Eat, Eat and Dance
Trovasi again for breakfast? And why not! Delicious food, an interesting location, excellent wait staff, a charming owner, and new friends with expansive ideas and fresh outlooks; a lovely way to start the day. New residents like Berl and Caleb can spot missing pieces because most of us who live smack in the middle of the puzzle that is Vallarta are often busy navigating a ‘can’t see the forest for the trees’ world. It is terrific seeing through new eyes!
It has been two or more years since Dean Regehr and I, both Albertans – he from Edmonton, me from Calgary – have had time to sit for an hour and catch up over good food. Dean built Puerto Magico and, within those walls, Cacao Magico, where one can learn how to make real chocolate and take home the results. This one class will capture your complete and undivided attention. I highly recommend it!
Dean chose Langostinos on the beach, Colette Zarry’s fine restaurant and bar, which is one of my favorites, with lots of food at reasonable prices. Dean also wanted to check on his tiny, new kiosk laden with his fabulous chocolates from Cacao Magico, tucked into the north corner of Langostinos, facing the beach. Walk by slowly, or you’ll miss it – signage is coming. I tried one of the sea-salt-caramel-covered in dark chocolate…OMG. Lovely to see you, Dean, and thanks for making Vallarta even sweeter!
The Soul Brothers kicked off their frantic hour of great rhythm and blues at Coco Cabaret right on time yesterday. After the first song, the house, the audience inhaled as one, jumped on the blues train, and did not, could not, breathe again until it was all over.
Geoff and Chris Dahl, brothers from Ontario, Canada, portray Elwood and Jake Blues as they appeared in the “Blues Brothers,” now a cult movie, released in 1980. The costumes are simple – a black coat, hat, tie, and shades. Props consist of two mic stands and various harmonicas sitting on the stage floor, and, as a super bonus of being at Coco Cabaret, bits and snips of the movie were running in the background, reminding us of the perfection these two bring to a Tribute show. The two brothers met all the requirements for backup dancers.
The music had everybody dancing in their seats, a conga line erupted, and utter joy prevailed.
The energy expended by these two talented and not twenty-something singers was hard to believe. They did not take a break or even a sip of water. The music was one song after another, and another followed, until, at the end of an hour, we stumbled out of Coco Cabaret, smiling and exhausted from watching two pros nail it, hit after hit. Well done, Dahl Brothers. I was so happy to see you both again! My comadres, Deborah Cole and Sharon Bergos, were equally enchanted. Come back next season, please, and say hi to the Old Country for me, From Here.
