Dinner, Cocktails & Conversation in Vallarta
Dinner at Il Pesce Cocina de mar has been long overdue and wildly anticipated. As we suspected it would be – everything was perfectly cooked and delivered to the table by expert, caring wait staff. I ordered what I always do – the homemade fettuccini with three kinds of mushrooms and truffle oil. My superlatives for ‘perfect’ have all been used over the past two years since I first discovered this tiny Sicilian resto on Constitucion, around the corner from Los Muertos Brewing Company. We were there early – at 6 pm, an hour after they open, and by 6:45 they were packed, so reservations are still a must even though season is winding down.
Another restaurant we are looking forward to indulging in again is Let’s Pho PV Vietnamese Kitchen. Owner Charlie Huynh, graciously made a reservation for us 90 minutes before the upcoming Gay Mixer next Tuesday. More on those shenanigans next week. The portions at Let’s Pho (pronounced Fa) are enormous and so fresh. And I have to give a shout-out to the carrot cake made in-house daily. The last time I was there with my sweet friend Zhander D. P’ng, I ordered it for my main course and had pho for dessert. Always good to change the order of things sometimes! I did, however, have to carry the pho home after overdosing on carrot cake!
Other adventures in food will continue tomorrow as we head to Vallarta Botanical Garden for lunch and a wander through the award-winning public gardens that are so gorgeous all year round, particularly in spring, with exuberant growth everywhere. The walk from the entrance of VBG to the restaurant is just long enough to decompress completely, and each footfall away from the highway leads to birdsong and gentle conversations. It is glorious out there.
The highlight of the trip south is hugs from Curator and Founder Bob Price, whose vision with his mom, Betty, for a public garden 20 years ago has led to winning every major botanical prize in North America. Bob is buying up properties surrounding the Garden as they become available – not to increase the size of the Garden but to leave the lands wild and protected for local flora and fauna. The hidden cameras show extensive wildlife like deer, ocelot, jaguar, and many more species living unafraid and safely.
My Vallarta Garden Club Gala friend of two years and counting, Bri Bott, had Patrice and me over to his condo building, Avida, for cocktails and conversation last night. The tequila and wine were plentiful and delish, as were the bread, cheese, and deli meats spread out next to plates of fresh fruit and nuts to nibble on. Meeting new-to-Vallarta people is refreshing, and it is wonderful to hear about other love affairs with this city I adore.
Tomorrow night at 9, Patrice and I head over the bridges to Coco Cabaret for Boys on Fire. If you have not seen this romp through Superhero Comic Book territory, join us. It is much fun, with great demonstrations of strength and agility.