¡Hola!

[guera]

¡Hola!

My name is Barb and I'm thrilled to have found this forum. My husband and I are leaving for the Riviera Maya on Saturday. One of my coworkers gifted us with a week at his villa condo, so we're heading out for eight days of sun and sand and glorious food.

My husband was born in Tumbiscatío, Michoacán and we run a Mexican/French restaurant in Philadelphia called Paloma. I lived in México for a summer in 1989 and am anxious to get back there. My Mexican friends always say I "llegue cantando y sale llorando." (I arrive singing and leave weeping.) So true.

I've been reading this forum and am grateful for all of the detailed reviews. I look forward to posting our own finds when we return.

Thanks for all your wonderful help and guidance!

Barb

[beachreader]

Welcome! Where is the condo?

Can't wait to have your foodie reactions, be sure to visit Cetli in Tulum pueblo (Mayaflya did a report on it recently).

Mexican/French sounds like a great fusion--I'll have to check you out next time I'm in Center City (or are you in a suburb?).

[guera]

Thanks.

The condo is at the Royal Maya in Cancún, but since my DH and I are both fluent, we're planning to do little more there than sleep and use the gym. Besides, I have a LONG shopping list. (Know any good bookstores in the area?)

I actually do have a question. Although I have lived in México and traveled extensively, this is only my second trip to the Yucatán. I have to dress up for my day job and prefer to bring no dressy clothes with me. Do I have to bring nicer clothes if we are able to get into Hechizo or is it okay to go in white jeans and a nice top? I'd much rather save suitcase-weight for all the stuff I plan to bring home...

Paloma is not in center city, not yet anyway. We are hoping to move there, or near there, within the next year. We are in NE Phila, where we found blessedly low rents when we opened in 1999. Now that we have a good track record (we scored a 29 in the Zagat guide in 2005 and 2006), we need to get closer to downtown. We're only 15-20 minutes from downtown by car now. If you're ever in town, stop in and be sure to say you're from this forum so we can spoil you appropriately!

Barb

[Lynnette]

Welcome and have a really great time!!! The only bookstore that I know of is Alma Libre in Puerto Morelos....great little town just south, and very close to Cancun. Check it out...I think you'll love PM!!! :)

[beachreader]

Everything's very casual in Tulum. I mean, I wouldn't wear a bathing suit out at night, but the white jeans and nice top thing would be plenty everywhere you go.

At La Zebra's salsa party Sunday nights, the crowd does get very spiffy, a sort of PDC-style group, but you're fine in anything. I think I wore shorts and a bright t-shirt with a linen overshirt, Gale wore a skirt and nice top. That's as dressy as anyone needs to get down there.

It's a looong way from Cancun to Tulum for dinner, you sure you don't just want to spend a few nights in Tulum despite the free room in 'cun?

I mean, you could stay at Cabanas Tulum for $70 (probably less if you bargain a bit, especially in Spanish) and you can try all the best places. You already know about Hechizo, but you should stop in at Om and meet chef Freddy, he's wonderful, a very talented chef who likes to do a sort of Asian/Mediterranean/Mexican fusion thing. He did a standard-looking stacked tomato/mozz napoleon thing, but it turned out to use Mexican cheese, home-smoked nopales and guajillo chiles in the vinaigrette. What a nice surprise that was.

And then there's Cetli in the pueblo, as I mentioned before.


Or maybe you'll just have to come down and spend a whole week in Tulum next time!

Oh, and thanks for the link to your restaurant, the menu sounds amazing! I will definitely try to make it there soon (I live in NJ). Is it quiet enough for a group of say, 8, to dine with one special guest who will want to talk to everyone? Do you have any large round-tops?

[guera]

It's a looong way from Cancun to Tulum for dinner, you sure you don't just want to spend a few nights in Tulum despite the free room in 'cun?

Maybe we'll stay one night, but I'd guess we'll do a week or more in Tulum on our own dime the next time so we can get to know the area better. I HATE HATE HATE touristy places and usually, when I'm stuck someplace touristy in Mexico, I find out from the locals where the workers eat and play. (In Acapulco, that would be back up in the hills away from the beach, or over around the other side of the bay. It was glorious!!! I hope to do the same thing this trip.) I would never choose to stay right in Cancun, but since it's for free I'm not complaining.

I'm not concerned about the distance, as we'll probably rent a car for a few days.


...you should stop in at Om and meet chef Freddy, he's wonderful, a very talented chef who likes to do a sort of Asian/Mediterranean/Mexican fusion thing. He did a standard-looking stacked tomato/mozz napoleon thing, but it turned out to use Mexican cheese, home-smoked nopales and guajillo chiles in the vinaigrette. What a nice surprise that was.

Sounds terrific. I'm putting this on our list!


Is it quiet enough for a group of say, 8, to dine with one special guest who will want to talk to everyone? Do you have any large round-tops?

We're just minutes from the Tacony-Palmyra bridge, so it should be easy. Unfortunately, though, we are a tiny restaurant and our largest rounds seat six. We could squeeze more, but our plates are large and the people might fit, but the food won't, so for parties larger than six we have to go long rather than round.

Thanks for the tips. I'm SO happy I don't have to dress up.

Barb

[beachreader]

Great, thanks for the info on your place.

And I know it'll be an easy trip down, I just wouldn't want to drive back the 2 hours after a leisurely dinner in Tulum, but that's just me.

I'm sure you'll find some great places in Cancun. The place can't be completely of good food, can it? :)

[Gale in KY]

Puerto Morelos is closeby to Cancun, actually it's closer to the airport than Cancun Centro is, and Alma Libre Bookstore is always a good place to shop. There is also John Grey's Kitchen, Pelicano's and several good restaurants there..but not ,much by way of touristy stuff, it's a quaint, laid back fishing village. I also recommend Tatich Mexican Artisan Gallery for a bit of shopping, it's close to Pelicano's.

If you venture further south, you will find all kinds of restaurants and good food in Playa. Yaxche is excellent.
Yaxche-http://www.mayacuisine.com/

All I had on the night we went to La Zebra was a tank top...but it matched my skirt..lol..and flip flops..that's as dressed up as I get when I am in Tulum..lol.