Prime Rib Brunch; Sam Smith at Coco
A couple of decades ago, one of the guys who used to walk the Malecon with a bunch of us early in the morning said the only good thing about meat was that it tasted good.
Patrice and I climbed the stairs from Guerrero up to Gringo Gulch and around the corner to Hacienda San Angel on Sunday morning for brunch with one motivation: to eat prime rib. It is a guilty pleasure, to be sure, for a couple of vegetarians. But, if you are to venture into carnivore territory, there is no place better than Hacienda San Angel on a clear day with a violinist playing Vivaldi, mimosas sparkling in the sunlight, and a slab of rare roast beast on a plate with horseradish and au jus.
The service at this boutique hotel dining room is superb, with crisp white linens and enormous embossed napkins. The coffee is good and strong, and the atmosphere is elegant but not fussy. Richard Burton lived there with his wife, Susan, a block or so from his other house, which he shared with Elizabeth Taylor. Vallarta’s history is in every paving stone and cantera fountain.
We ran into dear friends Jan Dorland and Rob Burton, dining with Martin Methot and Robert M. Ryan. Only one or two Sunday brunches are left in April before they stop serving for the summer. You can still enjoy the views of the city, mountains, and the sea for dinner.
After a long prime rib-induced coma of a siesta, Patrice and I crossed over two swinging bridges to Coco Cabaret for Chris Lopez’s tribute to Sam Smith. Jan and Rob joined us in the front row; I was the only one seeing this show for a second time, and I loved that it was at 7 pm instead of 9 or 10!
The stage was crowded with six dancers, Nacho Granados and Eva Jimenez singing backup vocals, and a couple of Chris’s dresses took up a lot of floor space. Of course everything was smooth as silk – it was a Chris Lopez Production, after all.
Every project Chris takes on becomes a spectacular event with videos that he makes and costumes that are precise copies if he is re-creating a scene. His vocal range stretches from deep bass to stratosphere – exactly like Sam Smith’s. And he is as coquettish! AND, it is because of Sam Smith that we get to enjoy Chris Lopez as a singer, dancer and actor. He is usually behind the stage making other stars shine. Chris performed his first tribute to Sam Smith at The Palm Cabaret a couple of years ago. I remember its brilliance and afterward hugging Chris as he cried; he was so relieved that his first show as a solo artist went well. It was fabulous!
This bigger, better, expanded edition will knock your proverbial socks off; do not miss it.