Cozumel Eats – Mega

Posted by islandmoosie on June 12, 2013
Posted in: Cozumel - June 2013, Cozumel Eats, Mega Bocatto. Leave a comment

Mega Snack Bar
(located inside the Mega supermarket)

 
Mega!  Everytime I see the name or hear it I always add the ! and think of the lottery.  LOL.

I LOVE Mega!  I love walking up and down the gleaming aisles looking at all the interesting food that they offer.  I would much rather browse the aisles and aisles of interesting food of Mega than shop at the stores in town for cheap knick-knacks that I have no need for.

We ended up at Mega on the Monday after being cooped up all day.  The original plan was to go to El Morro, but we were a little worried about the street conditions and the possibility of flooded streets after all the torrential rain that day.  So off we went to Mega!  MEGA!!

None of the prepared foods at the deli caught our eye.  We moseyed on over to the Bocatto snack bar towards the front corner to see what offerings they have to delight our palates with.  It reminds us of the gourmet stations at Whole Foods or Wegman’s.

Mega Bocatto snack bar

I was worried that we would end up with pizza or cold sandwiches from the Bocatto snack bar.  I was not in the mood for either…

But wait, what do I spot thee, just below the counter?  A bunch of paper with handwritten new menu offerings.  Tacos!  Score!

I recognize the beef tacos.  We ponder the other choices… tacos alambre or something amongst others.  We have no clue what that is…. is it a type of meat? … a part of the animal? … a special cooking method?  Hmmm… who knows?!

I try to ask the young lady taking the order what the different taco choices are, but there is a bit of language barrier.  I did catch that the alambre had cheese … mmmm quesssso… but also onions and green peppers.  Did she say green peppers??  YUCK!  Pass!

I stick with the beef tacos, while Hook decides he will give the tacos alambre a go.

Cooked to order and piping hot.  They look yummy.  Oops, I forgot to tell her we wanted them “to go”.

I ask…. in my broken Spanish… and my wild gestures – – two hands palm side up and flipping them over together — if she can cover them.  She brings out two pieces of foil.  See?!  She understood my hand gestures!

I confidently stride back with the now covered plates to where Hook was sitting waiting for me.  He says, “I knew it!”… “I knew you were asking for a cover when I saw your hands flipping over and down!”

Total damage for 6 tacos (3 in each order) was Mex$74 (roughly US$6).

Tacos alambre (top), and regular Tacos (bottom)

We headed back to the hotel and enjoyed our tacos in the room with a couple of frio Sol cervezas.  The meat was a little tough, but very tasty.  For an inexpensive, quick meal, we ain’t complainin’.  We would order out from here again.

Cozumel Eats – Kinta

Posted by islandmoosie on June 12, 2013
Posted in: Cozumel - June 2013, Cozumel Eats, Kinta. Leave a comment

Kinta
(located on Ave 5 between Calle 4 and Calle 2)


We dined at Kinta two years ago on our first trip to the island and really enjoyed it then so it was on our list for this trip.  I have fond memories of the refreshing tamarindo margarita and was looking forward to it.

Margarindo – yummy! (Tamarind Margarita)

I opted to have two appetizers in place of an entree.  The appetizer special of the day of Tuna Tostada called my name, and rightly so.  Loved the flavors.  The other appetizer was a Cherry Bomb something or other… like a fish croquette is how it was described.  The panko crusted outside was perfectly fried but the inside had a mushy texture which I did not care for.  I should have passed on this one actually.  One appetizer alone was more than filling so I barely touched the second.  What is up with all the huge portions??

Seared Tuna Tostada appetizer

Fish Cherry Bomb appetizer

Hook ordered the catch of the day, Tuna, which was marinated in achiote.  The tuna was grilled perfectly, but he said it needed more flavor, like salt or something.  It came with veggies and pesto rice.  Hook gave a thumbs up on the pesto rice.

Grilled Tuna with Pesto Rice

Our dessert choice was the coconut ice cream.  A good way to cool off.

Coconut Ice Cream

The bill came out to Mex$670 (roughly US$54) including gratuity.

The best part for me was being able to enjoy the house cat named Panchita.  I have been missing my cats and needed to get my kitty fix.  Panchita let me pet her lots, although she is quite a vocal beggar.  She pretty much stayed by my side and ignored the other tables.  Gee, was that because she ended up eating half of the tuna slices that were on my tostada?  What can I say, I am a sucker for cats!

Miss Panchita – click on my picture and I will serenade you with my pitiful meows!

 

 

While we had a good meal, and I truly enjoyed Panchita, we were not bowled over by the food.  Service was excellent.

Cozumel Eats – Taqueria El Sitio

Posted by islandmoosie on June 11, 2013
Posted in: Cozumel - June 2013, Cozumel Eats, Taqueria El Sitio. Leave a comment

Taqueria El Sitio
(located on Calle 2 between Ave 5 and Ave 10 … in front of the Taxi Union office)

 
We were talking about how much we love trying local food with Margarita the owner of Isis Car Rental (a really sweet lady) when we dropped off our rental and she mentioned that there is a local taqueria place just around the corner that serves fish tacos.  We have eaten our share of tacos during the trip, but have not had the opportunity to get up and out early enough to get fish tacos, so of course we had to check it out.

Taqueria El Sitio

This is another place that is very local.  Not much English is spoken at these places but with a little bit of gesturing, pointing and broken Spanish, all is understood.

Taqueria El Sitio menu

Hook ordered the tacos pulpo en su tinta which he has been craving.  He was really disappointed when he heard that the Pulpo a la tinta entree at the Playa Azul Beach Club menu was no mas.  That was his favorite lunch item.

Tacos pulpo en su tinta

I ordered a taco pescado (fish), and I wanted to try the taco huevo con chaya which our friend Kermit at Playa Azul had told us about.  When we talk with locals the topic inevitably goes around to food…

Huevo con chaya taco, and Pescado taco

The fish taco was just ok.  I really liked the huevo con chaya taco.

Huevo con chaya taco

Hook said his pulpo was good, but not knock-his-socks-off good (NOT that he is wearing socks with his flip flops…. Gasp!  I would have to disown him if he walked around like that!)

Total bill for 4 tacos, a soda, and a bottled water was Mex$80 (roughly US$6)

Would we come back?  Hmmm… tough to say.  I think there are better taquerias we have yet to discover.  We shall see…

Taqueria El Sitio

Cozumel Eats – El Amigo Mario

Posted by islandmoosie on June 11, 2013
Posted in: Cozumel - June 2013, Cozumel Eats, Taqueria El Amigo. Leave a comment

Taqueria El Amigo Mario
(located on Calle 5 between Calle General Francisco Mujica and Avenida 35)

 
A very local place, shared with us by our friend Tati who lives on the island.  Love, love this place!

We dropped by to grab a snack on our way from the public market to Punta Sur.  What a gem!!  They are only open in the mornings, or until the meat runs out.  They serve cochinita pibil everyday, and on Saturdays they have Lechon Al Horno (roasted pig).  Sorry Hook, it is not Saturday today… no lechon for you! 😛

Yummy yummy cochinita pibil

We had the cochinita pibil tacos which were deeeee-licious!  The meat was oh-so-tender and flavorful.

Cochinita pibil meat

Muy delicioso cochinita pibil tacos

Definitely a must come back to place next time.  I will even force myself to get up and out early enough to catch their open hours.  We normally have a problem getting up and out and about early…

Total bill for 5 tacos and 3 sodas was Mex$120 (roughly US$10).  OMG, super cheap!  But super delicioso!

Thank you, Tati for introducing us to this place.  You are my go-to gourmet guide!