Global Cuisine and Snatch Game
Deborah Darr, former Broadway singer and dancer, now dance teacher, painter, and fabulous woman who I adore, and I finally got together over mango smoothies and traffic noise. We traded heart stories for a couple of hours and reluctantly hugged goodbye; a week today, she flies back to Chicago. I will see her again at the last NIA class at International Friendship Club at noon on Sunday and at the after-party, but the shift has already begun.
A new beginning in Versalles last night with the kick-off party at Gastronomiq, the latest restaurant bar to open its doors. Chef/Owner Chad Gardner expected about 200 people to drop in, enjoy deliciously decadent tequila/cranberry cocktails and wee tastes from an eclectic ‘Global Cuisine’ menu. This is Chad’s seventh restaurant – the first in Mexico, with the other six back in California. The building is Quonset Hut-chic, with ceilings high enough for a climbing wall. The olive-drab-colored cement brick walls hold amazing organic, mixed-media paintings I wanted to run my fingers over. Light fixtures are made from variously shaped light bulbs, and an excellent sound system, considering the immensity of the industrial space, with the DJ pumping out techno beats at a comfortable decibel level. I will go back for a bowl of corn chowder. Maybe beef stroganoff!
So many familiar faces – luscious Jet De La Isla, Tamale Ringwald (seeing her creation Burlesque tonight!), Matt Karimi, Mike Owens, Mikel Joseph Alvarez, Jerry Jones, owner of Out & About Puerto Vallarta magazine, Ryan Donner, Randee, Derek Carkner and an old and beloved friend Juan Carlos Bernal.
I rode with Derek back into town, both of us heading for Nacho Daddy for the finale of Match That Snatch. He and Lisa Manoogian were the first contestants in this muy funny mashup of a game show. Brainchild of Gouda Gabor aka Richard Lucas in association with another brilliant funny person from Canada, Diana Frances, who emceed as ‘Gene Gayburn.’ (My editing software corrected ‘Gayburn’ to Rayburn; I love AI!).
The panelists were Eva Gabor (Gouda Gabor), Enrique Iglesias (Enrique de Allende), and Pink (Eva Jimenez). It was hilariously confusing with a real Eva and an uber fake Eva on the stage together. The night was all about laughter and exceeded itself in fun.
Juan Alvarado, owner of La Catrina Cantina went up against Derek Carkner for the ultimate win. That took three or four tie-breakers before Juan was crowned the winner, and we could all go home, and Diana could get out of her seemingly sprayed-on polyester pants. Diana and I are having breakfast at Langostinos on the beach this morning. She is off to Toronto in the morning. Another farewell.
Fundraiser at Casa Karma Private Villa & Event Space this afternoon at 5:30, starring Gloria Fiona, Fusion 91, Rene Nieto, and Tao Te Chia, a martial arts group, then Burlesque at Coco Cabaret at 8. Looking forward to seeing you out and about. Take gentle care of one another.