Meet Carmen Moraleda- owner and operator of La Carmela Restaurant in Playa del Carmen.

Carmen, originally from Madrid, Spain, left her home land nearly 20 years ago traveling throughout the United States , Central America, and Mexico. She landed in Playa del Carmen over 12 years ago, and has been an active community member ever since she arrived.

Hole in the Wall Deli and Bar opens in Playa del Carmen.

Three years ago Karen Lange, long time Playa del Carmen resident, opened a deli, a real deli with pickles, pasta salads, potato salads, bagels, and killer sandwiches, down in Puerto Aventuras. Web Guy and I would make a special trip down to Puerto Aventuras just to get our Reuben or Italian sandwich fix. Occasionally we would even phone Karen to see when she was coming north so we could get a "home delivery" Unfortunately she was forced to close down less then a year after opening her doors. To say the least we were not only sad for her, but what about the food?

La Palette, not just eating out, but a true dining experience!

Web Guy and I were celebrating our 14^th wedding anniversary so we decided to commemorate this occasion with some fancy drinks, gourmet food, and some good conversation; a true "date night". We decided on La Palette for a number of reasons; we hadn't been there before, we had met the owners Farrah and Michael and liked their personable attitudes, and we missed dining out in a style similar to many restaurants we frequented in Seattle prior to moving to Playa del Carmen. So off we went to have a date night at La Palette....

Cheap Eats

More bang for your buck at the Burrito Brothers in Playa del Carmen.

World famous cook, Rachael Ray, will be visiting Playa del Carmen this coming weekend to film an episode for her latest cooking show; Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels, which airs on the Food Network.

Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels is a television show based on her 30 Minute Meals and her travels around the world (somewhat similar to her 2002 Food Network show, $40 a Day). She tries different types of food from each place she visits, and gives a "Hot List of Values", which includes some of her favorite places visited from the show, $40 a Day.

Parilla Arracheras is a Real Treat for the Steak Lover.

We had 9 friends visiting from Stockholm, add a few Playenses, and we had a group of 15 people looking for a good dinner spot. Not being all that organized we did not make a reservation the day before so we were kind of at the mercy of who ever would take us.

Dr. Taco Adds Third Restaurant to His Taco Empire.

Dr. Taco has certainly made a name for himself in our community. Dr. Taco, aka Carlo from Guadalajara is an MD who got burnt out on his life in the city and moved his family here to Playa del Carmen 4 years ago. He opened his first location on 10th Avenue between 8th and 10th Streets and it was an immediate hit. With inexpensive prices, cold beers, the best salsa bar in the world, and great fish tacos, it was no wonder that his business exploded. He opened a second location on the road down to Mamitas to cater to the beach crowd, and 2 months ago he opened Papa Loco.

NO, we are not talking about people here, we are talking about the latest sports bar to open in Playa del Carmen.

Hola Asia in Puerto Morelos is a real treat for the Asian food lover.

Although Hola Asia is entering its sixth season in Puerto Morelos, and I have enjoyed dining there many times, I finally remembered my pen and paper the last time we visited.

With their tag line reading “Bar and Restaurant with a Twist” Ula Gula will impress you with their original recipes and top-notch service.

Although Ula Gula opened 4 years ago I hadn’t eaten there before last Friday. When a restaurant has survived the Playa del Carmen scene for more then a year there is definitely something to their concept. Argentine owned and operated, I had only ever heard great reviews, and when a friend invited me and the Web Guy out for dinner I suggested Ula Gula. We arrived and were immediately seated at a great table with a view of 5th Avenue perfect for people watching. The waiter came over with the menus’ and took our drink orders returning quickly with a tray full of perfectly poured cocktails.

Come and join the celebration and try some truly exquisite chocolate creations. 

Just over two years ago Rohan Barnett and Monica Tello opened Ah Cacao Chocolate Café in Playa del Carmen. In the past couple of years they have become a household name among locals, and a must visit by tourists. With their homemade chocolate concoctions they leave every chocolate lover truly satiated. Try their melt in your mouth brownies, some of their delectable hot chocolate, or take home a chocolate bar for your midnight munchies, and you will surely enjoy the total chocolate experience. This Thursday November 30^th they are celebrating a new look after a long remodeling project, and would like you to come and help them celebrate…..

Mezzanine has created causal elegance on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

If you have yet to visit Mezzanine it is heaven on earth, and a must do. It is a small boutique hotel, a trendy upscale bar and a restaurant that serves great Thai food; all located on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I have been to Mezzanine a handful of times for cocktails and appetizers, dinner, beach lounging, and general indulgence. After the last couple of times of decadence and social hedonism I thought I would write about my experiences.

Sorry folks, but due to a construction worker at one of the big resorts we have had major communication problems here in the jungle!

Word on the street is that last week a construction worker from the Barcelo Maya was digging and hit a major line that knocked out the majority of internet and cellular service, and it has been slow coming back. So please be patient with us! We have been using the wireless at Café Corazon to get as much done as we can....thank you Allison.

But we have managed to go out and eat pizza at a local Italian place, and here is the low down....

Our Mystery Gourmet checks out Sol Food. 

When Long Suffering Spouse and I decided to check out Sol Food, little did we know that we were about to enjoy one of the best overall dining experiences we’ve had yet in Playa del Carmen. Currently in their second location, in Playa del Carmen, the owners have streamlined their offerings and focused on what they do best. The sign at Sol Food reads “New World Cuisine”. Well, I don’t know exactly what that is supposed to mean but if “New World” equates to fresh, healthful and creative, then they have hit the nail right on the head.....

Petit Marrakesh is a new French Moroccan restaurant located on Calle Corazon in downtown Playa del Carmen.

With an eclectic menu that will be sure to make your taste buds stand to attention I certainly think it is worthy of checking out. Moroccan born owner Rasheed, has been living in Mexico for the past 11 years, but has just been here in Playa del Carmen for the past 4 months. He comes to our community from Veracruz where he had a similar restaurant for many years. He seems truly passionate about his food and offers his culinary concoctions for your creative criticism.....