Saturday 31 January 2015

First Patio Crawl of 2015

Yesterday was a great day for a patio crawl.  It was overcast but warm.  We started at El Torito's which was just great.  It was 2:00 pm and most of the restaurant was filled with Mexican Nationals.  We shared some langostinos grantineed and some garlic shrimp.  We will definitely return.  Great restaurant!

Next we headed to Macaws for a couple of Cesar's famous cosmopolitans.  They were delicious!  Broke our rule and stayed for two.

Then we turned left about a half a block and we were at Angelina's.  Boy do I love this place!  The restaurant is beautiful, the bar was nice and the ambiance is just great.  And then the food!  I didn't really think I'd like this place because the online menu seemed a little sparce to me but their regular menu has way more offerings and lots sounded delicious.  We shared the tapas embazole (sp) and it was truly delicious.  I will be returning here a lot to ty more of the food.  We had a mango martini and a basil martini.  You have to try the latter!  I know it sounds weird but it actually is delicious!

Next we went to the rooftop at Jonathon's to watch Cheryl Gaudet play.  Paul and Londa and the whole gang were up there so that was nice.  Then the rain came but then it stopped.  But then it came again and stayed so we made our way back to Macaw's to hear Lori and Rob.  They were great as usual.  Had a couple more cosmos!

Then went in search of more music.  Twisted Mama's was closed and Baja Style didn't have Zaz playing as promised.  So back to Gus Gus for . . . more Kannon!  Shauna had joined us by this point so we went to Diego's for a late night snack (I had their amazing Mac and Cheese off the kids menu- it's really good) and then we walked Shauna home and tucked ourselves into bed after another fun filled day in Mazatlan.

Thursday 29 January 2015

Some Pics

Click for Options      The Mariachi Band at the Taco Party by the Pool


Click for Options      My View


Click for Options   Jose and his Wife
Click for Options   The Brenster


Click for Options  My Mad Skills at La Catrina's

Kannon, Kannon and More Kannon!

Okay, so left off yesterday (Wednesday) at breakfast at Nasha's.  Food is good and very reasonably priced.  Then we headed down to La Corriente in the afternoon to see Kannon play.  They were EXCELLENT as usual!  And while I very much miss La Canoa the setting at La Corriente is very nice and it was great to watch my favorite band in front of the ocean while the sunset goes down.  It was amazing.  As for food, we did have a little snack at La Corriente.  Cathy had a tostado and I had a little dish of chopped clams with vegetables, bacon and melted cheese.  It was good. 


While there, I gave Angel the beautiful picture that Philly made for them.  They all loved it.  They posted it on their Facebook page - you can see it there and further down on my blog.  Of course, I should have brought five because they all want one.  So Phil - you'll have to make four more!


Then the gang jumped in pulmonias and headed to La Catrina to see Tanya.  She was great as usual.  Cathy and I shared the combo shrimp with coconut, grilled and imperial shrimp.  Cathy said it was some of the best she has tasted.  I'm not really into eating at La Catrina much. 


Then off we went to Gus Gus for guess what?  More Kannon. Cathy and I danced and enjoyed LOTS of wine!  So we had to head home for bed but, of course, then we were hungry on the way so we stopped at Villa Italia.  I had spaghetti carbonara - it was excellent!  Cathy had a salad - she is so good and I am so bad!


So here we are now into Thursday.  It was a rough morning.  I don't quite have a hangover but I bet it's as close as I've been in years!  We were supposed to have a pool day today but the weather isn't cooperating.  It's very warm but very overcast.  So we weren't too motivated to get up and do much so we got off to a slow start. 


Finally decided to head out for something to eat which turned out to be a bit of an event.  We first decided that we wanted to try out the new La Mazatleca.  Well, right from the get go I wasn't feeling it.  There were workers working on the beach patio so we had to sit inside.  It was all closed up and I didn't like it.  The music was too loud and the menu didn't appeal to me and it was fairly pricey so we decided to leave.  I figured out that what my tummy could really use was some clam chowder.  So we headed to El Fish Market cuz I haven't tried it there and I wanted to compare it to F.I.S.H.  So we sat down and ordered and no clam chowder - for four days!  So we headed to the new nearby Mariscos La Carona (where the old Ernie's used to be).  That have a good menu with lots of different shrimp and fish offerings for a reasonable price.  The food was good but wasn't sitting well in my tummy.  We'll return though.


So now just chillin' on the deck.  It's still very overcast but it's warm.  Have a couple of hours before we have to head down to Lucky B's - to see Kannon play! 

Wednesday 28 January 2015

Enjoying Sunny Mazatlan

It's another beautiful day here in paradise.  Weather was beautiful yesterday for the taco party by the pool (thanks Paul and Londa - that was awesome and for Diego's Beach Bash which was fun as usual!  The last few days have been full of fun, friends and well, quite frankly, lots of drinking - and not a lot of eating (which is a shocker for me!)  So I'm going to try and fix that over the next few days.

Right now I'm sitting on the patio of the new Rincon de Nasha waiting for my breakfast to arrive.  I have decided to try their Eggs Benedict.  They also have dinner specials every night 2 people eat for 190 pesos.

Then we are heading to La Corriente this afternoon to see Kannon play.  I will take the beautiful picture that Phil made for them (by the way Phil I already have one request for you to bring another picture of Loco's Loco's for one of Doris' friends).

Well, my Eggs Benny have arrived and they look great so I'm off for now!

Tuesday 27 January 2015

There's No Sunshine When She's Gone

Been three days of clouds and problems with this dang tablet but I'm back, the sun is out and fun is happening everywhere!

Yesterday was a full day.  Cathy and I started our day at Mango's for breakfast.  I can't say I loved it.  First off, as you know, I don't like eating inside and when they enclosed the restaurant it really took away a lot of the charm.  Yes, there is outdoor seating upstairs but we were one of only two tables in the whole place.  The food was fine but pricey and certainly not one of the many breakfast deals that you can get nearby.  Took a look at the lunch/dinner menu.  Nothing special but we may return for dinner to try it if others want to.

We then headed out for our long beach walk and boy is there still a lot of damage and repairs to be done due to last fall's storms.  The beach is very different and Mother Nature has a lot of work to do restore the beautiful beach.  At one point we couldn't get around the rock wall down by Playa Mazatlan and got caught by some waves.  We were soaked - and heading to Mega!

Once we got our groceries we headed to Olas Altas.  The sun was starting to come out then and we enjoyed our walk along the Malecon.  We stopped at El Fish Market for lunch and enjoyed a decadent meal of Alaskan King Crab Legs and a Tostado filled with shrimp, octopus, scallops and tuna.  It was delicious!

Then we headed into Centro and went to Water's Edge to pay for my upcoming cooking class with Alastair and then went to Macaw's for the Mexico Murder Mystery.  It was entertaining and Wendy really carried the show.  Everyone had an enjoyable evening and the food was good.  Those mashed potatoes that they serve with their Southern Fried Chicken is amazing!  We made reservations to return for Sunday brunch before we left.

Then we headed to see the All Stars and Rob's Dance Party at El Chupeteria. Ran into friends, danced a little and then it was time to head home.  Got to the front door and Cathy wanted some wings so we headed to Vancouver Wings, a place she had discovered on her trip here in November.  She went up from 2 to 3 on "burn your face off wings".  I guess I'm not really a chicken wing gal in Mexico so no late night snack for me!

Well, the sun is out and it's a beautiful day in Mazatlan.  Friends are having a taco party around the pool that we have to get to and then we're off to Diego's Beach Bash for the day!  

Monday 26 January 2015

Only Took Three Days And A Sober Minute . . .

To figure out how to get back on my blog!!

Oh well, I've figured it out now and I'm back - with three days of catching up to do!

My Saturday flight was uneventful.  I finally got my bags down to just 3 pounds over between the two of them so the nice woman at the US Airways counter let me through with a warning to ensure they are under when I come back as they are sticky on the way back.  No problem - all that white chocolate liquer for my martini's on the deck at night will be long done!  Otherwise, the flight was uneventful, pleasant and went fast.

Arrived in Mazatlan to a cloudy but warm day.  Got picked up at the airport which was a real treat!  Got settled in the condo and quickly went to Loco's Loco's to say hi to everyone.  Spent a nice afternoon there but I have to say with the wind off the ocean it was a little chilly.  Thought I best go get a light sweater for the evening.

Decided to go for a walk.  There are a few changes that I will talk about over the upcoming days.  Went and visited some more friends and then headed to F.I.S.H.  They have free wi-fi there and I was having such a good time I wanted to blog from there but alas I couldn't figure it out but I will try and re-create how I was feeling.  Got there and Rootsterford was playing.  These guys have seriously improved over the last year (or I had just had a lot of wine by that time) and they were REALLY great.  Gabe greeted me with a warm hug and all the guys welcomed me back.  I quickly ordered a cup of clam chowder and the Mix and Chips which I had never tried before.  The clam chowder was excellent as usual but could have been warmer.  I didn't send it back to get warmed.  The mix and chips were excellent.  I had never had the oysters before - absolutely excellent!  I will return for these for sure.  The music, the ambiance, the food was all great and I enjoyed myself immensely.  My first night by myself and I just had a great time sitting outside, enjoying the music and the food in the fresh air.  But then it started getting late and the kids were coming in and lots of smokers so I ended my evening with a goodbye to everyone, promising to see them again soon, and I walked home.    A woman by myself in Mazatlan with all my bling on - totally safe!  Hit the bed and fell right to sleep after a long day of travelling and hardly any sleep the night before.

Sunday was great!  Got up a little later than expected and I was a little late getting to Loco's Loco's for breakfast buy hey, I'm on vacation!  And it's Mexico so people will wait.  Well some people!  As I'm walking the beach I see a fellow walking towards me that looks an awful lot like Chad.  Sure enough it's him - he didn't wait at breakfast!  No problem though all I had to do was suggest a Margarita and he and his friend Jeff were back at Loco's enjoying a morning beverage while Darlene and I had breakfast - delicious as usual!  And then one margarita led to a few (can't out others on my blog that would be bad form!) and we ended up enjoying the day there with many friends popping in and out to say hello.  Again it was a very cloudy day and there was lots of winds and at times I was downright cold.  I hope this isn't a sign of the weather in the future.  I think we're expected to get another day of cloud Monday but then I hope we'll be good!  AguaMaz - where's my weather report?

It was then time for Cathy to arrive so back to the condo to greet her with a welcome drink.  We then had to quickly shower and get ready as it was the Mazatlan Comedy Club night.  So we headed down to the Venados Showroom at the Playa Mazatlan and quickly went around to say hi to everyone and then hit the buffet table.  I have to say, the food was ok but nothing outstanding but they did keep your drinks full throughout the night.  The comedy was excellent and everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves very much.  Congratulations to Cheryl Gaudet for putting this on!

Then it was on to Las Flores for Kannon!  Angel was not playing so I was allowed in despite the restraining order!  My friend Melanie got up to sing with them twice and it was just excellent!  Then headed to Roots and listened to ZAZ for a bit and called it a night.

This morning it is cloudy again but warm.  We will take the opportunity to finish unpacking, going to Mega to get some "supplies" and maybe I'll get a chance to catch up on the blog and the new website.  And we're off to Mango's for breakfast so I will report on that soon!

Friday 23 January 2015

Still Ten Pounds Over!

And I bet you thought this was a failed diet post!  Well, it's probably that too, and I wish I was ten pounds less but . . .

I finally finished packing BOTH of my suitcases tonight (2nd bag is $40 on US Airways, not $25 as I expected) and I my bags are TEN POUNDS overweight - still - even with two bags packed.  This is crazy!  And I'm three hours from having to get up and I haven't gone to sleep yet - and now have to drop ten pounds of weight in my bags before I can. 

This is not looking good . . .  

To the Trip Advisor Mazatlan Forum Group

Thank you all for your patience as we worked on a solution to the problems that plague the Mazatlan Forum.

A few of us got together and have created a new website for Mazatlan related information. While it is a new venture, and very much in its early stages, we hope that you will enjoy it. In order for it to be successful everyone needs to contribute information, questions, forum topics and also answers to help our fellow travellers out. Any ideas or suggestions that you may have to make it more useful to you, please feel free to forward.

The new site called "Maz Community" can be found at:

http://mazcommunity.com

Please join us there and contribute away. Thanks to everyone for your support, enthusiasm and patience! Let's make this a fun, supportive and useful environment to share our love for Mazatlan!

Thursday 22 January 2015

"Last Supper" with The Girls!

Went out tonight and enjoyed a really great "last supper" with a few of my girlfriends before heading off to Mazatlan.  They were the best of sports and let me pretty much decide the four dishes that I wanted to try for us all to share!  (One of them is booked for Mazatlan and the other two may still decide to come at some point so they are used to me deciding where and what we eat!)

We went to Hart's Table and Bar and shared:  Mussels in a Gorgonzola Sauce, Sautéed Shrimp in a beautiful butter cream sauce, Duck Confit Poutine and "Not Nachos".  Everything was delicious.  Clearly the diet is over and I am sooooo happy!!  Of course, I enjoyed my most favorite drink on the planet - the Creamsicle Beer Mojito - only made here. 

As a bit of a shocker, Talla (from Big Brother Canada) served a couple of our meals.  That was amazing! 

But it really was my great girlfriends that made my night and that I appreciate so much!  Hope to see you all soon - in the sun!!

Wednesday 21 January 2015

List of "Must Visit" Restaurants

By request, I am listing my annual list of restaurants that I "must visit" this trip.  It's a long trip so it will likely be a long list.

New to Me Places:

El Torito
Todos Santos
Barracruda
Zab Thai
Hector's Bistro
Mango's
La Mazatleca
Rincon de Nasha
Mariscos La Carona
The Seafarer
El Fish Market (Olas Altas)
Angelina's
Lauren's
Mi Cocina
Tomato Verdes
El Guamachilito
Campestre la Marina
Compañía Minera
El Rincon del Camaron
Rocamar Restaurant Bar

Must Visit Again:

F.I.S.H.
Pancho's (On The Beach)
El Muchacho Allegre
Delirium
Surf's Up
Lucky B's
Macaw's
La Corriente
El Shrimp Bucket
Raggio Cucina
Vittore
Villa Italia
Allegro Café
Water's Edge
Topolo
El Presidio
El Aljibe de San Pedro
El Capitano
Diego's
Lety's
La Montalayo

And, of course, a daily visit to Loco's Loco's.

And there are a few others that I will no doubt add.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Monday 19 January 2015

And Finally Some Food Pics!

Shrimp Tacos at F.I.S.H.


And the amazing Clam Chowder at F.I.S.H.

 
 
Pork Belly At El Presidio
 
 

 
Frog Legs at El Aljibe de San Pedro
 
 
Lobster at Ocean Grille
 
 
Tequila Shrimp at Mr. Lionso's
 
 
Awesome Tapas at Surf's Up Café on Saturday Afternoons
 

 


Fresh Caught Grilled and Breaded Fish at Loco's Loco's


Breakfast at Rico's


Beer Battered Shrimp at Puerto Viejo


Delicious Shrimp at El Muchacho Alegre



Tacos at Delirium


Fresh Made Salsa at Topolo



Eggs Benedict at Water's Edge


Seafood Party Boat at La Canoa

Saturday 17 January 2015

This Makes Me Happy!

Every Tuesday at the Diego Beach Bash - my favorite song!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjkeKAYnIyg

The Three Amigas and "Just Call Me Hank"

Last night Mazatlan was treated to the sold out show of the Three Amigas (Beverley Mahood, Michelle Wright and Patricia Conroy).  It is part of the Brenster and Carrum Country In Mazatlan Concert Series at the Venado Showroom at the Playa Mazatlan.  Check here for the rest of the schedule for the season:

http://countryinmazatlan.com/

Here are the Three Amigas with Hank:

View WP_20150115_024.jpg in slide show

Now I can't believe anyone who doesn't know Hank but apparently there is one of you out there so check this out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St91FtcwKrg

Enjoy!

Friday 16 January 2015

My "One Week To Go" Lame Poem

Here I sit with just a week
Until I go to Mazatlan to restaurant seek
Of course there's more to Mazatlan than just great eating
I'll also be doing a lot of "Margarita-ing"!

Where are the places that I want to eat?
El Torito, Loco's Loco's and Pancho's can't be beat
La Mazatleca, Corona and Mango's are just a few
Of the restaurants this year nearby that are new

Speaking of drinking you best buy your wine now
I have a history of clearing out Mega in one fell swoop - wow
And then of course there's Diego's Beach Bash
They won't give me glass cuz it's likely to smash!

Mazatlan has so many great things to do
Like the theatre, the museum and artsy stuff too
Who am I kidding? While those things are great
Stuffing my face is more likely my fate

I'm going for two months
Oh what a treat
This holiday will really
Have those short trips beat

With this long of a trip and all of the eating
I best be going to the gym and take the beating
I actually plan to Zumba with the Las Gavias gals
They are a wonderful group that I'm glad to call pals

There's great music in Maz and lots of great bands
Like Kannon, Rock Creek and Brenster out on the sands
Of course I will find Rob Lamonica where he plays
That will be easy cuz he's somewhere most days

Again this year there's the Brenster and Carrum show
Tonight is the Three Amigas, I wish I could go
Then of course next month the Good Brothers will play
March has Joan Kennedy, glad I can stay

Oh how lame I must be if I'm writing this poem
I just want to get there and patio roam
So if you're reading this pray for me that the week will go fast
So I can escape this winter weather and in the sun I can bask!

Tuesday 13 January 2015

Ten Days and Counting!

My departure to Mazatlan is really coming close now!  Just 10 days left (my friend Darlene will say its 11 days but I keep telling her I'm going to use the countdown that gets me there sooner - Ha Ha)!

So, as usual, I'm on my pre-Mexico diet.  It's actually gone very well and I have gone 9 whole days without a glass of wine!  Come on - you all know me well.  You know that that is a feat close to impossible!  I have lost 9 pounds, but in fairness, many of those pounds were put on over Xmas when I visited many, many great restaurants and ate such amazing food during our great visit home to Victoria for the holidays.  I have 10 more pounds that I would like to lose but only 10 days to make it happen.  Sadly, I do not think I will hit my goal before my trip - again!  Every year I have the best of intentions.  And then there's the reality that I'm going to go to Mazatlan and will resume eating great food with reckless abandon and will likely gain more than just a few pounds back - it's a vicious cycle!  I do have a plan to go to Zumba with the Las Gavias gals, walk lots, climb the lighthouse a few times and maybe even hit the gym now and then.  But I do love my food and wine and like enjoying my holiday time!  But onto more fun topics . . .

The weather in Mazatlan has been great so far this year as last year was.  Many of the regulars are already down there and I'm excited to be able to join them soon.  It will be hard to leave my boys and I'm not sure that Dante will really understand where I am and why I'm gone so long but Philly will join me for a couple weeks mid-trip and I'm not sure Nikko has lifted his head from his PS-4 since sometime last summer so he probably won't even know that I'm gone.  Plus he's driving now so he has more important things on his mind than his mama.  Cory is still off in Ottawa being one of the top 5 bartenders in the city and livin' the dream!  He's becoming quite the traveler in his own right having spent five weeks in Europe last summer, was in Japan and Korea in November, came to Victoria with us for Christmas and has already booked a flight to Abu Dhabi and Dubai for next October.  He too is becoming quite the foodie so I see a food related mom and son trip in our future!  (Hey Kanky, I'm beginning to think this is sounding a lot like those family newsletters that you love so much!)

I am lucky that along with Phil, three great girlfriends plan to join me over my two month vacation so I won't be lonely!  We will no doubt have tons of fun and make lots of great memories.  And for two of them who are new to Mazatlan I will be introducing them to our version of "paradise".  Once they give me license to share their names I will reveal who is coming with me  (a bit of a cliff hanger to keep you interested and continuing to follow the blog to find out who is coming!) and will tell you all about our adventures.

So, I get the blog is a little boring right now while I'm still sitting in my flannel jammies, bundled up in my beloved flannel blanket, sitting on my couch in -30 degree weather but I hope you will enjoy following my vacation once it gets started - did I mention that is in JUST 10 DAYS?  And did I mention I'm going for TWO WHOLE MONTHS?!  Just a little excited.  I will talk to you from Mazatlan!

 

Monday 12 January 2015

Philly and Laurita!

Unbelievable!  I took this picture with the camera that I am taking to Mazatlan (without my expert photographer Philly!), downloaded it to my tablet (that I'm taking to Mazatlan) and have now successfully posted it to my blog.  Now I'm all set to add pictures of Mazatlan when I'm down there.  Another technical success!  I'm on a roll!!




Sunday 11 January 2015

Our Condo



A Technical Mystery!

I'm totally not sure how I got the webcam to post LIVE, instead of just a screen shot of the time I copied it, but it's working and it's cool.  It will show the current weather and view of Mazatlan whenever you check my blog.  And if you look really, really, really closely - maybe you'll see me on my beach walk!

A LIVE Webcam in Mazatlan!

In Anticipation

Well, the countdown is on.  Twelve days until I return to the beautiful Mazatlan which I am blessed to be able to enjoy for two whole months.  I will try and update this blog regularly on my adventures and activities (and, of course, on the food I eat!)  For now, I will play with a few posts to ensure I know how to blog properly as this is new to me!