We ate our way
through San Miguel de Allende the entire month of October.
Between openings: The
Monkey Bar at Hotel Matilda, Petit 4, Mama Mia, Mesa Marrakesh and Chef Abel
Hernandez and Rodrigo Gomez Tagle’s Anonimo Rooftop at Hotel Selina, that boasts one of the best
new views in the city, culinary projects like Claroscuro - celebrating the
gastronomy of SMA and post-covid menu changes at many of San Miguel’s
restaurants, we also found the best Taco and Dessert of 2020, and it’s only
October.
With 2 more months to go, we’re pretty sure these two restaurants – La
Hija del Manantial and Bastardo - will survive the competition.
We
salute all of the chefs who brought out their “A” game this past month: Nomada
cocina de interpretacion,Marsala, cocina con acentos, La
Dona, The Rosewood SMA, Barrica de Fuego Smokehouse and Grill at Vinedos at los
Sendaros, Aperi/ Makan.mx, Bastardo, The Monkey Bar, Belmond Casa Sierra Nevada,
Casa de Café, Mesa Marrakesh, Pork Belly, Atrio, MiVida, La Parada, Chef Linnea
Rufo, Chef Michael Coon, Ojo de Agua, La Santisima Trinidad’s San
Lucas Winery, Mania
Restaurant at La Playa in Los Senderos, Petit 4, Mama Mia, La Hija del
Manantial, Hotel Selina and to the Claroscuro
project to promote the city’s restaurants.
Here’s
some of what we ate, proving once again that the best things in SMA can always found
on a plate.
Buen
Provecho!
Nomada cocina de interpretacion:
Our
favorite spot is the view from the new Chef’s Table at Nomada; a special place
to watch the master at work. Here Chef Marco Cruz is one; you can’t separate
the genius from the elements - the fire, the complex sauces, the always perfect
spice and the passion for what he creates every time he walks into the kitchen.
Chef Cruz has a gift when it comes to creating modern, Mexican food that’s both
visually beautiful and delicious. His Wednesday Tasting Menu is legendary.
Great
chefs just keep on getting better; Marco Cruz is one of them.
Nomada
Cocina de Interpretacion, Doce
18 at Relox 18, Centro Phone:
415 139 5021 Hours:
12:00 Noon – 9:00 PM. Closed Tuesday.
Marsala, cocina con acentos:
We have so much AMOR for this former
Top Chef Mexico contestant, Chef Marcela Bolano, who is one of the most popular
chefs in SMA. Besides the fact that you’ll always get great food, she was one
of the first chefs in SMA to do a Sunday brunch, complete with music, Mimosas
and stone crab. It use to be one, large table filled with homemade offerings:
warm breakfast scones with natural honey, fresh made pates and Greek yogurt
with seasonal fruits but with a no share order in place these days, Marcela has
been creative in presenting many of her same great dishes in packages and jars. There
is a welcoming selection of Marcela-style brunch dishes; we’ve tried them all
and every one of them is a fabulous. Marsala’s Eggs Benedict are unique; a
lesson on how to eat more food than you possibly can in a single sitting. My
favorite: the legendary waffle and duck. Hands down, it’s the best duck in SMA.
Great food and a virtual hug from
Chef Marcela Bolano and partner, Ximena De Leon Campomanes, instantly puts the
magic back in dining out.
Marsala, cocina con acentos, Hernandez
Macias 48, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto. Hours:Friday – Saturday 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM/ Sunday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM/ Monday – Thursday 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM Phone: 415 152 0080
La Dona:
It was a celebration of great food
at SMA’s La Dona, with an unbelievable assortment of dishes- fabulous, every
one of them - prepared by La Dona’s young chef, Juan Manuel Galvan Lopez; he’s
only 26.Chef Juan Manuel Galvan Lopez is no stranger to being in the limelight.
Two years ago this past June, he was named the Chef of the Year of the Cultural
Destination of Mexico at a national competition. La Dona’s menu offers a
fresh twist on many of the Mexican classics; always inventing a total surprise
for your palate. Our meal: Roasted cauliflower in a wood fire oven
marinated in dehydrated tomato chimichurri with seasoned Gorgonzola cheese
dressing; seared tuna Peruvian ceviche with
Jamaican crust, avocado spheres, soy vinaigrette and Serrano pepper; Pork
Chamorro cooked for four hours over low heat, barbecue style accompanied with
rustic mashed potatoes and fresh purslane; Chicken breast in black mole with
fried plantain, homemade red rice and Chilies en Nogada, Bunuelos with
guava “ate”, fresh cheese, piloncillo honey and orange with café de olla ice
cream and the new dessert called Campechana, made by pastry chef Liliana
Rodriguez with Take campechanas, quince paste, creamy cheese, guava tatemada
with chili and cotija cheese.
The restaurant has two Covid safety
measures that everyone will embrace: a hand washing station at the front door
(we’ve never seen this at any other restaurant) and a gigantic rooftop where
social distancing is a given. For food, ambiance, service and safety, La Dona
is your home away from home.
La
Dona de San Miguel, Hotel
Nena Centro, San
Francisco #32, Zona Centro Hours:
Monday – Wednesday 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM/Thursday
– Saturday 1:00 PM – 11:30 PM/ Sunday
1:00 PM – 9:00 PM Phone:
415 688 3131
The Rosewood SMA:
With a new Pacific Rim menu, Chef
Emma Romero, in charge of the sushi kitchen at The Rosewood, has created an
excellent menu assortment to satisfy all of your Asian cravings. We savored the
Vietnamese Rolls with Tamarind Sauce, California rolls with shrimp, cucumber,
Avocado and Tobiko, Chicken Ramen with Coconut and Lemongrass, Tuna Sashimi and
Lemongrass Ice Cream. This is the best sushi we’ve eaten in SMA; now served
daily in the 1826 Tequila Bar.
While you’re at it, take the climb
upstairs to catch some breathtaking views from Luna Rooftop, one of the most
popular spots in SMA. These spots are on our list of the best places to go in
SMA; the fireplace at the 1826 Tequila Bar for winter and the view from Luna
Rooftop to carry you through the rest of the year.
If there’s one place that will
remind you of why you are living in magical SMA, The Rosewood SMA is it.
The Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, Nemesio Diez 11 Phone: 415 152 9700
Barrica de Fuego Smokehouse and Grill - Vinedos at los Sendaros:
The
highest form of BBQ with the most famous
butcher and one of the best chefs in Mexico, Aaron Mizrahi. An expert on the
grill, the chef has dedicated his life to his utmost passion: meat. SMA chef,
Marcela Bolano, was at his side to cook one of the most delicious meals I’ve
eaten in SMA.
He’s cooked for notable celebrities
and well-known politicians and now for a group of well-known SMA chefs who were
gathered at Vinedos at los Sendaros restaurant, Barrica de Fuego
Smokehouse and Grill, to honor a new project to promote San Miguel’s gastronomy,
which include the photographs of the Master, Gunther Maier.
I was also recognized by many chefs and restaurants on this
day of celebration. Thank you to the city, Rose Ruiz, Laura Torres Septien,Alberto Cinta Laborde, Daniela Doig
and so many other people who made this day a special one for me. I appreciate
everyone who took the time to join in the celebration.
Barrica de Fuego Smokehouse and
Grill at Vinedos at los Sendaros, Carretera 51, A, Dolores Hidalgo -
San Miguel De Allende km 3.5, Nuevo Milenio, 37800 San Miguel de Allende, Gto. Phone: 55 6319 5477 Hours: Thursday – Saturday 1:00 PM – 10:00
PM/ Sunday 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM/ Monday – Wednesday closed.
Photo: Aperi
Aperi/
Makan.mx Introducing
Singaporean chef, MaryAnn Yong, creator of the new Asian flavors
available for takeout at Makan.mx. The
menu emphasizes the harmony of salty, spicy, sour, sweet, and bitter; typical, Chinese
flavors made with Chef Yong’s original, artistic twist. Try the sweet corn soup or a plate of the Black Pepper Beef; tastes that
we’ve been craving since we left Chicago. This Home
Delivery only Asian restaurant can be reached on WhatsApp +52 415 170 5942 or
email her at info.makanmx@gmail.com.
Chef
Yong is currently collaborating with one of SMA’s best restaurants, Aperi. She
worked with Chef Gaggan Anand of Bangkok, Thailand who, for 4 years, was
selected as the best chef in Asia by the 50 Best Restaurants. She has another
project going in Mexico City as well. Previously, she worked with one of our
favorite chefs there, Eduardo García, of Maximo
Bistrot and Lalo!
Aperi, Quebrada 101 Phone: 415 152 0941 Hours:
Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM –
9:00 PM/ Friday –
Saturday 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM/ Tuesday:
Closed
Makan.mx - Home Delivery only WhatsApp +52 415 170 5942
Bastardo:
Chef Avendaño’s cuisine is
characteristically International, with a double dose of affection for the
Vegetarians in SMA. Who doesn’t love a head of Cauliflower dripping in burnt
butter?
The feast: Roasted Cauliflower with
Burnt Butter and Nuts; White Bean Hummus; local Burrata with Pasilla Chile
sauce and Avocado; Juicy Lucy, local Chicken with Goat Butter, Carrot and
Lemongrass puree, Stewed Beef Shank with yellow corn Polenta and baby Spinach;
Beef Filet with smoked Hollandaise sauce; Pea and Asparagus Risitto; French
Toast with Lavender Ice Cream, Whipped Cream and Marmalade and the best
Mesquite Honey Creme Brulee I've eaten in Mexico. What did we like the best?
The Stewed Beef Shank and the Beef Filet with smoked Hollandaise sauce; the
meat from Rancho El 17. With the Hollandaise sauce, the butter is smoked first.
Like going home for a family dinner
– mine with Chefs Michael Coon and Linnea Rudo, Mushroom authority, Arif Towns
Alonso and Rancheo Viejo’s Maribele Gerez of RAD, - you’ll get high off of all
of Bastardo’s food; it’s that good. This culinary hotspot is just 10 minutes
from your front door with some of the best food you’ll eat in SMA.
Bastardo, Highway to Dolores Hidalgo, km 7.4 -
passing Hacienda la Presa 37770 Phone: 415 181 7045 Hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday: 1:00
PM – 8:00 PM/Friday - Saturday: 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM/ Monday -Tuesday closed
The Monkey
Bar:
We
don’t just like this bar – we LOVE it! The Money Bar at Hotel Matilda is the
perfect place to celebrate SMA in the new normal; it’s outside, poolside and
teeny tiny – there are five bar stools which immediately went down to three
after our visit. You can reach across the bar and practically touch the back
wall, it’s that cozy. Some additional seating spills into Moxi, Matilda’s
flagship restaurant. The space is also outside. The smallest bar in SMA has the
biggest offerings when it comes to spirits and service. For the serious
cocktail aficionado, The Monkey Bar offers an out-of-the-box experience. No
need for a beach vacation this year - you wouldn’t need one with this view -
lush vegetation, bluer-than- blue SMA sky, Matilda’s colorful mural by artist,
Claudio Limon and the constantly moving reflections off the pool. At the Monkey Bar,
the cocktail story is intoxicating. One of the best Mixologists in town, Mike
Espinosa, is one of its guardians. We can’t think of a better bartender to mix
a Tito’s martini or make a novel cocktail using SMA’s best tequila, Casa
Dragones. Mike will also educate you on why we should be drinking a craft beer
from a glass instead of a bottle. Did you know
that more than 70% of taste comes from your sense of smell? When you bring the
glass up to your mouth, you’re actually inhaling the aromas. You’ll also get a
welcome cocktail; refreshing blends of lemongrass, ginger, mesquite honey and
lavender.
The rebirth of the
Monkey Bar in NYC was a second coming, much like the one SMA is going through
right now, post- pandemic. Its story inspired Matilda owner, Bruce James, to
open a Monkey Bar in SMA. One of the features we love is the monkey figurines perching around
the bar. We’re waiting to hear when their newly named; stay tuned. They’ll
instantly put you in a good mood; inspiring you to get your monkey business on
after four long months in lockdown.
We think good things come in small packages these
days - the Monkey Bar at Hotel Matilda is it!
The Monkey Bar at Hotel Matilda, Aldama #53, Centro Open daily 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Casa Sierra Nevada:
Talk about timing! Chef Jetzabel
Rojas Barragan, was introduced in a press release on March 11, 2020 and a week
or so later, SMA shut down because of the pandemic. This young chef is a breath
of fresh air; born in Veracruz and raised in Sonora - two areas of Mexico that
have a strong, culinary pedigree. Our meal: 4 courses followed by 2 desserts: a
Spring Mix salad with Grapes Tomatoes, Zucchini and Epazote Dressing; Chicharron
Soup with Tomatillo, Pico de Gallo, Sour Cream and Ranchero Cheese (this was
the dish that convinced the Belmond management team to hire her); 24 Hours
Braised Pork Shank with Three Dry Chilli Adobo, Mashed Potato and Purslane; Chile
En Nogada: Poblano Chilli Stuffed with Beef Picadillo and Seassonal Fruit,
Topped with Walnut Sauce and Granate and the desserts - Zazil Chocolat (one of
the best in Mexico) with Mole mousse, Cocoa sponge, Caramelized Nuts and
Expresso Ice Cream and Bunuelo de Viento with cream, roasted sweet potato and
nata cream.
If authentic, Mexican food is what
you’re looking for, Casa del Parque Restaurant has got it. Go there for lunch
and don’t forget Andanza for breakfast (the delicious pancakes at Andanza are a
sweet addition to your morning routine) and The Blue Bar for late afternoon
drinks. This triple hit - Casa del Parque, Andanza and The Blue Bar - is hard
to top; all beautiful and enchanting properties from Belmond Casa Sierra
Nevada.
Casa del Parque Restaurant at Belmond Casa Sierra Nevada, Santa Elena 2 Open 12:00 Noon – 10:00 PM Phone: 415 150 201
Andanza Casa Sierra Nevada and The
Blue Bar at Belmond Casa Sierra Nevada, Hospicio 35 Opens 7:30 AM for breakfast/ Snacks and drinks in The Blue Bar
until 10:00 PM Phone: 415 150 2018
Casa de Café:Casa de Café is one of the best kept secrets in SMA, so how did we
rediscover it? Nothing gets our attention faster than dessert and the Pan de
Elote at Casa de Café belongs on a pedestal in a category all by itself. It’s
the best cornbread we’ve eaten in Mexico in over 50 years, and we’ve eaten
plenty. A cross between bread pudding and custard, it’s not as sweet as most of
the cornbreads we’ve eaten in Mexico; lighter on the corn with the perfect
texture. Casa de Cafe has made it in-house for over 30 years.
When’s the last time you had a picnic lunch for breakfast? Casa de Café also
serves delicious sandwiches on ciabatta bread from Buonforno, one of our favorite bakeries in
town. Today, it was ham, tuna or
chicken salad with a double scoop of
potato salad. This vegetable-loaded sandwich was a deal at 70 pesos. I
fact, you can bring
a $200 peso note and order the works. You’ll get enough change back to do the
Elote all over again tomorrow. Their coffee is fantastic; an interesting blend from three
different regions in Mexico: Oaxaca, Veracruz and Coatepec. This is serious
brew; the kind you want to wake up to every morning. Apparently some in SMA
already know this; there was a steady stream of regulars through the door this
morning to grab a cup to go. You can also get the Pan de Elote and other treats
curbside. Casa de Café has been on Hospicio for over 13 years; before that, in
Marisela’s family home on Hildago. In 1986, Marisela Garcia de la
Soto,
started tourist business – PMC or the Promotion of Mexican Culture - providing
airport transportation and vans for sightseeing and for archeological digs
throughout Mexico. Her husband, Don, is an anthropologist. She was Miss San
Miguel de Allende in 1968 – 1969; her elegance is ever present today. She is
one of SMA’s true pioneers.
A trip
to Casa de Cafe feels like home and that’s exactly how Marisela wants it to
feel. But it’s not just the coffee that brings people in to Casa de
Cafe these days; it’s the expectation that this SMA institution will still be
here when you want a cup of comfort next week.
Casa
de Café, Hospicio
#31, Centro Phone:
415 152 0121 Hours: Daily
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Mesa Marrakesh:
Lunch, a short list of delicious
Hummus, Kebabs and sides with the same great flavors created by Chef JJ JJ
Castaneda, now at his new restaurant, Mesa Marrakesh. We devoured the spicy
lamb kebob like it was our last meal it was so delicious. We also loved the
fresh Lemonade with mineral water, made at the bar at Mercado del Carmen. Mesa
Marrakesh is his first solo act, having supported other restaurants since 1994.
We first got to know his fabulous, Mediterranean style as the former chef at
Café Casa Blanca and Fatima where he is shown in the picture above. JJ received
a lot of press last year and rightfully so; he was our pick for the best new
chef in SMA. JJ splits his booth with another new restaurant at Mercado del
Carmen: Bhaji Curry House owned by Chef Adrian Groton. They both share a
waiter, a delightful Andrea Salto, who gave us some of the best service when we
dined there last week.
Mesa Marrakesh is a great addition
to the growing list of ethnic restaurants inside Mercado del Carmen. We love
this concept because the diner is always up close and personal with the chefs. Congratulations
to JJ for making that leap of faith and venturing out on his own. We love chefs
who take risks; especially ones that are brave enough to do it post-pandemic. We
know, you’ve been in quarantine for awhile so make Mesa Marrakesh your coming
out party. You’ll like his food so much; you’ll probably want to try the entire
menu. There’s nothing like a little trip to the Mediterranean to get your
palate back in shape for some serious eating. Welcome home chef JJ Castaneda;
you were missed.
Mesa Marrakesh at Mercado del Carmen, Pila Seca 19 Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 1:00 PM –
8:00 PM/Friday – Sunday 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Pork Belly:
A most
welcomed arrival to Stirling Dickinson is Chef Erick Medina and the newly
relocated Pork Belly. With a great new concept he’s currently working towards –
Smoked BBQ downstairs and Organic and Vegetarian on the upper floor - Chef
Medina is committed to growing all of his own vegetables for the restaurant.
They’re already using homegrown citrus and herbs from the back gardens, making
bacon (bacon lovers, get your taste buds up because this is some of the best homemade
bacon in SMA - I would go there just to eat the bacon) and their own ketchup
(go ahead, diners have been known to eat it by the spoonful. All the breads and
desserts are made by Chef Medina’s niece, Brenda Cuellar Medina.
We’re a
burger hound; there’s nothing we love more than a great burger and this one hit
the high mark. Even the French fries were impressive; sprinkled with malt
vinegar and topped with Parmesan cheese. The Mac and Cheese is to die for; made
with Manchego, cheddar and those magical ingredients: blue cheese and bacon.
From Kansas
City, Memphis, St. Louis, Tulsa and Central Texas, we love BBQ so much that
we’ve traveled just about everywhere to eat it. The techniques and taste may
vary but two ingredients remain the same: smoke and meat. We even went to the
Memphis World BBQ Championship one year to spend the week with the judges. How
crazy is it now that we’re adding Pork Belly to our list of favorite places to
eat BBQ. After all, SMA is not the most logical place in the world for BBQ. And
to think that it was all made possible by a very passionate, bearded smoke chef
from London.
Pork Belly, Stirling
Dickinson n. #10 Hours: 10 AM - 7:30 PM/Closed Monday 
Atrio:
We only write about restaurants that
we love and Atrio is high on our list of places to go in SMA. We can’t say
enough about the food, prepared by Atrio’s master chef, Arturo Sandoval. His
creativity, changing menu and use of high quality ingredients makes Atrio’s
food some of the best in the city.
When your martini’s are made ice
cold and your rib rice is cooked to perfection, you always go away happy.
Precise attention to detail, flawless execution and outstanding service define
its dining profile.
If you want to know what an
exceptional dining experience looks like, Atrio is it — which is why it’s
always one of our picks for the best restaurant in SMA.
Atrio, Cuna de Allende 3, Centro Phone: 415 688 1405 Opens 1:00 PM Daily
MiVida:
We’ve ordered this combination from
MiVida so often - homemade pizza with sausage + Gelato - that we’ve decided we
should make it easy on Chef Greta Ortega Casanas and just move in.
Hands down, this is the best pizza
and gelato in town.
MiVida, Hernandez Macias #97. Phone: 415-152-7482
La Prada:
We’ve
been dreaming about the smashed potatoes at La Parada for months now and
decided it was time address our obsession. If there’s one thing Chef Alexandra
Gutt has perfected, it’s potato recipes… and just about everything else on the
menu, including a new, Mexican dish: Carnitas – the one dish we love to eat for
breakfast, lunch or dinner. This slow-cooked, pork sandwich was a pleasant
pause from a normally, all Peruvian fare. It was topped with an Oregano cream
sauce and Salsa Criolla.
Like
most chefs these days, Chef Alexandra Gutt has shortened the menu at La Parada
to include those items which are considered the specialty of the house like the
Chicken Livers and all the delicious Ceviche recipes under $200 pesos. She has always been on the top of the list of best chefs in SMA.
Go for
the food but also the ambiance. This delightful, outdoor space has consistently
been in the top ten restaurants in SMA since they opened.
La
Parada, Recreo
#94, Centro Hours:
Wednesday – Monday 12:00 Noon – 9:00 PM/ Closed
Tuesday Phone
415 152 0473
Chef Linnea Rufo:
And
this was, as the chef described it, just our “family dinner.
When a
thick cut of beef steak is perfectly cooked in a cast iron pan on top of the
stove by one of the best chefs in SMA, you don’t need words, just
pictures.
Linnea Rufo Events, Salida
a Queretaro #77, San Miguel de Allende Website:
https://www.linnearufoevents.com/ Email:
linnearufoevents@gmail.com
Chef Michael Coon:
Dietary restraint usually come in
January, not September, so when I was invited to join in on an all Vegetarian
meal, I mentally prepared myself by devouring a hamburger for lunch that day.
Chef Michael Coon was doing the cooking so I assured myself that if I didn’t
like his Vegetarian food, the chef I’ve been eating with for over 8 years, I
wouldn’t like any anybody’s. In all the years I’ve been writing about food,
I’ve never had an all Vegetarian meal on purpose until now. Much to my
surprise, I not only liked the meal, I LOVED it. I managed to get through all
five courses without thinking about meat once. Just goes to show that a great
chef can make anything taste good - even vegetables. His menu for this meal
included these outstanding, Asian dishes: Chickpea Miso Mushroom
soup;Yellowtail sashimi with Ponzu and spicy sauce; Charred Eggplant fritter with Sriracha and Unagi sauce; Bok
choy spinach squash sezchuan stir fry and coconut jasmine rice and Pumpkin cake
with Pomegranate Tuna sauce and whipped cream with Santo Cuviso Bacanora.
Soon to do a special, Asian meal at
one of SMA’s best restaurants, Chef Michael Coon also does private dinners in
your home, like this one for Gunther and Dorothee Maier, and cooks with other
chefs in SMA and Mexico City. Contact Chef Michael Coon by calling
415-117-6570; go on his Facebook page or Instagram account - cookcoon. You can
also email him at Michaelalbertcoon@gmail.com.
Ojo de Agua:
Chef
Ana Pereyra from Monterrey is the new chef in the kitchen at Ojo de Agua. This
chef is a natural; for years she worked in BIKO in Mexico City. Everything she prepares is deliciously
creative; using the freshest ingredients in everything she makes. Thank
goodness there’s not one thing that doesn’t qualify as breakfast food in Mexico
because you never have to wait to eat the good stuff for dinner; like this
deli, roast beef sandwich with grainy mustard.
Like every
restaurant in town, it’s time to support your favorites; Ojo de Agua is one of
ours. A chain out of Mexico City, the restaurant
prides itself in delivering healthy food that tastes good; words that are
typically not used in the same sentence.
So which one of these dishes was our favorite? I might have
to try another round just to be sure.
Ojo de
Agua, Pila
Seca 32 Hours: Monday
– Friday 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM/ Saturday
– Sunday 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
San
Lucas Winery:
We celebrated the wine harvest at a private party with
friends; a most welcomed celebration from last year, when hundreds of people
attended the Vendimia at San Lucas; one of the wineries of La Santisima
Trinidad.
Savor the harvest; enjoy the wines of La Santisima Trinidad. We love a vineyard who can adapt to the new normal. Book a
one-of-a-kind, private harvest party if you have 10 people or more by
contacting the vineyard at 415 566 1059 or reserve a spot at the next 2020
variety of the Vendimia at San Lucas.
San Lucas Winery, Carretera Queretaro –San Miguel de Allende km 26 Restaurant hours: Call 415 688 2210 (WhatsApp) for a
reservation Hours: Thursday 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM/ Friday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM/ Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wine Tasting: Call 415 688 2210 Ext 3003 or Email:
VINICOLA@VINEDOSSANLUCAS.COM Daily:
Monday- Thursday and Sunday 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00 PM/ Friday
– Saturday 11:00, 1:00, 3:00 and 5:00 PM
Mania Restaurant:
At
Mania Restaurant at La Playa in beautiful Los Senderos, there was a gathering
of friends for a night of celebration for Mexican Independence Day last week.
Congratulations to owner, Fran Fischer, for the outstanding event;
well-organized and executed by Malula Sanchez. Los Senderos was exquisitely
decorated; white tents crossing the sky with red, green and white visible just
about everywhere you looked. Being nearby water was like being home for me; I
claimed the lifeguard chair as my own during the cocktail hour. Chef
Montserrat Vázquez cooked a mini-feast; all Mexican, including the traditional
Mexican dish, Chiles en Nogada.
Not since I last saw Luis Miguel in an
outdoor theater in Monterrey, Mexico back in the 90’s have I been this excited
about a Latin singer, who was totally off my radar until recently. This
was a private concert; a most intimate relationship with the artist. Enrique de
Allende is the total package: movie star good looks, steadfast cultural pride,
a timeless elegance and powerful yet eloquent vocals. His connection to
traditional, mariachi music is his foundation. Los Senderos had their own
fireworks to top off the night; we also watched another display across the
lake. No matter what your view of the fireworks, it was a rare show;
staged in seven different locations around the city. The most spectacular one
in recent history, it was ten minutes of oohs and ahhs that will hold you until
2021.
I will remember this event as one for the
history books; a wonderful part of my own Mexican story.
Mania
Restaurant at La Playa in Los Senderos, Carr.
San Miguel a Dolores Hidalgo, 37759 SMA Daily:
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Closed Monday Phone:
415 155 9594
The Claroscuro Project
The most amazing day for the
Claroscuro project to promote the gastronomy of San Miguel de Allende. The men
of the hour: Master photographer, Gunther Maier, and special honoree, Chef
Donni, who embraced the Guanajuato G that’s on the corner of the Parroquia.
A press conference at the Hotel
Selina, the lineup for a first - a group chef photo, followed by a
ribbon cutting at Galeria Codigo Postal, a lunch at Chef Linnea Rufo’s and the
gallery opening of Gunther’s photographs at Galeria Codigo Postal was a huge
success thanks to everyone who participated, including local and visiting
press.
The Claroscuro project, directed by
Rose Ruiz and Alberto Cinta Laborde of Gloss Media, in conjunction with Laura
Torres Septien and the city of SMA, will be ongoing and will include many
events over the course of the year in tribute to the remarkable and diverse
gastronomy of SMA.
A special thanks to all of SMA’s
beloved chefs.
SMA voted the best small city in the world again!
In 2008, UNESCO designated San Miguel de Allende as a World
Heritage Site and so began its rise from a small, artist colony in the
mountains of central Mexico to the number one city in the world; a cultural
capital known for its inherent beauty, Baroque to neo-Gothic, 16th century
Spanish colonial architecture and outstanding food, just to name a few.
I moved to SMA back in 2013, when it was first named the
number one City in the World by Conde Nast Traveler.
In 2016,Travel + Leisure named San Miguel de
Allende the third best destination in the world and the best destination of
Mexico, Central and South America. It was also the year that many new
restaurants opened in SMA; San Miguel de
Allende took seventh in the Ten Best International Cities for
Food from Travel
+ Leisure that year.
In a double dose of bliss for the city, both Conde Nast Traveler
and Travel + Leisure
named San Miguel de Allende the number one city in both 2017 and 2018.
San Miguel de Allende was named the American Culture
Capital for 2019 by the International Bureau of Cultural Capitals. This was
more good news for the chefs in the city, who worked hard to make the culinary
scene an essential element in SMA’s standing as the best city in the world. By
then, SMA was already one of the top destinations in Mexico for food; tourists
came here just to eat.
Fast
forward to today, 2020, when The Rosewood SMA became the ideal spot to
celebrate SMA being named the 2020 Best Small City in the World by Conde Nast Traveler again. It took second place on the list
of Best City in the World at Travel +
Leisure; honors that make us so proud to live here.
The
hotels receiving awards for the 2020 Best Hotels in Mexico by Conde Nast Traveler ; four of the top 15 are located in SMA:
1. The
Rosewood
2.
Hotel Matilda
5.
Casa Rosada
13.
Dos Casas Hotel and Spa
The
grounds at the Rosewood never fail to take my breath away. The vista from the
rooftop is one of the best in the city so it’s no surprise that we took our
time getting to the party - stopping along the way to savor every view. For
once, I was not one of the first but the last to arrive at party; just in time
to take a few pictures of the celebration before the sun set.
It’s still incredible to me that every day, someone in the
world is finally discovering what we already know: San Miguel is the Best Small
City in the World.
A Preface to Day of the Dead:
Funny how you’ve always wanted to do
something but it’s never a priority until you make it one…
After years of never getting the
timing right or realizing the significance of the event, I was determined to
see the fields of marigolds grown for Day of the Dead this year. I thought I
would have to travel; certain by the time I got to Michoacán, they would be
fully harvested and I would miss them again - these beautiful fields that have
eluded me for over 50 years.
My friend, Billy Mervin, delivered
the dream last Monday, taking me to see the fields that he’s been buying from
for over 6 years; outside of Comonfort, 26.3 km from San Miguel de Allende.
You’ll be delighted with the
aftermath - over 5,000 flowers will adorn his beautiful Hotel Nena and La Dona
restaurant for the Day of the Dead celebration this year. You can see them
starting Saturday.
This experience is one of my
ultimate highs in Mexico; wandering in fields of orange and red as far as the
eye can see. Words can’t describe how I felt when I had this powerful
connection to Day of the Dead. I’ve finally come full circle.
Somewhere outside of Comonfort, the
fields of Marigolds and Mano de Leon were harvested this week by Luis and his
crew. All of them were joyful.
PMBU.jpg)
