Great Upscale Restaurants for Groups in Playa del Carmen

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

Taste of Playa 2010 = Excellent Shopping

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

Go Italian in Mexico

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

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Tropical Casa Blanca Hotel Supports the Community

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.

Taste of Playa Culinary Event in the Riviera Maya Nov. 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

Don’t Miss the Taste of Playa Sept. 5th, 2009!

A New Non-Profit Organization in Playa del Carmen: Coco’s Cat Rescue

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

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Hand Made in Playa del Carmen

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

Life in Mexico can be Simple!

While walking to the opening of a cenote, I passed through the living area of the family that owned the land. With a warm welcome, the family invited me onto their land. I ran across this beautiful child taking a bath in this large cooking pot. The amazing things and beautiful faces you see here are priceless. Imagine how simple life is for this happy child. – Sherry

Folkart Gallery in Akumal

If you have not already noticed… MEXICO LOVES COLORS! There is an amazing shop in Akumal called “Mexicarte”. It is the pink shop near the entrance arch in Akumal. They offer a selective collection of art, jewelry and handcrafts made in Mexico. They have chosen each artist because they are the best in their trade. These are people who are true to their roots and do not have access to mass marketing.

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