Tuesday, September 27, 2011

CABO IN SEPTEMBER

 This year Dave and I invited our friends Jayson and Katrina Goldman, (from Florida), to spend a week with us in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  We all arrived in on Saturday, (September 3rd) and spent 7 days in HOT, HOT Cabo, baking in the humid sunny Mexican sun.  We are very lucky that Jayson and Katrina were looking for a relaxing week, which Dave and I so needed.  The area had just received some much needed rains, and the air was so humid that it made moving about in the humid climate very unbearable.  I'm sure that Jayson and Katrina thought it was normal weather, being typical Floridians.
We mostly spent a lot of time relaxing around the pools, reading books, and taking cool dips in the water.  We did our usual cruise around the harbor taking in the arch, Lover's Beach, and the sights.  The crowds were not to be found this time of the year, since most had gone back home to start the new school year, (yea).  We went to our usual dining haunts, Shrimp Factory, Romeo and Julietta's, (where Katrina got the Mexican coffee and slept very well her first night in Cabo - it's made with tequila and Kahlua, then they set it on fire), Hacienda El Coyote, (where Jayson had a delicious steak served with chocolate sauce).
And of course, I had to make my annual visit to the animal sanctuary, to hold this year's newest baby, a 2 month old lion.  His name is Leo.  And he was huge!!  As you can see, he would hardly fit on my lap.  But he was so adorable.  I can never resist the babies, and the money all goes to the sanctuary, so it's a worthy cause. 

One day it was so hot that we just stayed inside the condo, played Catch Phase, cards, took naps, then went down to the pool for a cool dip, and ate at the resort's restaurant.  It was a very relaxing day.  Most every night we played Catch Phase or Canasta and laughed so hard and stayed up way too late and sleep in the next mornings.  It was nice being on this type of a vacation, nowhere to be at any particular time - just winging it as we go.

This year we ventured up to San Jose' Del Cabo for the day.  We did some shopping, eating, and bumming around during the early part of the day.  Jayson and Katrina found some really good deals on jewelry.  Dave got me a new pair of silver and turquoise earrings.  Jayson got Katrina a lovely ring.  We grabbed a light lunch from a sidewalk cafe', and wandered through more shops.  Then on to a wonderful surprise arranged by Katrina.  An evening at an Organic Farm / Cooking School - LOS TAMARINDOS.
After a wild ride down some back roads and a few wrong turns, we finally, (with some help from the Chef's girlfriend Lulu), arrived.  We were greeted and led to a lovely outdoor seating area and treated to some refreshing freshly made lemongrass tea, then a quick lesson on Organic Farming and a tour around the greenhouse to view the new seedlings, the herb gardens, and the cooking schools vegetable garden.  Los Tamarindos exports a large amount of vegetables and fruits to Vancouver, Washington and California for use in restaurants and sales in grocery stores.  We learned that the San Jose' area has a large community of organic farmers who export to the USA and Canada.
We were then all led to the house, (an old historic home built in 1888), and all given clean freshly pressed aprons, shown to the sinks to wash up and disinfect our hands for our food preparation.  YUP, that's right, we paid them for the privilege of preparing our own food.  Just like at home, only using organic food (??).   I told Dave and Jayson, I have an idea for a business; I'm going to allow people to come clean my house, mow my year, and prepare their dinner and mine and I'll only charge them half the amount we paid Los Tamarindos.  Dave and Jayson didn't think the idea would go over to well in the USA.
The chef started off our cooking course with delicious Tortilla soup.  It was so good, and felt so warm in our tummies.  Maybe it was because by the time we got all the food chopped, diced, sliced, and cooked in the outdoor brick oven and ready to eat it was now 9:30 at night and we were all starving.  But at any rate, the food was really good.  The recipe for this soup was very simple, one that I am sure to try again at home.
Next we had our appetizer, Queso En Hoja Santa.  Simply put, this was a layer of Hoja Santa leaves, (which have an anise flavor), with a red roasted tomato sauce spread over the leaves, then topped with Oaxaca cheese, (a Mexican cheese).  Since I was sitting to the chef's right during the cooking lesson, he turned to me handed me the plate and ingredients that the students had prepared and said "here put the course together for the oven!".  I looked at him questionably, and he sort of showed me how and I replied "Oh, like a pizza", and he said YES.  Let me tell you, when we all tasted this, is was so delicious.  The different flavors just blended together in your mouth.  I would have never thought of trying this, but after tasting it, if I ever see Hoja Santa leaves in a Mexican grocery store I will definitely try making it.
We then had Red Snapper Vera Cruzana style.  I have made this at home several times, using Taliapa and Cod.  The chef's recipe was very similar to the recipe that I found on Food Network.  So Dave and I knew instantly that this would be a winner.  The chef and I talk about the differences in our recipes for this dish.  It was fun comparing how I prepare a dish with a professional chef to get his take on a dish.
Dinner was followed by Chile Rellenos with Vegetables.  I can honestly say that I have never had this, even though Dave has ordered it many times and absolutely loves it.  I always thought that because of the pepper it would be hot and spicy, but when I bit into the pepper and the cheese, I thought "why have I waited so long to have this delicious food item".  The chef did not dip the peppers in a batter and deep fry them, but instead baked the peppers and they were so sweet and tasty.  I will definitely have this dish again, and again.
The chef then prepared a special dessert for us - Quince Ate (ah-te') with Ricotta Cheese.  He gathered Quince from the local fruit trees and prepared a jelly that he then made into a fruit type roll up and served with a soft Ricotta cheese drizzled with honey from the farm's hives.  The dessert was his surprise for us and very delicious and as he described how it was prepared a very simple recipe.  However - if you were to make the quince ate, (a local jelly), that is a lot of work, so it is best to try and buy the quince ate.  It was a great ending to a delicious meal.  And everyone was so stuffed from all the delicious food.

And of course, here is our wonderful teacher, and chef Enrique Silva, and as you can see some of the wonderful freshly picked vegetables that we would be using that evening in our meal.  The class was held on an outdoor patio classroom setting, because the temps were still in the mid 90s.  Each of us received a small cookbook with copies of recipes for each dish that we had prepared that evening, so we can go home and continue to practice what we had learned.  Sitting at the table eating our food and talking with the chef about the area, local customs, the people, and laughing sharing stories the evening flew by quickly.  We all agreed that Katrina's surprise cooking lessons was the best adventure of the week.  Every time I wear my apron that I brought home, I am reminded of the experience, and every time I pick vegetable from my garden I wonder if chef Enrique would smile and say I am a good organic gardener also?!?

We also did a wonderful supper sunset cruise on the Cabo Rey.  It was another VERY WARM night, so being on the ocean with the breezes felt very good on our sun tanned skin.  And the light air conditioning in the lower cabins also felt wonderful.  We started the evening on the top deck with a cruise around the area enjoying the arch, the beaches and the local sights, along with a small live band for about 45 minutes.
Then we ventured down below to find our table very nicely set and ready.  Jayson and Katrina dined on lobster, (I think Jayson enjoyed lobster about 5 days during his stay in Cabo), Dave and I dined on the sea bass.  Everything was so good and the service was very good also.
After dinner we were treated to entertainment by local artisans.



We finished up the week with a delicious seafood buffet at La Noa, at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach.  The food was great, the view of spectacular, and the service was excellent.
At the end of the week, everyone was a little darker from the sun and a little more rested.  But we were all ready to get back home - Jayson and Katrina to their little boy, Calvin.  Dave and I to our animals babies.

Of course, one last look back at The Arch, where the land ends and the party begins.  Thanks to our friends Jayson and Katrina for joining us this year.  We had fun, we hope you enjoyed the trip and took home pleasant memories to last many years.  When you're ready to go back, give us a call.


OK- I KNOW I SHOULDN'T POST THIS LAST PHOTO, BUT I CAN'T RESIST !!  FIRST READ WHAT I WRITE BEFORE CLICKING THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.

Dave, Jayson, and I are sitting in the town square of San Jose' Cabo.  It is HOT, HOT, HOT.  The temps have got to be 95, (at least).  We are sitting under a shade tree, drinking ice water trying to find some type of relief from the heat, sharing laughs, and stories, waiting for Katrina, (she's in a little shop visiting with the shopkeeper and looking at jewelry).  Now in Cabo San Lucas that day there are 2 cruise ships in port, and a tour bus has stopped in San Jose' to allow the cruise ship passengers, (probably 50 total), to visit, shop, eat, browse the town.  You know who they are, because they have the little pink numbered sticker on their left shoulder of their shirt.  So, I look up and what do my wondering eyes spy, but two Asian cruise shipmates, (most likely a married couple), walking, no strolling through town without a care in the world.  I start laughing out loud, I nugged Dave and point.  He chuckles and points it out to Jayson, who almost falls off the bench with laughter.  I grab my camera - Katrina is never going to believe this!!   Dave yells out "Hey Lederhosen".  They don't turn around - guess they didn't speak English.  Jayson wondered "why didn't one person on the ship even say to them 'surely your aren't going on shore dressed like that are you?'"...  We laughed so hard when he said that.  Dave wondered if maybe they got Mexico confused with the Germany Oktoberfest.  I wondered what the cowboy hats had to do with the whole outfit??  I struggled to get my camera to get a shot, and only got a photo of them walking away.  I wish you could have seen this pair from the front.

Just couldn't resist sharing with everyone.