the Abyss Dive Shop on site as well… a great option for your next stay in Playa del Carmen.

The owners of this shop work closely with the cultural branches of the government whose sole purpose is to preserve the tradition and cultural heritage of the vast array of indigenous communities that exist in Mexico. So by supporting this particular shop you are helping to preserve the welfare of these artisans and their trade. They are open every day from 9 am to 9 pm.
Check out their website: http://www.akumalart.com/

-Sherry Stevens

If you take calle (street) 28 and wiggle a little bit down to the beach it will be on your right side as you arrive to the beach. It is tucked back a little bit behind some of the more publicly placed beach chairs. If you want to treat yourself and find a wonderful gourmet fusion menu and comfy big bed lounge platforms to relax on while enjoying the Caribbean, this is a great place to go. There is a beautiful pool and lounge bar & restaurant with great ambiance and music by D.J. Marvin.

The menu is unlike most beach spots offering more than just the typical burger and fries. They have a great selection of sushi , as well as, other delicious options: octopus carpaccio, tuna steaks, New York Strip with mango sauce, couscous salad as well as many other typical dishes and Premium beverages. Don’t worry, picky eaters will find something simple to enjoy as well. Dish prices range from $100 pesos – $250 pesos. (Approx. $10 – $25 US) This would be a spectacular spot for a group of friends to hang out for the day! They offer discounts to college students and they do accept Credit Cards! (Visa and Mastercard).
Cloth lounge beds in the pool area are for rent for the day for approx. $120 pesos and others plastic chairs in the beach area are approx. $40 pesos.

You will also find a variety of activities to do on this beach including diving, catamaran sailing, wind surfing and more.

My personal photos are not doing it justice! I will try to post better photos as soon as I have a better photo session. – Sherry
Hours: 8:30 am- 12:00 am. Monday to Sunday
Cloth lounge beds in the pool area are for rent for the day for approx. $120 pesos and others plastic chairs in the beach area are approx. $40 pesos.
Location: Calle (Street) 28 & Zona Federal Maritima (the beach).
Phone: 984-803-1961
Website: http://www.koolbeachclub.com.mx  
eventos@koolbeachclub.com.mx
gerencia@koolbeachclub.com.mx