Hey all,

I'm off to Cancun with a bunch of friends tomorrow and was hoping someone had a few good restaurant recommendations -- any cuisine, as long as its good and high quality. I really don't want to get sick!! Good, fresh seafood places in particular that use local produce would be particularly nice to hear about.

Thanks,
744

The March 05 issue of "Bon Appetit" magazine carries news about two new restaurants..."MB," a fusion of French, Latin, and Asian flavors run by Michelle Bernstein (who has a restaurant called "Azul" in Miami); and Patricia Quintana's restaurant, "Siete", described by Bon Appetit as "Minimalist Mexican," whatever that means, but it sounds good.

Mrs. Galt and I are definitely gonna check out Siete...Patricia Quitana, along with Diana Kennedy, can be called the "Julia Child" of Mexico. They were the first to introduce Mexican cuisine to American palates as something besides beef enchiladas, chips, and frijoles refritos (all of which I love, but it's like thinking that Deep Dish Pizza is all Italian food has to offer)

IMHO, Mexico has some of the best food in the world...pre-Columbian ingredients like Turkey, squash, Chocolate, vanilla, and the nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, chiles); rice and spices from Spain's posessions in the Pacific; fruits, meats, and nuts from "old Europe"


Both are at the hotel "Fiesta Americana Grand Aqua" Boulevard Kukulcan 12.5, Cancun, 800-343-7821; www.fiestaamericana.com

I will make a full report in two months...

<modified> due to following post from Herb687 saying Los Almendros in Canc�n is <CLOSED>

(Still open in M�rida, Ticul and several franchise locations in M�xico, D. F. I can not vouch for the Mexico City operations.)

To late for the OP, but "Restaurante Los Almendros" (Av. Bonampak com Sayil, near the bullring) is my recommendation. The original was started in Ticul in 1962, the most famous is in M�rida, and there are now franchise operations in Mexico City. Open from lunch through dinner, 11:00 - 22:00, moderate prices.

The attraction of Los Almendros is Yucatecan food - not at all like what is served in the US as "Mexican food" or even in central Mexico. Here is sopa de lima (chicken and lime soup), papadzules, panuchos (soft-fried tortillas with shredded turkey or pork, refried beans and sauce) or escabeche (marinated onions in sour-orange / vinegar sauce) followed by your mains, cochinita or pollo pibil (shredded chicken or pork in a spicy / sweet preparation), salbutes, poc chuuc (marinated barbecue-style pork) - all genuine local Yucatec food. The menus have color photos and descriptions, and these folks are so hospitable they gave me a menu and cookbook last time I visited.

I'll leave the fusion and French for other places - for the Yucatan peninsula, in Canc�n or M�rida, it's Los Almendros for me.

Ask for a Montejo (Pilsener-type) beer, or a Le�n Negra (dark Vienna-Munich style beer) bien helada" (bee-ehn ell-AH-dah) for a Yucatecan beer to accompany your food on a hot day. For a good pizza, Pizza Rolandi is hard to beat, and they make a very satisfying sangria.

Unfortunately the last time I was in Cancun I was told that Restaurant Los Almendros had closed. Too bad; I loved the place. The new favorite for Yucatec food in town, at least according to me and a few other Flyertalkers is Labna (Margaritas 29, 1/2 block behind Av Tulum).

Details/reviews available on the following thread from Dining Buzz (in addition to other suggestions for CUN dining):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=407593

Thanks for the sad update, Herb687! It's too bad Los Almendros is closed - when I visit M�rida, I will visit them there. And in Canc�n I'll have to give Labn� a try (in Cozumel, La Choza is the place to visit for Yucatec food.)