Latin American Cuisine

Road Trip – Rumfish y Vino and Leashless Brewing (Ventura)

November 5, 2026 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Beer, Dog Friendly, Latin American Cuisine, Road Trip, Travel, Ventura County

After returning from a rather long road trip; the Missus still wanted to head somewhere for a few nights with JJ. After going thru the usual suspects, I thought we’d head out to an place we hadn’t been before; downtown Ventura. Yes, we’ve been to Ventura Harbor, which we thought was fine and we’ve stayed in Oxnard when we visited the Channel Islands. But we’ve never really stayed in downtown Ventura….in fact, I’d really never had recommendations for the area even when we lived in LA. Until, when one of the young ladies who used to work at Bay Park Coffee told me she went to school in the area and said, you and the Missus might enjoy downtown Ventura. She said it’s very relaxed and chill, and most of all, knowing the Missus said there are like 8 consignment-thrift stores along Main Street. So, we decided to head on over and spend two evenings in the area. We stayed at the Best Western Ventura Pier….since…well, we were tourists, right?

We were basically across the street from a lovely park; Plaza Park.

And, as we strolled thru the park, we came across this huge tree.

It’s a huge Moreton Bay Fig tree that was planted in the 1870’s! You can read more about it here!

Main Street is basically a block away. And most of it is pedestrian only.

There are a number of restaurant, bars, and yes many shops along the corridor.

The Missus would spend a good amount of time there the following day and I’d even purchase something for myself!

And near the end of the street is Mission San Buenaventura, which is one of the 21 missions on the El Camino Real.

Sierra also recommended Rumfish y Vino, telling us it’s quite popular with the locals. She told us to go during Happy Hour, which extends to the patio area and can be quite busy. Well no kidding; this was before five on a Friday.

Luckily, HH extends until 6pm during the week. The prices seemed super reasonable compared to SD as well.

I went with a Smokey Tamarindo, which I enjoyed.

Sierra had told me to order the Mussels during Happy Hour which was just $10. The Missus wasn’t too sure about it; but it turned out to be Her favorite dish of the evening.

Nice mild garlic tones, very savory broth, some acidity, I’m thinking from the beer, with the mussels being very plump, tender, and sweet. It took us back to the meals we had enjoyed in the Cinque Terre.

On the other hand, we didn’t care for the House Ceviche, it was too watery, the fish too chewy, not enough acidity. Though it was hard to complain at the $8 price.

Tacos were six bucks a piece for Happy Hour; which seemed a bit pricey, but both choices were pretty good.

The Cochinita Pibil was slightly tangy-smokey, with a mild sweetness.

Loved the pickled onions and the tortilla, though a bit stiff, had some good maize tones. Our lovely Server told us they make their own tortillas.

Though the pork ran a bit on the sweet side, it had a nice toothsome texture.

The aioli really did well on this somewhat hipster taco, adding richness and a mild acidity.

This was a fun dinner and the overall price seemed quite reasonable. And those mussels……..

Rumfish y Vino
34 N Palm St.
Ventura, CA 93001

After dinner we headed back to the Best Western, then took JJ for a walk. We enjoyed the location of the hotel, it was close to Main Street, and also just a block away from the bridge over the busy 101 to the beach. We crossed over the freeway and then took a short stroll on the Ventura Pier.

Which had an interesting mix of tourists and locals who were mostly fishing.

We would take a walk down the following afternoon.

Back at the room, we relaxed a bit; JJ had his “dinny”, then Momma needed some time. I had a place in mind I’d seen earlier on our way to Main Street.

I loved the name of the place; Leashless Brewing! So, you know I had to take JJ there. Man, it was bustling, yet when the nice young lady running the bar saw JJ she smiled and said “come on in” and even pointed us to some open seats.

Looking at the selection, I quickly noticed that Leashless is a certified organic brewery. I also noticed how much fun folks were having.

Especially that gentleman with the Aloha looking shirt and hat….he was just having a blast, dancing by himself! I have a video of him boogieing out…you know

“So let’s sink another drink
‘Cause it’ll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I’d ask the world to dance
And I’ll be dancing with myself“

Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol. Yes, I’m that old……

Everyone, even the pooches were having a good time!

I got a “250”, a Belgian Dark Ale. Good boozy – fruity tones, but what at kick at 10.3 ABV!

The nice gal manning the bar told me the food truck was quite good, but I told her I’d already had dinner.

JJ and I enjoyed our nightcap…..in fact we’d return the following evening!

Leashless Brewing
585 E Thompson Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001

We had never really given thought to staying near downtown Ventura. I’m glad Sierra recommended it for a visit!

Tacotarian (North Park)

October 1, 2026 mmm-yoso Latin American Cuisine, Mexican Restaurants, Taco Shops, Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants

After having an enjoyable visit to Mesa Agricola, I decided to try another of these “new style – concept based” taco shops. I had enjoyed the Hongos Al Ajillo at Mesa Agricola; so the possibility of Vegan/Vegetarian tacos had me a bit intrigued. I had passed the San Diego location of Tacotarian (their other locations are in Las Vegas) many times while driving down 30th Street. So, I decided it was time to check them out.

I found parking on ECB and walked on over.

It was just after 11 and the place was already starting to get somewhat busy. It’s one of those order and pay at the counter, then take your number and have a seat kinda places.

Tacos here run at $4.47 and up, I ordered three.

The gentleman running the counter was very friendly and asked me what kind of salsa I wanted….he asked me if I like “spicy” and recommended the habanero salsa….which is what I got.

Number in hand, I had a seat in the very airy dining room.

And soon enough my tacos arrived. Top to bottom, Barbacoa, Al Pastor, and Carne Asada….all priced at $4.47 and with “” marks, cause you know, right?

And some habanero salsa; which had some really acidic heat. This was no joke.

So, I first went with the Carne Asada, which is made with ~~Satan~~ seitan. I have usually enjoyed item made with Seitan at Kindred so this was an easy choice.

The tortillas were decent; they held up well, but was very mild in terms of maizey tones. The queso fresco had a weird mouthfeel and seemed a bit on the sour side. The Pico de Gallo was by the book and the avocado creamy with a hint of sweetness.

One of the good things about seitan is that the flavor is mild and the texture has a sort of almost fishcake like meatiness, so it’s a good meat replacement. The flavor was nice and savory, with a bit of smokiness and I could make out garlic and some pungency. This was by far my favorite item of the day.

Next up, the Al Pastor, also made with Seitan.

This was way too sweet for my taste, missing the complex smokey savoriness of the real thing. This may sound strange; but I do enjoy my al pastor having a “pass thru the oil”, this was lacking the richness of that.

My least favorite was the Barbacoa….the portion of shredded jackfruit was quite small.

Though it really looked like shredded meat; the texture was on the mushy side and the seasoning was too puckery and sour for my taste, even though this was mostly tortilla.

I was glad to have visited and tried some of the tacos here. I see that it’s a great option for Vegans and Vegetarians. But unlike Kindred, I’m not quite taken by the food. So, unless someone has a great go-to item here; this is probably one and done.

Tacotarian
4332 30th St.
San Diego, CA 92104
Current Hours:
Daily 11am – 9pm

Ecuador – Mariposas de Mindo, Lunch and a Chocolate Tour at El Quetzal de Mindo.

August 29, 2026 mmm-yoso Airport/Airline/Cruise/Rail Food, BBQ, Chocolate, Ecuador, Ecuadorian Restaurants, Latin American Cuisine, Travel

After an amazing time at San Tadeo Birding, we set off for our next stop. We drove thru the town of Mindo and down a short dirt road to a little parking lot and this place.

You see the name of the place right?

Yes, Mariposas de Mindo is a breeding and conservation project for the butterflies of the Cloud Forest.

We were escorted to the enclosed butterfly garden.

Where we were instructed on which butterflies are ok with humans and if they land on you, how to handle them. You never, ever touch their wings!

The amount of colorful butterflies fluttering and gliding around us was mind boggling!

All the colors, shapes, and sizes…..

And of course, one of the main purposes of the farm is breeding…..

And in case you’re not into the butterflies; right around the garden are all the birds!

Such amazing vibrant colors!

Another amazing stop!

It was getting close to lunch time; so we headed back to Mindo proper. When we first headed out, our driver/guide asked us if we’d had chocolate in Ecuador yet. I mentioned having visited Yumbos in Quito. Which was very helpful for him; because I guess there’s a Yumbos in Mindo as well. Instead, we headed to El Quetzal de Mindo, which is the restaurant location of Mindo Chocolates.

The menu was quite interesting, many dishes featured chocolate , but it seemed quite fusiony – touristic in a sense.

We started with some fried plantains which came with a very tart, mildly spicy Aji de Tomate de Arbol.

Our favorite dish of the meal was the Hearts of Palm Ceviche.

The earthy hearts of palm went well with the tangy-tart-sour-citrus forward sauce.

I was quite curious about the Cacao BBQ Wings. Which were much too sweet for my taste.

Somewhat earthy in the flavor, the wings were really tough and chewy. Really enjoyed the fried cassava.

We also got the Pollo al Chocolate. The chicken was overwhelmed by all that cheese and hardly had any chocolate flavor.

We figured that the chicken might be dry and tough, which it was….but we were interested in what that chocolate sauce would be like.

It was an interesting meal to say the least. Which was followed up with a chocolate tour.

Since we had done a pretty indepth tasting at Yumbos, we were more interested in the whole chocolate making process. From the various cacao plants.

There was an interesting variety, from the one’s that are native. The preferred species is the native Cacao Nacional, which is very slow growing with a low yield. We were told that it has the “best flavor” of all the cacao. Which is why most chocolate producers use CCN-51 Cacao which does well in direct sun, has a large yield, and is more resistant to disease. We were told that it now makes up close to 90 percent of the cacao used for chocolate in Ecuador. There are some reservations and worries about the growing use of CCN-51.

We were walked thru how cacao is made into chocolate.

Which culminated in a tasting.

We must be wimps, because we still enjoy chocolate with less than 7 percent cacao.

We were also given a very rich and sweet dessert as a finale.

El Quetzal de Mindo/Mindo Chocolate Makers
9 de Octubre
170167 Mindo, Ecuador

From here it was an over 2 hour drive to the airport. And our flight wasn’t leaving until 1130pm, plus we had a two-and-a-half hour layover in ATL. Luckily we were flying first, so we had lounge access. And the lounge at Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport was nice and peaceful.

And our flight from ATL-SAN was right on time as well.

All the waiting and flight time gave me a chance to reminisce about what an epic trip we had. From arriving in Quito and checking out the TelefériQo and visiting Latitude 0°0’0 and the Basilica to spending seven amazing days cruising the Galapagos and then feeding the hummingbirds by hand at San Tadeo Birding…..man, we’ve been blessed to have experienced all of this!

And thanks to all of you who’ve allowed me to be able to share these moments!

CDMX COMC – Restaurante Takotl Roma Norte and Azul Condesa

June 27, 2026 mmm-yoso Latin American Cuisine, Mexican Restaurants, Mexico, Mexico City, Travel

Well now…..I was looking at my posts on our visits to Mexico City and noticed that I had forgotten to post on two dinners we had there! Since I consider our little blog to be a food diary of sorts, I thought I’d do a C(learing) O(ut the) M(emory) C(ard) post on Takotl and Azul…….both places are still open. I’ll mostly do just photos….

Restaurante Takotl Roma Norte:

Takotl seemed quite a popular place, so I made reservations. It was a 20 minute walk from our accommodations in Condesa into hipster, hip, trendy Roma Norte.

The menu fashioned a sort of fusion of Mexican dishes with Asian touches and vegetarian dishes.

For example, along with tacos, they feature “takataka” where nori replaces the typical tortilla.

We enjoyed the cocktails here the best.

And after having Tamal Chepil, Tacos de Tripa and Suadero, and Quesadillas de Nopales and Flor de Calabazas for lunch, the Missus wanted a salad.

And of course I got a variety of tacos.

Including two “takataka”…..sadly, the nori really didn’t do well as it tore and fell apart easily.

The traditional Taco de Costilla, super fatty rib meat was the best item in my opinion.

Though the blue corn tortilla was quite brittle.

Overall, very hipster food and dismissive service.

Takotl Restaurante Roma Norte
Medellín 116
Mexico City, 06700 Mexico

Azul Condesa:

The following evening, after our wonderful exploration of Mercado la Merced, I had made reservations at a place just a 5 minute walk away form the Red Tree House. I had read about Azul Condesa a while back and this just seemed the right time for a visit. Azul features some takes on ancestral Mexican dishes.

Again the Missus wanted salad and veggies!

I on the other hand ordered items that were a little more interesting……

Starting with some Guacamole with Chapulines (roasted grasshoppers).

Which were really minced up…..it seemed to have lost a bit of crunch with that process. Really mild in flavor as well.

The Missus really rolled Her eyes when I ordered the Escamoles (ant larvae)….asking me if I hadn’t already had enough at the Mercado earlier in the day.

Often called “Mexican Caviar”, these were on the sour side…..and the Missus had a problem with the texture as well.

Because it’s only available for a couple of months a year, I’m glad I ordered it.

Azul Condesa
Nuevo Leon #68 Hipódromo
Mexico City, 06100 Mexico

So there you go. I know this one is kinda late, so I thank you for stopping by!

Dark Horse Japanese Nikkei Cuisine

May 18, 2026 mmm-yoso Asian Fusion/Pacific Rim/Hawaii Style Fusion, Japanese Restaurants, Latin American Cuisine, Mexican Restaurants

A few months back I read about a place named Dark Horse opening…..no not the coffee shop, but according to Eater a “Japanese-Peruvian” spot in Torrey Hills. Well now. If you’ve been reading our humble little blog for a while you’d know how much I enjoy Peruvian cuisine. And travelling to Peru twice has given me a real appreciation for what I consider Nikkei cuisine. Stuff like tiradito. And we’ve had the “Nikkei Experience” at Maido, which strangely, at least to me, took the title of “Best Restaurant in the World” in 2025!

Anyway, being quite curious, I decided to head up to Torrey Hills Center to search out Dark Horse.

Which I easily found. I noticed the Open sign and walked on over and peeked in. The place was empty…..soon enough a really friendly gentleman came over and I was seated in a booth. He introduced himself as Edgar.

And I was handed the menus……with some interesting dishes.

Of course I wasn’t interesting in the “rolls” and such; but seeing items like Anticuchos, Camaron Al Ajillo, Ahumado, Ceviche, and of course Tiradito. And well…..I love Tiradito…but with salmon? I don’t think so. Edgar came over and started explaining “Nikkei” cuisine to me…a nice gesture. Then I told him we’ve been to Peru and even to Maido and explaining the history of tiradito and things got a bit quiet. He then told me that “our dishes aren’t really Peruvian Nikkei, more of a mix of many cultures.” So, I guess Eater wasn’t quite right in their description? Not that many folks would know….

There were two dishes I was interested in and so I ordered the Mushroom Anticuchos ($14) and the Hamachi Ahumado ($24).

You know me and Anticuchos de Corazon, whether in a rather fancy restaurant or on a street corner in Cusco, I enjoy the texture and the seasonings. This looked quite interesting.

The texture was interesting…it was almost meat like, but perhaps on the mushier side of the scale. Some earthy mushroom flavor, but really lacking in the cumin-achiote, achiote/aji panca flavor and quite bland overall.

The presentation of the Hamachi Ahumado was very, dramatic, with the tabletop smoker cloche….which I’ve been seeing at various places over the last couple of years brought to your table.

Once the top was lifted and the smoke gone the dish was revealed.

Very nice presentation; the hamachi had not really changed in texture and was still somewhat buttery. The overall dish was much too sour, which even nullified any smokiness in the dish. The chili paste, made from morita chilies – smoked and dried red jalapenos had a bit of a kick, but was still overpowered by the sour-acidity.

While the portions seemed a bit on the small side; this was enough for a light lunch, though not cheap at nearly forty bucks. It seemed to be more about presentation-concept to me; but I felt I needed to give the place another try; so I returned.

For lunch again. The very nice and friendly Edgar greeted me once again and I was seated.

I was handed the menus again; but this time I paid attention to the lunch specials.

And no, it wasn’t the poke bowl or teri chicken that interested me. Rather, the Agedashi Tofu ($15) and looking for a more traditional dish I was going to order the ceviche; but noticed the Aguachile ($19) on the lunch special menu so I ordered that as well.

The Agedashi Tofu looked quite interesting.

This was so close to being a good dish. The batter was so light and perfectly crisp. The tofu light and creamy. I didn’t mind the creaminess of the guacamole or the crema.

The biquinho peppers added some fruity sweetness, with a hint of spice.

What was missing in this dish was a savory-umami component….you know…like what the tentsuyu provides for a traditional agedashi tofu and a pungent component like what daikon oroshi would provide.

The dish just seemed incomplete. Bummer…..

My favorite dish by far was the Aguachile.

Though I had to crack up when I saw it was served with won ton chips! I guess they had to keep something Asian in the dish?

Like the Hamachi Ahumado I’d had previously, I saw that the aguachile used the Yuzu Kosho type marinating liquid. But for reason, the bracing, acidic sauce did really good here. I’m thinking that the mild, oceany brininess of the raw shrimp and the buffering of the acidity by the avocado contributed to this dish nicely.

The slices of red jalapeno added some spice and the shrimp had hit that firm, yet tender balance.

Again, not a cheap lunch at nearly thirty-five bucks, but I was quite full when I left and thinking in terms of what a chirashi would cost. Well, this didn’t seem too bad at all.

In Luis Hara’s wonderful cookbook; Nikkei Cuisine : Japanese Food the South American Way, which I do own BTW…such is my love and respect for that type of cusine. Within the introduction is this quote regarding just throwing together flavors and the roll of various ingredients from different cultures : “without this understanding, fusion becomes confusion.” In the end; perhaps I was expecting a bit more as this seemed like “con-fusion” than fusion to me. Perhaps I was expecting a bit too much?

Edgar was very nice, warm, and friendly. Perhaps I’ll return in a couple of months?

Dark Horse Japanese Nikkei Cuisine
4639 Carmel Mountain Rd. #103
San Diego, CA 92130
Current Hours:
Daily 11am – 9pm

Quito – Zazu Restaurant

December 6, 2025 mmm-yoso Ecuador, Ecuadorian Restaurants, Fine Dining, Latin American Cuisine, Memorable Meals, Travel

I usually try to plan at least one memorable meal when travelling internationally. This strategy has really opened our minds…exposure to different tastes, creativity, culture. From the first time back in Lima at Astrid & Gaston, to Tamarind in Luang Prabang, and Azurmendi, Osteria Francescana, and Maido. We may not have enjoyed every dish; but it sure does open your eyes and mind. Heck, I even forgot what is our favorite restaurant, Suzunari in Tokyo, which we’ve been to three times!

When it came to Quito, I actually picked Zazu, before booking our stay at the JW Marriott. It seemed to be in walking distance. I thought having a nice meal before we flew out the next morning would be fun. And it seemed like just a 15 minute walk from the hotel.

The doorman at the hotel looked quite worried as we started to exit. He asked us where we were going and I told him. He asked if we wanted a taxi and we said we’d be walking….he looked quite concerned. He asked us to wait and brought over this serious looking young lady; turns out she is the head of security here. It became clear that they were worried about our safety, which I really appreciated. She handed me a “safety card” and we promised that we’d be taking an Uber back. I had researched visitor safety in Quito, which was relatively safe in comparison to other areas. And it was still fairly light out.

We found the restaurant with no problem; the staff were quite friendly and we were guided to our table.

As we’d often do; we went with an appetizer focused menu; 1 ceviche, 3 apps, and 1 main.

I tried the Quito Mule, which is presented deconstructed and you can adjust it to your taste. It was very refreshing with a touch of smokiness.

First up was the Ceviche Mixto. The leche de tigre for this version was made with Aji Amarillo.

This also came with camote – sweet potato, starchy, sweet, and earthy. The shrimp was the best of the seafood, plump, sweet, and tender. The leche de tigre had some complexity, not only the sour-citrusy-fruity tones, but also some smokiness. We were told that the aji amarillo was roasted in the wood fired oven before adding it to the marinating liquid.

No, this is not bone marrow….it’s actually the Beef Tartare, which is served in a bone.

Wonderful presentation; but quite ok tartare, nothing special; the beef was more chewy than I prefer. The most interesting ingredient in this was the addition of pungent, almost horseradish like Mashua.

Of course we had to have Cuy, right? After all, I do love me some cuy. Of course, this was quite fancy…..

I swear, that cuy could have passed for mild roasted duck! Loved the crisp skin and the beer jus was lovely. The cuy had been confit; so it was so tender! The mini tostadas were also delicious. What threw me off were the little pastas, which were filled with peanut cream…which tasted like peanut butter!

Next up; the Suckling Pig Taquitos; these were so tasty and the texture was fabulous as well.

The “porky pig” had been confit as well, so wonderfully tender and swiney. That dollop of avocado cream, a hit of smokey spice from chipotle, and the pico de gallo balanced out the richness. The crisp and rather light wrappers were excellent as well.

For our main to share; we went with the Catch of the Day; which in this case was Seabass.

The fish was perfectly fried; the coating crisp, very moist and tender, though the flavor nothing to write home about. It was the aji manaba, very distinct, slightly spicy, mildly fruity, good acid that really made things interesting. That black garlic aioli was a bit too sweet and overkill.

It was a fine dish; though not as interesting and tasty as the apps….which is why we’ll often have an entire meal of starters!

Service was excellent, very professional and warm.

A good example of how wonderful the folks working were happened as we were heading out. We’d gone ahead and requested an Uber….which did a strange thing. The pick-up point they set was basically half way back to the hotel? What the heck? The host came over to check on us and told us to cancel the Uber; it would be better with a taxi….they then went and called us a cab. The host even waited with us for the taxi and spoke to the driver just to “check” and make sure he knew exactly where to take us! Outstanding service!

Zazu Restaurant
Mariano Aguilera 331
Quito, Ecuador

We got back to the hotel and one of the security persons came over to check on us! Such great folks here!

We went to our room and packed a bit. We had already arranged a driver to the airport for the next morning. Our flight to San Cristóbal Airport wasn’t until 11, so we would have breakfast in the lounge before heading to our next stop! Can you figure out our next stop?

Quito – Intiñan Equator Museum, Basílica del Voto Nacional, La Vid Restaurante, Yumbos Chocolate, and More

November 15, 2025 mmm-yoso Chocolate, Ecuador, Ecuadorian Restaurants, Latin American Cuisine, Travel

We were having a fun morning exploring Quito and our next stop would be quite entertaining. Of course one keeps hearing about the “Center of the World” here. And after all, the name of the country is Ecuador, which in Spanish literally means “equator”. And this is where Charles Marie de La Condamine part of the French Geodesic Mission to the Equator from whom he split after disagreements and differing beliefs and methodologies, tested out the hypothesis of Isaac Newton and his work in Principia, that the Earth is not a perfect sphere. And that place where Charles Marie de La Condamine determined was the equator is where Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is located. Where the monument to the Equator is located.

Cool, right? But like a rather famous actor said “Hang on there, pilgrim”. His measurement was off. The “actual” location is about 250 yards away, which is where the Intiñan Equator Museum is located.

It’s a kind of kitschy , fun place….

The fella’s above’s name is…well Inti of course.

We did enjoy the exhibits of the Native Tribes and former residents of the area. One even had Cuy running around! Dinner bells must be ringing somewhere!

And yes, that’s a real shrunken head on the right in that glass case.

And there’s a pole to mark Latitude 0. Of course, I’ve read that this location is also a bit off; but not by that much.

Not that this sweet little one cares about it. He just wanted to be pet…..

There are some interesting activities as well. There’s a movable sink which shows how water drains from one side of the equator to the other.

And then there’s balancing an egg on top of a nail. It is said that it is easy at the equator which I’ve read is a myth. But of course, the Missus had to try, right?

Well, so much for that one…..

Regardless of if this is really the center of the world; we enjoyed this stop!

Intiñan Equator Museum
Manuel Cordova Galarza
Quito, Ecuador

We then headed back to the Old Town, stopping on top of a hill was this huge, imposing Gothic Cathedral. This is the Basílica del Voto Nacional.

Construction was started in 1892 and…well, never officially finished. You see, there’s a legend that says if the Basilica is ever finished, the world will come to an end.

You can actually pay to climb to the top of the towers for an extra fee.

And of course the Missus just had to do it. I think I’ve mentioned before….I’m not a fan of heights. Not that it really mattered to the Missus.

The views from the towers were wonderful.

I later mentioned that the Basilica reminded me of Notre Dame and was told it was modeled after it.

Of course, what goes up must come down….which was more scary for me…..

Yikes….

Look at the lovely stained glass window!

After our visit to the Basilica, we headed into the Old Town.

This lovely building was the home of our destination for lunch. We were told that it used to be the Archbishop’s Palace, but now houses shops and restaurants.

La Vid Restaurant is located on the second floor.

A lovely and classy dining room with a view of Plaza Grande.

The menu had a combination of various Ecuadorian dishes which I was really looking forward to, along with western dishes like Carpaccio, Beefs dishes, and pastas. Of course we stayed with the Ecuadorian dishes.

I’d been wanting to try Ceviche Ecuatoriano – Ecuadorian Ceviche ($11.95) – I think I’ve forgotten to mention; Ecuador uses the American Dollar for currency. We cracked up when the “side dishes” for the ceviche arrived……popcorn anyone?

We were told that Ceviche in Ecuador is commonly served with “Canguil”…..basically popcorn, unsalted to provide textural contrast.

We chose to go with ceviche pescado; in this case sea bass for our ceviche. This was almost like a soup. The fish very plump and instead of being “cooked” by citrus, it seemed to have been precooked? The liquid seemed to be big on “shrimpiness”, though lacking in acidity and spice.

We also got the Bandera Ecuatoriana ($8.95), a platter of two types of Ecuadorian Empanadas.

The Empanadas de Verde; green plantain empanadas were a surprise as it was not sweet as expected; but the cheese made it rich and savory….it also really stuck to the roof of your mouth! It was enjoyable. The Beef version made with white corn was crisp, with a wonderful texture if a bit on the salty side.

I was interested in trying the Seco de Chivo La Vid ($17.95); the Goat Stew.

Which came with plantains, super delicious avocado, tasteless steamed potatoes, and yellow rice. I liked the rice; but the Missus isn’t a fan of tumeric, which is one of the ingredients in the rice. Loved the gameyness of the goat, which a bit on the chewier side. Kind of strong in terms of clove tones; with a hint of cumin. Fairly rich and pretty good.

This was an interesting and enjoyable meal, which gave us a look at what Ecuadorian cuisine was like.

La Vid Restaurante
Venezuela Oe4-56
Quito, Ecuador

Right across the street from the restaurant’s location is Plaza Grande (Independence Square) which dates back to 1612!

The Independence Monument, which was unveiled in 1906 honors those who fought for Ecuador’s Independence from Spain.

Many grand buildings surround the square, like the Metropolitan Cathedral.

We were led around the corner to yet another grand looking church; the Iglesia de El Sagrario (“Church of the Tabernacle).

And were encouraged to take a look at the interior, which was quite grand and opulent….wait, did I really write “opulent”? Well, it was!

Check out the main altar!

From here we headed down Sebastián de Benalcázar, passing yet another church.

The Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco (“Basilica and Convent of San Francisco“).

Where our final destination of the day is located. As you know from previous posts; the Missus loves Her chocolate. And across the street from the Basilica resides Yumbos Chocolate.

Which is an artesenal chocolate maker. We were given a short tour, then directed to a table.

Where we were given a tasting. We were the only customers in the place, so it really felt like a private tasting.

Man, that 90% Cacao was potent, a bit too intense and bitter for my taste. The Missus preferred the 60% which had a nice balance of rich and sweet, with a hint of bitterness. I guess we’re kinda wussy when it comes to chocolate?

We did manage to get a few gifts even though we’d be lugging it around for the rest of the trip.

And we’d be having an even more interesting chocolate “meal” later on during our stay.

Yumbos Chocolate
Sebastián de Benalcázar
Quito, Ecuador

From here we headed back to our hotel. It had been quite a day! And since we weren’t very hungry and had access to the Club Lounge at the JW Marriott, we just had a light dinner there.

We had another private tour coming up the following day, plus reservations for a more “fancy” dinner. So, I thought we’d rest up.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fauna – Valle de Guadalupe

August 7, 2025 mmm-yoso Baja California, Mexico, Fine Dining, Latin American Cuisine, Memorable Meals, Mexican Restaurants, Travel

For our blowout meal while visiting Valle de Guadalupe, I made reservations at Fauna which for several years had been touted among the "best" (in lower case and strong quotes) restaurants in Latin America. Of course…those lists…..Fauna was chosen as the "best" in Mexico in 2023 according to Eater. Of course, I kind of temper my expectations at bit. We've dined at Maido, which has claimed the title of Best Restaurant in the World in 2025 and Osteria Francescana when it held that title back in 2018. Both meals were good and innovative; but each with short comings for us. Still, what I had read and seen regarding Fauna was interesting, so I made those reservations.

Of course our driver, Ivan was super punctual, and off we went! We were dropped right at the entrance of Fauna which is located in the huge and sprawling Bruma Wine Resort.

We were greeted and seated. The Missus wasn't too fond of the communal seating arrangement, but I kind of enjoyed the social aspect.

I had a cocktail and the Missus wine while we looked over the menu.

We started with some wonderful shellfish. I think the Missus's favorite was the super sweet abalone, which came with a nutty pepito flavored aspic. The blood clams were so sweet and an umami bomb.

The Baja Oysters were mildly briny and refreshing, with a clean finish.

The Tuna Fin Sopes where a bit salty and the sopes were on drier-chewier side. For some reason, it also lacked a nice "maize" flavor as well.

The Octopus with Tomato was interesting as it was quite herbal. The octopus was cooked perfectly and quite tender.

The scallops in the Scallops in Eggplant Puree was so sweet and tender.

But the eggplant puree was thinner than I anticipated and really lacked the smoky-savory flavor we enjoy. It was also a bit on the salty side.

The Rabbit and Celeriac was an interesting dish as the rabbit was compressed.

Surprisingly mild in flavor, the rabbit was super moist and tender. The celeriac added some nice sweet tones as well. This was served with some blue corn tortillas, which, unlike the sopes were mildly sweet and "maizey".

Seeing Sweetbreads on the menu; you know I just had to order it, right?

Served on a savory, lovely potato puree, and with crispy fried kale to add an interesting bitter-sweet flavor and also textural contrast to the nutty-buttery, mildly offaly sweetbreads, this was an delici-yoso dish!

The Striped Bass with a Pasilla Adobo was very good.

The fish was perfectly pan fried, crisp exterior, moist and flaky, while a bit on the salty side. The adobo was wonderful, smoky, slightly sweet, mild spice, quite rich in texture.

There were two dishes we were advised to order by folks we know. The first being the Charred Cabbage.

Which lay in a large dollop of a sauce made of Chilhuacle Chiles, which was the sweeter side. The cabbage was fine….and we've been ordering charred cabbage this when we see it on menus since we had it at Senia. The cabbage was quite mild in flavor, even though it was charred and should have really developed a sweet smokiness.

And then there was the Wagyu which was served with a Pasilla Chile Stuffed with Cheese which was kinda overkill.

The steak was toothsome and quite beefy, though cooked past our preferred doneness.

The Missus did enjoy the desserts.

While the Missus was not particularly fond of the communal seating and definitely not in same league as Pujol; I think we'd return if we had a chance.

We felt sorry for the young man who was part of the Asian couple across from us. He was so excited to be dining at Fauna; but the young lady accompanying him was having none of it. She made many rude comments…sometimes not even touching what was on her plate! She just didn't want to be there it seems, making the meal as unpleasant for her date as possible, and was totally unable to just "suck it up" for the sake of the young man. Sigh….

Fauna
México 3 Km #73
Francisco Zarco, B.C., Mexico

After dinner we strolled around the area a bit.

Thinking that perhaps we might want to stay around here should we return to Valle.

Fauna 00

Where in the world were we?

May 9, 2024 mmm-yoso Ecuador, Galapagos, Latin American Cuisine, Travel, yoso-silly

Whew, ever had a trip that was so amazing that time flew by and having done so much, when thinking an experience that happened just a few days ago it seemed like weeks ago? Well, we're back from that amazing trip. In spite of the combination of flight time and layovers taking 15 hours plus each way, this one was one of those once-in-a lifetime experiences, from the time we landed in the country's capital at 9300 feet we were entranced.

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From the UNESCO World Heritage Capital.

To the even higher surroundings.

The diversity is amazing. In fact, there are 4 different geographical regions in this fairly small country!

Another interesting fact, the Country is named for the imaginary line that separates the Northern and Southern Hemisphere and takes great pride in being called the "middle of the world".

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And yet, things really got even more incredible when we did our cruise. To an archipelago I had always dreamed of exploring. And now have a better understanding of how a famous Naturalist became enchanted and inspired by his visit here when still a young man. And whose most well-known publication is inextricably linked to the islands.

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Our 7-day cruise explored the Northern portion of the archipelago and in all we visited 7 islands. And amazingly, the terrain of each one was different.

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And the Captain even took us on a spur of the moment visit to see nature in action as well!

Even more impressive was the wildlife.

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And each island had unique variations of species.

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There are strict rules in place on the islands, thus many creatures displayed no fear of hoo-mans.

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Some were even quite curious.

And it was amazing to see these creatures in their natural habitat.

It was an enriching experience and we learned so much.

And yes, this is still a food blog…..so we have that covered as well.

So let me recover from jet lag and get back to posting!

Thanks for being "a pal"……

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And "dropping in".

Thanks for stopping by!

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Road Trip – Sazon (Santa Fe, NM)

March 7, 2024 mmm-yoso Fine Dining, Latin American Cuisine, Memorable Meals, Mexican Restaurants, New Mexico, Road Trip, Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Travel

One of the main reasons we headed back to Santa Fe for another road trip was to dine at Sazon. We had really wanted to have dinner at Sazon during our last stay (Sept 2022), but the Chef, Fernando Olea who hails from CDMX had recently won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest and reservations were impossible to come by. So, instead we ended having a nice meal at Geronimo. This time, I managed to get reservations for an early dinner. The restaurant located in one of those classic Santa Fe Adobes one block from our hotel.

The place was already buzzing when we were seated. The dining area is divided in different rooms, each adorned with colorful artwork.

The service was professional, but warm and not stuffy. There is a tasting menu available during two specific seatings, but we just wanted to try items we saw on the regular menu.

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The Missus started with some Champagne, I was looking forward to our upcoming (at that time) trip to Tequila in the upcoming month and had a Tres Generaciones Anejo. We were also provided with a Mole sampler, some of which was too sweet for the Missus, so we were glad to have just gone with ordering off the menu. You'll also soon see why…..

As things started with the Tuetano – Bone Marrow. You know how much I like bone marrow, right?

The salsa rojo on the bone marrow had a nice kick and really blended well with the buttery richness of the marrow. It went so well with the maizey tortillas. This was a nice start.

Next up; the Higado de Ganzo – Foie Gras with a raspberry-coconut sauce on crostini.

The sweetness of the sauces and the resiny flavor of the pine nuts overwhelmed the small slices of foie gras in this dish. It was just a bit too much stuff, which made it a "foie faux" to us.

Next up were these.

The Xochimilco – Huitlacoche, with queso fresco was so delici-yoso.

Oh my, the earthy-mushroomy-sweet huitlacoche paired so well with the slightly milky queso fresco, which added a melty-buttery texture. The corn tortillas added heft and the salsa a bit of heat, with a mild sweetness.

We also enjoyed the Oaxaquenos – Chapulines, which was served over mashed avocado.

Just by themselves, the light and crunchy grasshoppers had a really nice savory-grassy-mild spice that was so nice. Our Server told us that it had been infused with garlic and olive oil and chili de arbol. The corn tortilla was a perfect match as was the avocado.

There was one last dish I really wanted to try; the Cholula, which is the Chef's take on the Chile en Nogada. this was served in a tower format, rather than the usual stuffed chile poblano.

Well, this had a lot going on; the meat here was a combination of ground lamb, pork, and beef; which was seriously overshadowed by a very tasty, not overly sweet and creamy-rich walnut sauce. The balsamic vinegar sauce added another level of sweet-acidity, with a touch of heat from jalapenos. We'd have enjoyed more of the bitter-sweetness provided by the pomegranate seeds. The poblanos added a nice mild green bell pepper flavor to things. That walnut sauce is what made the dish in our opinion.

Overall, this was a memorable meal, the service was excellent, the dishes interesting with such a range of flavors! I'm glad we were able to finally have dinner here!

Sazón
221 Shelby St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501