Posts filed under 'Playa del Carmen'
March 21st, 2011
A day or two ago, I called upon my good friend, Libby Bekas of www.intheroo.com . I needed a fast suggestion for nice dinner restaurants for a group of 10 people in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I had one of those days where my brain was mush. Libby pulled through with this list…
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
November 3rd, 2010
You will NOT be disappointed in the Specialty Food Shops participating in this year’s Taste of Playa MarketPlace Nov 21st!
Sapori di Casa ~ Little Mexican Cooking School ~ DAC ~ Hot Lips ~ Sabrina Pasteleria Italiana ~ Ah Cacoa ~ Cafe Kawa ~ Mayan Fiesta Rum Cakes
These select shops will showcase their unique products. Some will offer free samples of their favorites! All will be selling products you can take home with you. Some, you will want to eat right then and there. Some, will be the perfect ingredient for your next meal at home and others make the perfect gift or souvenir for family and friends. Eating and Shopping and Eating… what could be better???
A sneak peak of some of the products you can purchase at this years event.
- Delicious Hot Sauce
- Mexican Coffee
- Italian Pastries
- Rum Cakes
- Italian Meats and Bread
- “Killer” Pepita Salsa & Achiote to make Cochinita Pibil
- Authentic Mexican Chocolate
- Cookbooks
- AND MUCH MUCH MORE!
With almost 40 restaurants, 8 SpcialtyFood Shops and Celebrity Chef Mark Decarlo from the Travel Channel doing cooking demos with Chef Pablo … YOU WONT WANT TO MISS IT! – Sherry Stevens
November 1st, 2010
The one thing you will find in Playa del Carmen, Mexico is diversity! This is true in many ways and most delightfully when it comes to food. Playa del Carmen has locals from all around the world. Thankfully the Italians make-up some of our diverse community and with this comes some welcomed specialty food shops. If you are looking for a taste of Italy try Sapori di Casa and Sabrinas Pasteleria Italiana.
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
August 20th, 2010
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.
June 21st, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Riviera Maya Tourism Initiative Announces a Culinary Event for 2010 Taste of Playa 2010 scheduled for November 21 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico Playa del Carmen, Mexico – June 15, 2010 – Playa del Carmen’s second annual Taste of Playa festival has been announced for November 21, 2010. Taste of Playa 2010 will be held on the shores of the Mexican Caribbean, and offers residents and visitors alike an extraordinary opportunity to sample a wide variety of cuisines created by many of the Riviera Maya’s international chefs. Based on the overwhelming success of last year’s event, Taste of Playa 2010 is expected to attract twice as many attendees. Taste of Playa was originally conceived in early 2009 by a group of Playa del Carmen business owners who wanted to highlight the community of the Riviera Maya, a basic component that built the region over the past 10 years. The Mayan Riviera was developed in a spirit of multi-cultural cooperation, with people from all over the world coming to this region because of it beautiful beaches, dense jungle and unique history. Taste of Playa is an event that celebrates the international community that has evolved in this area and has put it on the map as a major vacation destination. With over 700 restaurants in Playa del Carmen, and 1000 in the region, it was a natural transition to highlight food as the common denominator to celebrate the area. “We are pleased to see so many local businesses cooperating to make this event a success,” said event Chairperson Nicola Inwood. “This sense of community is what drew me to the area, makes me proud to call the Riviera Maya my home.” The day-long culinary event was so well received that Taste of Playa 2010 is being expanded to accommodate twice as many restaurants, bars and specialty food retailers. Distinctive restaurants and their chefs from all along the Riviera Maya will return to showcase new menu items and highlight old favorites. Many others are looking forward to participating for the first time. Most of last year’s corporate sponsors have already pledged their support for Taste of Playa 2010, with LocoGringo.com and Buy Playa Real Estate Advisors, Deli Playa, Puerto Aventuras Info, and North American Standards Property Management among the first to renew their commitment as an acknowledgement that the culinary expertise in the region has assisted in the development of their businesses successes. Taste of Playa is a community-oriented culinary event that celebrates the creativity and diverse cultural influences of chefs throughout the Riviera Maya. Taste of Playa 2010 will take place on November 21, 2010, in Playa del Carmen’s Parque Fundadores. The event is open to the public with tickets and all-inclusive VIP passes available for sale on the official event website http://www.tasteofplaya.com starting July 1, 2010. Proceeds will go to a food education program initiated by the Rotary Club in Playa del Carmen that will directly benefit the children and families of the Riviera Maya.
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Media Contact: Nicola Inwood or Michele Kinnon
marketing@tasteofplaya.com
www.tasteofplaya.com
011 52 1 984 125 5608
September 4th, 2009
- taste of playa event September 5th, 2009
You will NOT regret stopping by the Taste of Playa! Come down to the Parque Fundedores- this is the park next to the ferry to Cozumel. (5th Ave and Juarez). Tomorrow it is open to the public from 3-9pm. VIP passport holders are welcomed at 2pm.
Entrance is free and you may buy playa pesos (tickets for tastes) or if quantity allows, VIP passes for 400 pesos each.
To see a full list of participating restaurants and food retailers, go to www.tasteofplaya.com
This will be an annual event. If you wish t be notified about the date for next years event, please let us know here at www.travelrm.com
Come and Enjoy!
Sherry
June 27th, 2009
Helping Cats in the Riviera Maya, Mexico
Coco’s Cat Rescue is a non profit organization with a no kill policy, dedicated to reducing and controlling the cat population in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. We achieve this via our TNR (trap spay/neuter and return) program for feral cats, and our rescue, treat, spay/neuter, and tame program for kittens under 3 months. We aim to find a permanent loving home for all the rescued kittens in our care.
We are also committed to education which encourages responsible pet ownership and challenges negative associations with feral cats and consequent cruelty. We provide free or low cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations and basic pet care to those on a low income. Our long term mission is to expand our model to embrace other local areas, as well as to extend our current program and enlarge our facilities to be able to shelter, foster and find homes for kittens older than three months and cats of all ages.
See their website! www.cocoscatrescue.org
October 15th, 2008
For years I have seen this guy walking the 5th Ave selling his crickets and hats. A couple of years ago I was having lunch with a friend, Astrid and this man walked up to our table and set one of his crickets on the table and said “$20 pesos”? My friend, Astrid was HORRIFIED and said abrubtly, “NO!” and then shoo-ed him away with her hand movements! I was stunned and baffled, this was not at all her normal nature. The cricket man walked off and I said, “What was that about?” She said, “How GROSS! That guy was selling dead crickets!” I cried laughing because the crickets this man sells are made by him from palm leaves! The 32 year old cricket artist is a kind and smiley man named Juanito Cruz Martinez originally from Vera Cruz, Mexico. He has been making his crickets, woven from one long plam reed for the past 6 years in Playa. He charges about $2 USD/ $20 pesos per critter. He also makes woven palm leaf hats. I laugh every time I see him as I remember the story with my friend.
- Sherry
September 10th, 2007
The amazing VIDAS Volunteer Vets, Techs and Students came to the Yucatan Peninsula to help our local animals and community. They set up their temporary animal sterilization clinic in Playa del Carmen Aug 8-11, 2007 in the colosio at a Primary school. They offer their services for free in hopes to prevent animal suffering due to starvation, disease, and other health problems associated with pet overpopulation, recognizing also that overpopulation of animals also contributes directly to human disease. Their focus is safe sterilization, vaccination and parasite control for the animals and education for the local people about safe animal handling, zoonotic disease and general animal husbandry and health care.
After finishing a 4 day clinic in Playa del Carmen, they broke down the clinic and moved it to a school in Puerto Morelos and completed a 2 day clinic there as well, Aug 13 &14, 2007.
The total number of animals sterilized and treated (Includes cats and dogs, male and female).
Playa del Carmen in 4 days: 201
Puerto Morelos in 2 days: 97
Here are some photos to take you through some of a day of the Playa del Carmen VIDAS clinic.
After advertising the clinic weeks prior in local papers, radio and fliers around town… people start showing up for the free clinic in the morning at 8 AM.
First, we check them in with owner and pet information. Then they wait their turn for general exams.
Volunteers have plenty of time to meet and greet all the friendly customers. This is the best part!
Next, they get the pre-med ready for each individual animal in the surgery room.
This is US VET Meghann Burgland, she is in charge of everything that goes on with the medication doses and the flow of the surgery room. She is basically the backbone of the surgery room. Keep in mind they averaged 50 surgeries a day!
In one of the classrooms of the primary school they have their surgery room with 4 operating tables made especially for animals, other stations for sterilizing equipment etc.
Dr. Erica Periman beginning a surgery.
At 1:00 or so everyday, one of the Visiting Vet Students that is fluent in Spanish, taught classes to the local children.
Teaching them basic animal care and safety.
They LOVE it!
Kids having a ball with Vidas Volunteer Teacher, Nolan Zeide. He is a vet student at Purdue University.
Showing off their work!
This is the recovery room where all patients go after surgery to recover and wake up.
Volunteer, Deborah Payne checks a sweet Playa puppy for ticks.
We make comfy soft places to lay them and while they are still sleepy, we do a lot of extra care such as, cleaning ears, picking ticks, and a lot of TLC.
Any animals in need of parasite control or have skin conditions are treated at the clinic.
Volunteer, Diane Patterson from Michigan takes care of a tiny black kitten in the recovery room.
After waking up and going through the recovery process, it is time to go home. The owners are told when they could return for their pet according to when they were dropped off. Some pet owners stay and wait the whole day and even help in the recovery room.
”Mom, I am ready to go home!”
It was a prefect success. Our community is grateful to VIDAS organization and volunteer crew. All of the visiting crew comes from the US or Canada, paying their own way and use their vacation time to come to this area and volunteer their skills!!!!- We love them for this!
During the clinic we have many locals and local businesses that have donated housing, meals, transportation assitance and hands on help. The Blue Parrot donated wonderful lunches for all the crew and volunteers, as well as, a thank you party at the end of the clinic. Mexico Escape donated two beautiful properties, as well as, an individual, Judith York Newman donated her condo for the visiting crew.
Vidas provides new collars and leashes to any animals in need! These dogs came with electrical cords as leads. (on the black dog in this photo you can even see the plug around his neck). If you have interest in getting involved with VIDAS or helping the animals please check out http://www.vidas.org/ or go to our local animal charity page.
I want to give my gratitude for the locals and visting volunteers that helped make this clinic work!
Thank you to Dr. Sandra Valdez, Dr. Claudia Lewy Sanchez, Dr. Diego Queijeiro G, Glenda Gabriel, Brenda Lee Carson, Deborah Ritchie, Libby and John Bekas, Paula Tunstall, Madi Collins, Deborah Payne, Marilyn Wall, Dale Cabauatan, Diane and Richard Patterson, Leslie Clark, Claire, Judith York Newman, Jan and Larry Hoffman and Pam and Tom of the Blue Parrot and their lovely staff – Sherry Stevens
August 22nd, 2007
Hurricane Dean made landfall well south of the Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya. We had a little wind and rain, nothing more. We are sunny and blue skies again, Come join us!- Sherry
Please see the below article published by BBC NEWS earlier today. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6955163.stm
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6955163.stm
Published: 2007/08/21 12:25:08 GMT
© BBC MMVII
Hurricane Dean hits Mexico coast
The storm is expected to cause widespread flooding
Dean hits Mexico
Hurricane Dean has struck Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula near the border with Belize, bringing driving winds and lashing rain.
Cancun and other tourist resorts were spared a direct hit as the storm came ashore at 0330 (0830 GMT) about 40 miles (65km) north-east of Chetumal.
The storm has weakened to Category Three, with winds of 125mph (205km/h) as it crosses land.
It could strengthen when it hits sea again after crossing the Yucatan.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Florida said the eye of the storm had made landfall near the town of Majahual.
At 1200 GMT the centre of the storm had moved inland about 40 miles (65km) north-west of Chetumal, travelling west at about 20mph (62km/h).
‘Windows shattered’
Last-minute evacuations took place along the coast as Dean was expected to bring a heavy flood surge.
The NHC said the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize as well as Guatemala and northern Honduras could expect heavy rainfall which could cause flash floods and landslides.
Tens of thousands of tourists have been evacuated from resorts in the Yucatan but many others are still there, huddling in shelters.
The resorts have been boarded up and offshore oil facilities are closed but there is concern for residents of poor communities living in flimsy homes.
Andrea Montalvo, of the US-based Spanish-language Telemundo television network, said the storm was wreaking havoc in the Mexican city of Chetumal.
“Inside the hotel it is really bad, every 10 or 15 minutes you can hear windows shattering and people are coming out of their rooms in panic,” she said.
City officials said there were power outages as the wind knocked over trees and sent debris flying through the air.
Ernesto Calzada from Quintana Roo radio and TV told the BBC: “I looked out of my office window and saw an enormous tree close by topple over.”
Further south, in Belize City, officials closed the hospitals and urged people to head inland, saying the town’s shelters were not strong enough to withstand the hurricane.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who is attending a trade summit in Canada, said that he would leave on Tuesday after a meeting with his US and Canadian counterparts.
Looting fears
The hurricane has already claimed at least 11 lives in the eastern Caribbean, but largely spared the low-lying Cayman Islands on Monday.
Cancun and other popular Mexican resorts are escaping a “direct hit” but that has not stopped around two-thirds of Cancun’s tourists leaving the area.
Some holidaymakers camped overnight at Cancun’s airport to find a flight while others were turned away.
Police officers have been deployed to prevent looting while residents boarded up their homes ahead of the storm.
Mexico’s state-oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, has evacuated its workers and shut down production on the offshore rigs.
The hurricane is moving steadily west over the Yucatan and may regain strength when it hits sea again over the Bay of Campeche on Tuesday night, the NHC said.
It is due to hit Mexico’s coast for a second time near Tampico in the state of Veracruz.
Dean is expected to be less damaging than the Category Five Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which lingered over the Yucatan for a day, killing 10 people and wrecking large areas of Cancun.
Category Five storms are rare – only three have hit the US since record-keeping began.
In the US, the return of the space shuttle Endeavour was brought forward by a day, to Tuesday, in an attempt to beat the hurricane should it eventually reach Texas, where Nasa’s mission control is based.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6955163.stm
Published: 2007/08/21 12:25:08 GMT
© BBC MMVII
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