The Joys of Jan at a Bucerias Restaurant

Seth Cloutman, who lived with his partner in Puerto Vallarta, was an amazing connoisseur and creator of delicious foods in many Bucerias restaurants and all over the Riviera Nayarit, and in Mexico. Sadly, Chef Seth Cloutman passed away this year, and this article is in honor of him.
Chef Seth wrote this letter about Chef Jan Benton,who is the Chef at Bucerias restaurant Mark’s Bar and Grill,  about one of their experiences together.

 

The Joys of Jan

by Chef Seth Cloutman

It is a rare day when I meet another person who shares my enthusiasm for food. Okay, obsession. So imagine my surprise when on a site visit to another chef’s kitchen, I immediately found a kindred spirit and someone whose life revolves around the search for a great combination of flavors or a fresh ingredient not found before. Two weeks ago that is exactly what happened when I met Jan Benton, the Chef de Cuisine of Mark’s Bar and Grill, a Bucerias restaurant in Mexico.

Jan is a native of New Zealand but found herself in many parts of the world before she finally landed permanently in Mexico. One of her earliest training grounds was the family garden in the land of Kiwis. It was there that she developed an intense fascination with fresh, home raised vegetables. That initial education was only further enhanced when she worked in the perfume industry. In her position, it was necessary to take scents and identify them thereby honing her olfactory senses. This only assisted when she finally took to the kitchen.

Living in San Francisco she took up cooking as a home chef. One of her first dishes, one that friends requested again and again, was a Pesto Negro. It was simply a basil pesto with black olives but this was to be the beginning of what would become her
greatest passion. Soon she was hording cookbooks by Charlie Trotter, Nobu Matsuhisa of Manhattan’s famed Nobu Restaurant, Japanese-Australian Tetsuya Wakud of Sydney’s Tetsuya and Judy Rodgers of San Francisco’s Zuni Café to name a few and honing her skills.

Fast forward to Bucerias 1991.
Mark purchased the building which still houses the Mark’s Bar and Grill Bucerias restaurant, and essentially created a hot dog and beer hall where he could hang out with his buddies. Little did he realize that a year later Jan would arrive in town and that they would fall in love. One Valentine’s Day Jan suggested that they do a meal special and see what happened. They purchased 25 pounds of fresh San Blas shrimp, put a sign out on the street and before the Bucerias restaurant closed that evening, they had sold out. At the time such an investment in that much shrimp was a real risk but clearly worth it.

Since this flight of fancy, Jan has been creating menus that dazzle the palate. Her intensity when she discusses food is such a joy. The first day I met her she and I ended up huddled at the end of the bar talking about ingredients and dishes and meals like two little children discussing an upcoming vacation to Disneyland. But what impressed me most was her “food geek” level. I am often accused of being the consummate food geek (I accept this gladly) and to sit down with someone else that has the same leaning was more exciting than I can possible describe. The ability to get so feverish about a certain cooking method or flavor or flavor combination is just not up everyone’s alley.

But for all the talk about food, I had still not tried Jan’s cuisine. I admit I was a little nervous because I did not want to be disappointed. I had found a new friend and I wanted to be as proud of her actual culinary skills as I was about her knowledge and enthusiasm. One of the first things she did when I arrived after we had been introduced was to ask me to come into the kitchen and look at the tuna her fishmonger had just dropped off. As we approached she said nothing but “can you look at this and tell me what you think?” In retrospect, I think she was testing me a bit just as I was about to test her as I bit into one of her creations. Upon seeing the tuna, we both instantly agreed that it was not up to quality so without a moment’s hesitation she rang the fisherman and said, no way. That meant no tuna for that evening menu but she simply would not serve that fish.

The dish she wished me to taste was a toasted coriander seed crusted tuna filet with a wasabi sauce. She asked if I minded trying it with Huachinango (red snapper). Of course I quickly agreed.
When she brought it out the scents were amazing and when I bit into the firm fish, I was relieved not only to be enjoying the delicious flavors but also to have confirmed that not only was my new food geek friend great fun to talk endlessly with about food, but she could cook as well.

Mark’s Bar and Grill is located at Lázaro Cárdenas 56A, Bucerías, Bahia de Banderas,
Nayarit 63732 Reservations are recommended (329) 298 0303

Chef Seth Cloutman

What  a wonderful writer and food enthusiast! He will be dearly missed!
Chef Seth was an inspiring cooking instructor specializing in French cuisine. He used the fresh and local flavors creating delightful food creations from Northern Italy, Spain and of course Mexico.   Seth was the owner of Food by Seth, which provided services as a private chef, wrote a book called Everything Found with Seth, as well as hosted Vallarta’s Culinary Corner cooking show, and was a weekly food columnist for the PV Mirror.  And even more,,  Chef Seth was also the founder of Nuestra Huerta, which means, “Our Kitchen Garden”, which was to create an educational garden for students in Puerto Vallarta about the complete process along with environment and water conservation, and of course how to prepare the food!

Chef Seth was considered by others a “consummate food geek” and loved this role in life. He also donated his time to help children and families in need here in Mexico.  He was dearly loved, honored and appreciated by his family and friends, and everyone that knew him in the restaurant and food industry. Here’s to you Seth Cloutman!

Discover great cuisine at a Bucerias Restaurant, Move to Mexico for Life!

 

Discovering a Great Bucerias Dentist in Mexico

On a recent journey to the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico,  I was pleased to discover and experience the beauty of the Bucerias beaches and tourist sites that this wonderful country has to offer, but also had to find a great Bucerias Dentist!
It was during this trip to the Riviera Nayarit, that I was also unfortunate enough to require the use of a Bucerias dentist.  However my concerns were put to rest when I found a Bucerias dentist, Centro Odontologico de La Bahia.

Anyway, I found this Bucerias Dentist, Selene,  who immediately addressed my concerns and fitted a fixed bridge for me. Her husband Alonzo works in the lab, making a great team.  All of their work is done in-house, and I liked that.

Looking at my own teeth
It was interesting as I sat in the recliner dentist chair, which looked brand new, and was very comfortable, how they turned on the TV monitor and inserted a small camera device into my mouth. They showed me all of my teeth, and what was going on. I was surprised to see how much help my teeth needed. One never knows just brushing and flossing and looking in the mirror how your teeth are really doing I suppose.
I was asked to attend for a temporary fitting and return a week later for the permanent fitting. all my questions where answered very quickly. Thankfully, she does speak some English, which was great for me.

This was ideal as the Bucerias dentist, Selene, said that I would normally have to wait around two weeks between the fitting of the temporary crown and the permanent one. I mentioned that I was on vacation, but could stay, as I was enjoying the Bucerias area, and other surrounding areas and beaches on the Riviera Nayarit.  I was able to  accomplish my dental treatment and also a nice cleaning session, for a fraction of the cost of what it would have been in the states.

It was clear to me that if you are ever in a position where you require a dentist while you are on the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, you need not worry because the Bucerias Dentists are friendly and professional, and the pricing is affordable.

I spoke to the Bucerias dentist Selene and her husband Alonzo,  and they also informed me I could have an ultrasonic cleaning and whitening zoom treatment after my crown was fitted. This allowed me to enjoy Bucerias, get my orthodontics treatment seen to and have ultrasonic cleaning to go with my fixed bridges. She also told me they also do implants and resin restorations also. This was very handy to know as I plan to visit the Bucerias pueblo again in December this year.

To be honest I was a little worried, while looking for the dentist in Bucerias, things like the quality of the installations, cost and professionalism of the staff, and cleanliness and bacteria issues where all thoughts in my head. Fortunately, all this stopped as soon as I walked through the door. As I entered the office at  Centro Odontologico de La Bahia, the office was looked exactly like an American dentist office, perhaps even better, with leather chairs and couches, TV…a very comfortable and friendly atmosphere.

I was quite surprised to find a orthodontist or dentist in bucerias, that provided me with removable work or the fixed bridge treatment that I needed at the very time I was there. Bucerias is such a beautiful place, I would not hesitate to visit upon my return here in December, as I could always welcome an ultrasonic cleaning or whitening zoom just to top up next time I’m here.  For the work you get, its so affordable!

I also enjoyed the fishing and the warm sunshine , and  my suntan always looks better with whiter than white teeth. The Mexico dentist had a nice clean office and everything seemed sterile, and the staff was very friendly. I certainly didn’t have to worry as I initially did before finding a Bucerias dentist, like Selene at  Centro Odontologico de La Bahia, on the Riviera Nayarit.

So if your looking for a professional and top-of -the-line dental equipment, go to  Centro Odontologico de La Bahia and see Selene. She gives the best dental care! I am so happy to find such a great Bucerias Dentist!

Discover the Riviera Nayarit and Bucerias for great Bucerias Dentist, Move to Mexico for Life!

 

The Bucerias Art Walk Plaza Movie Nights

Movie Night at The Bucerias Art Walk Plaza has been so successful we are now doing it 2 nights a week right here in Bucerias on the incredible Riviera Nayarit!
This Wednesday Night, June 20th, we will be showing “Big Miracle” starring Drew Barrymore…In small town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his ex-girlfriend, a Greenpeace volunteer, on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

On Saturday, June 23rd, we will be screening The Descendants starring Academy Award Winner George Clooney.

Special Summer Rates

The Bucerias Art Walk Plaza special summer rates are 30 pesos per ticket (tickets will go up to 50 pesos in the winter). Come to one of these two shows this week and receive a special Local Loco Card which gets you in all winter for 30 pesos.
There is concession stand with popcorn, sodas, water and adult beverages, nothing over 20 pesos. Bring your own beach chair for optimum comfort, sorry no coolers, food or beverages allowed. So, it may be a good idea to eat some dinner at one of the great Bucerias restaurants, and then bring a few pesos for snacks at the movie.
The theater is located at The Bucerias Art Walk Plaza, 62 Lazaro Cardenas, in Bucerias Mexico.
Doors open at 8pm and the show starts at 9pm.
Email us at thebuceriasartwalkplaza@gmail.com to reserve a seat!

Dinner Suggestions Before Movie Night

Bucerias Restaurant Matsuri is located on Heroes de Nacozari # 25 in Bucerias Nayarit Mexico. Grazilla and Jose Gonzalez are a happy couple, and you can tell they enjoy what they do by their enthusiasm in their work and for life.
This lovely couple lived and worked in two well  known Chinese restaurants in Seattle Washington, one being Dynasty and the other Pleasant Garden. There they learned the “Chinese secrets of cooking” as well as pretty good English!

You will find the food at Restaurant Matsuri fresh and delicious, fresh, and made to order. Try their tender beef and chicken all for a very low price, especially for the amount of food you receive!
Restaurant Matsuri is located on Heroes de Nacozari # 25 in Bucerias Nayarit Mexico. They are right next to the Registro Civil and two doors down from the Telmex on the same side of the street as the OXXO and Pemex in the lateral.
Restaurant Matsuri is open 6 days a week from 1:00 – 10:00pm, and closed on Wednesdays.
And when you don’t feel like going out, there is nothing better than Matsuri Chinese food to go! 322-102-1317 or 322-118-1166

The Bucerias Library Fundraiser Party

The Bucerias Library “Bilioteca Rey Nayar” is presenting a Fun-Raiser Party sponsored by Sharon Bell and “The Shamrock Bar”. Come and join us for a fun night of games, contests, drink specials, music and much more. Friday evening June 22nd at “The Shamrock Bar” located at the corner of Av. Mexico and Calle Guarrero. Funds raised will go to the purchase of a much needed, new software system to catalog and track all of the library’s reading material. Come and join in the fun and support this important community program. For more information contact us at: bibliobucerias@gmail.com or call The Shamrock Bar 298-0464.

Discover Bucerias Mexico for a great vacation, move to the Riviera Nayarit for life!

 

Bucerias Restaurant Matsuri

One of the reasons that makes living in Bucerias a wonderful experience is the variety of Bucerias restaurants, and right here on the lovely Riviera Nayarit in Mexico!  With Greek, Itialain, American/Mexican and todo Mexicana, and along with the Asian varieties, you could literally eat a different cuisine every day! Today, however, I would like to share with you about a wonderful family owned and operated Chinese Bucerias restaurant, Restaurant Matsuri!

Grazilla and Jose Gonzalez are a happy couple, and you can tell they enjoy what they do by their enthusiasm in their work and for life. Their daughter also comes and helps out at the Chinese restaurant, and also works at another store near by. Jose (chef)  and Grazilla (chef and wait staff) lived and worked in two well  known Chinese restaurants in Seattle Washington, one being Dynasty and the other Pleasant Garden. There they learned the “Chinese secrets of cooking” as well as pretty good English, and decided to come to Mexico and share their Chinese knowledge with all of us in Bucerias Mexico.

What’s for Dinner?

When I walked into Matsuri Restaruant, it felt nice and open, clean, and had colorful lamps with lots of red (the color for good luck) and white,  and nice wall hangings. We chose a table in the back by the fish tank. Grazilla is very sweet and brought us very lightly fried wontons with different dipping sauces. They were freshly prepared and quite light and delicious!

I ordered a lemonade without sugar and we decided to start out with ordering soup, as my friend Miguel had the Wonton Soup while I choose the Misoshire Soup, which was  a Miso soup with some soy chunks and mushrooms and bamboo in it.  The soup also came in very large bowls, and could easily be a good lunch, or dinner depending on your appetite. Both soups were delicious; the Wonton Soup having more things to chew on like  vegetable and wontons. We ordered our entree’s next, with my friend ordering the Curry Beef and for myself the Kung Pao Chicken. When the dishes came out the large plates were ‘loaded’ with delicious smelling food.  The vegetables were fresh, even the mushrooms, (which was very nice as a lot of places use canned) and we dug right in! The curry was not overpowering and the beef was very tender and easy to chew! The Kung Pao Chicken had lots of peanuts in a semi-spicy sauce along with an abundance of  vegetables, and I took home what was left for another meal. I had heard about this Bucerias restaurant, but had never tried it before. Both were very good and I will give the entire meal and service a 10, and a big thumbs up!

The Menu

They have a nice variety on their menu with spring rolls, fried rices and usual Chinese fare with shrimp, beef, chicken and vegetables,  as well as BBQ Ribs and a few rolls of Sushi. I think I will try the fried rice and ribs next time!
For their drink menu they serve Ice Tea, orange drink, soft drinks, coffee and hot tea. Their menu is in English and Spanish in a different way. The titles of the food plates are in English, and the description of the food is in Spanish with lots of pictures!

The only thing left to write about are the prices! Soups are 40 pesos for the Rice and Misoshiur soups, and 50 pesos for the Wonton soup. Appetizers are ranging from 45 – 80 pesos for he bigger Matsuri Combination plate, and rices and vegetables and other entree’s range from 60 pesos to 150 pesos. Now, that’s some decent pricing if you ask me!
When you add it all up, 1, Fun and friendly people, 2, great tasting food and 3, really reasonable pricing. That makes 3 great reasons to try the Bucerias Restaruant Matsuri. Oh! Wait! They are open all summer! There is reason number 4.

Location, Location, Location!

Restaurant Matsuri is located on Heroes de Nacozari # 25 in Bucerias Nayarit Mexico. They are right next to the Registro Civil and two doors down from the Telmex on the same side of the street as the OXXO and Pemex in the lateral.  So when your ready for some great Chinese food, give Bucerias Restaurant Matsuri a try. It will be sure to please your palate! And when you don’t feel like going out, there is nothing better than Matsuri Chinese food to go!
322-102-1317 or 322-118-1166

Discover delicious Bucerias restaurants on your Riviera Nayarit vacation, move to Mexico for life!

 

 

KiteSurfing Competition in Bucerias

Bucerias Mexico  is the perfect place for Kitesurfing , and  this weekend on the Riviera Nayarit is the 2012 Wind Festival which starts on Friday, May 18th through Sunday, May 20th.  The beaches are going to be packed with folks from all over Mexico and beyond to watch the event.

The competitions are in four categories and scheduled to take place on the waters between Bucerías and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. The Wind Fest has been growing in popularity and participants over the past few years, and kitesurfers can be seen just about every afternoon in Bucerias.

Kitesurfing is an athletic, young and fun sport that is growing rapidly.  Riders mount a surfboard that looks much like a snowboard that is powered by a kite allowing one to ride at high speeds on the water and make amazing leaps while showing off tricks for several seconds at a time.

Bucerias Fun

La Cruz and Bucerias Mexico are located on the South end of the Riviera Nayarit, which is close to Puerto Vallarta, yet far enough away to feel a more authentic Mexico feeling. This area of the Riviera Nayarit offers great wind conditions for this popular sport. With world class marinas and first class hotels, house and condo rental services, great Bucerias restaurants from great Greek and Italian to the cheap 10 peso taco stands, Bucerias Mexico makes a great place for a Riviera Nayarit vacation or a fun weekend get-away.  Shopping is also abundant like Jewelry Luz, a new jewelry store with amazing one of a kind custom made jewelry pieces,  located north of the town square, as well as every service that you can think of. Bucerias has it all!

The Wind Festival

The Wind Festival has been taking place in the Banderas Bay area for the last few years, and, last year it was covered by  HBO TV as a piece of their Destino Deporte show.
The competitions will be in four categories this year.
They are:
Open Freestyle, Freestyle Pro, Women Freestyle, a downwind race from La Cruz to Bucerías and a long-distance race from Bucerías to La Cruz and back again.
Due to the windy conditions, Bucerias Mexico is quickly becoming the preferred destination for folks that love to partake in kitesurfing.

Register Now

Registration is still open and is also free to the public to watch the events from the Bucerias beach. For competition registration please go to their facebook page Wind Festival 2012. The colorful kites and the amazing leaps and stunts from the competitors  makes the 2012 Wind Festival a fun time on the beach in Bucerias Mexico!

Come to Bucerias Mexico for a fun weekend get-away, move to Mexico for life!

 

Cinco De Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo Riviera Nayairt Mexico! Its another beautiful day on the Riviera Nayarit.
Even though this day is not Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually on September 16th, this day is more celebrated nationwide in the United States,  and it celebrates the Mexican heritage and pride and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War as well as celebrating regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla. There the holiday is called El Dia de la Batalia de Puebla, which means The Day of the Battle of Puebla.
In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army’s victory over the French  at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Sequin.

Bucerias and Riviera Nayarit Fun in May

RivieraNayaritFun.com offers every business a Free for Life Internet Business Listing. RivieraNayaritFun.com is the “Mother”  and acts as an umbrella  for the all of the town websites, funneling traffic to the right town. There are 6 town websites so far, from AllChacala.com to AllSayulita.com, with a total of 12 when completed.  (whew! ) And, I am so very excited to tell you that the next town website is AllBucerias.com, and is being created now! It is a first come first serve basis for the free listing list.

Your free listing will go under the paid advertising with your business name and contact information. Click on this link, fill out two very easy and short forms (English and Spanish) and confirm on your email! Only a few minutes for a free listing for your rental or business!
You may also email me photos of your business for the Bucerias Photo Gallery! :)
to Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com. Thanks!!

I Need Help Please!!

I would also like to put out there that I am looking for  bloggers or writers that would be interested in trading for advertising, and I am also looking for local sales staff as a paid position throughout the Riviera Nayarit. I do not normally advertise for myself on this site, but I need HELP! :)
I do love to blog about the businesses that  advertise, and I work hard so you can be found via blogging and linking on the Mother site (Riv-nay), blogging and linking on the town sites as well as pictures (that I tag with keywords) making for several ways to be found easily in the search engines. I also allow you to link to your websites, facebook and anything else you have created!
If you have any questions, please contact me at Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com or you may call me at 322-728-6897. I look forward to meeting soon.
I wish you many blessings of abundance! and thank you very much for your consideration, time and energy!  Cat Morgan

 


The La Cruz Sunday Market

This Sunday marks the last day of the La Cruz Market, so get down to La Cruz and enjoy the fresh produce and the organic delights and foods, as well as the local vendors with art and jewelry,  blankets and other fun items. Its the last chance until next season…so see you this Sunday!

Riviera Nayarit Magical Tours
The Chica Locca is a 60 foot tri-maran that is docked at the La Cruz Marina in Banderas Bay. They offer all inclusive tours all year! That means that your transportation, breakfast, lunch, and a full open bar are all included, which allows you to let go of any thoughts or worries and let the Chica Locca crew handle all of the details. Come and enjoy a day on the ocean kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkeling or fishing…or all four!  It will be the best vacation day on your vacation!

 

The Monday Bucerias Market will run through May.
The Bucerias Monday market will stay open and the vendors will still come if folks will come and buy! Its the way things work, so visit the Bucerias Monday Market and lets keep the market open through May by supporting the vendors!

Contemporary Local Dancer Adriana Quinto

 Adriana Quinto’s new Contemporary Dance Performance “Estratégia de la Ruptura” tells talks of loneliness and love and other stories of every day life to the rock music of Pink Floyd, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Janis Joplin and more.

Her dance company , which includes her students, present small varied dances in solo’s and groups. Adriana Quinto believes that in teaching dance, one needs to allow a dancer to develop in their own ways and expressions, which allows the students to unfold and be  unique dancers with applied instruction.

Upcoming performances include:

  • Sunday, May 6, 9 pm, Los Arcos (selections of the entire production)
  • Friday, May 11, 7:30 pm, Cecatur Auditorium, Zaragoza & Matamors, El Centro (complete production)
  • Thursday, May 24, Los Arcos (complete production, time to be announced)

More Great Reasons to Eat at a Bucerias Restaurant!

Bucerias is a small town packed with a lot of fun and interesting things to do. The restaurants are all moving to their summer pricing and have some really great deals for the summer for food and drinks! (Marcos holding tequila at Breakers Bar on the playa)  Because of its location, Bucerias has the best of the small town feeling and Mexican culture as well being so close to Puerto Vallarta…about 25 minutes, making other activities close and convenient.  Bucerias Mexico is also becoming very well known for the excellent Kite Boarding due to the windy afternoons.  Great beaches for swimming and walking,  fishing, and close to the La Cruz Marina for tours, plays, musical culture and great Bucerias restaurants and bars, Bucerias Mexico has the best of all worlds on the amazing and beautiful Riviera Nayarit.

SAIYA Asian Restaurant

Saiya is offering delivery service to anyone who wants to pay the taxi driver…no other charges other than the great cuisine of course! The minimum order for take out service is 300 pesos. Or, just come on into the restaurant and pick up any order, no problem!

Saiya Restaurant also has catering service available for meetings and parties. It’s nice to know they are staying open all summer long! And they have delivery! Which will come in handy in the rainy season!  Thanks Chef Emi!
So, when you feel like fresh Asian cusine, and the best Pad Thai, Chef Emi of Saiya is here to serve you right in Bucerias! You can find them at calle Hidalgo #3, Av.mexico and Av. Pacifico Bucerias Centro.

YoYo Mo Restaurant and Bar

Yoyo Mo has brought back his Summer Specials. It’s back – “Loco for Locals” at Yoyo Mo’s. $25.00 peso drinks – major brands! That’s right! Smirnoff, Bacardi, El Jimador, Malibu, Kahlua and Oso gin for just $25 pesos every day and night. But Wait! There’s more! We’ve dropped the price on all sizes of pizza. Get a 3 topping (that’s mozzarella, pizza sauce, plus three toppings of your choice) for $60 Small, $100 Medium, $125 Large and $150 X Large. That’s right! 4 people can eat for just $150 pesos! Watch the IIHL World Hockey Championships, the Euro Cup and the 2012 Summer Olympics at Yoyo Mo’s.

The Drunken Duck

Summer is special at The Drunken Duck. Open Wednesday through Sunday and now licensed to serve until 2:00AM. Live music every day. Highballs are just $25 pesos – vodka, rum, gin, brandy, tequila and Kahlua. Bucket of 5 beer for $95.00. Buy a 1 liter bottle of Smirnoff, Bacardi, El Jimador or Malibu (750ml) for $500 including 6 cans of mix and ice. That’s less than $25 pesos a drink for name brand products.
Check out the summer menu at The Duck. Everything is $50 pesos! Quarter pound Angus beef cheeseburger with fries, quarter pound all beef Costco hotdog with fries, our California style burritos, and everything else, for just $50 pesos.
The Drunken Duck. Eat, Drink, Party.

The Luna Lounge

The fun times in Bucerias are still happening at The Luna Lounge (Ave. Mexico #27, El Centro).
With live music on Fridays, with NO COVER CHARGE! everyone is still coming and having a great time! Come on in for some great music and dancing and check out the bar specials!

Encore Restaurant on the Beach in Bucerias

Here are some of  the Encore Summer specials at their beachfront Bucerias restaurant.
They are open all Summer long from 9am to 10pm and only closed on Tuesdays, Encore serves a great breakfast special for only 50 pesos of bacon or sausage and eggs or Huevos Rancheros for only 60 pesos! Or you may want to try their yummy Smoked Salmon and Eggs Benedict..only 90 pesos or a great Rib Eye Steak and eggs for 120 pesos.

All dinners are 20% off for the spring and summer months! :)

Encore presents international song stylist and jazz vocalist, Ms. Armi Grano and the fabulous Dejazz Trio on Wednesday nights from 7:30 pm. Take advantage of this show as it will only last depending on your support. Ms. Grano also sings Thursday to Sunday evenings. This is a bonus treat as most restaurants have already cut down on their live entertainment. “Dejazz Trio” is composed of Eduardo Rubio on keyboard, Danny Lopez on drums, Javier Nunez on bass. You will love their smooth jazz sound and Latin beats with their own original arrangements.
For  Reservations  please call 329-298-0140.

 Enjoy your Riviera Nayarit vacation, relocate to Mexico for life!

 

 

Lots of Fun in Bucerias Mexico

Bucerias is on the south end of the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, and a perfect place to come for a spring vacation. Spring is a great time to vacation in Mexico, as the hot summer has not yet arrived, and the winter season folks have returned to their other homes so it is not so crowded as it can be in the winter season. The pacific ocean is starting to warm up enough that it is fun for swimming. It is also only 15 minutes away from Sayulita, with only  another 5-10 minutes further to reach San Pancho, as well as about 20 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport making Bucerias a great vacation location.

Here are a few things that you may be interested in checking out while in Bucerias, as well as remembering about donating to the Casa Hogar Orphanage fundraiser.  There is something for everyone in Bucerias on the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico!

Monday Market

Mondays are the day for the Market, or the Spanish word is a Tianguis, and all of the shops have their wares outside of their shops, with delicious foods in the many restaurants, or perhaps a cut mango on a stick. There are blankets, shells, art work, clothing,  jewelry and just about anything you can think of!

Click on these links to see more photos! On the South side of the walking bridge you will find many more restaurants and art galleries, glass shops and other galleries like the Winged Iguana Gallery, which has lots of Katrina’s and al kinds of different things to check out!

All up and down the boulevard and the Malacon you will find exactly what you are looking for, along with plenty of Bucerias restaurants to choose from for lunch and a beer or margarita.

Thursday Art Walk

Thursday evenings starting at 7:00pm you can stroll around town for the Art Walk, checking out all of the wonderful art galleries filled with paintings and sculptures and more.

Music Under the Stars

There is also an evening of classical guitar music under the stars at the Biblioteca Rey Nayar, which is under the umbrella of the Association Bahia de Banderas Cultural A.C.  This event will be on April 18th at 6:00pm in the garden of Rita and Oliver Kollock, located at 232 Carmen Serdan, Bucerias. This event will be featuring Rigoberto Mora and his students.  There is no charge for the event, however you will be asked to dontate to the library. Please RSVP at bibliobucerias@gmail.com to ensure your seating, as last week was sold out!

Casa Hogar Orphanage 

The association of Manos de Amor pro Bahia, a.c. is a nonprofit organization that was created from the desire of a group of citizens of Bucerias to help the less fortunate, especially the children of Bahia de Banderas. It was formed on April 13, 2004.
The main project of this group was to construct an orphanage in Bucerias, and Casa Hogar was created.
The construction of the orphanage began on January 24, 2008 mainly due to a family in California who donated 15,000.00 (US) that enabled them to buy the adjoining lot to the one that was already purchased. The building is now completed and the children have been living at Casa Hogar since April 2009.  The Mexican government does not give any financial support, which means that they survive on donations alone. Luckily, they do have regular donators that donate monies, and others also donate food and clothing. Casa Hogar accepts all donations, and the items that cannot be used are sold at their frequent bazaars.  This way the community has the opportunity to purchase items at a great price and also provides additional income to the orphanage, as every little bit counts!

The Children of Casa Hogar
The children who are housed at Casa Hogar are “social” orphans. This means that the parents are either unwilling or unable to care for their children. Many times an older sibling is taking care of the younger children as the parents have either passed away, or abandoned them. In the past, the family would take in these children, but in Mexico, much like the United States and Canada, families have scattered across the country. So many times the family is not here to help, even if they were able.
Casa Hogar provides these children with good, clothing and shelter and to ensure that they attend school, giving them a home and as safe haven for as long as necessary.
Hopefully, when home situations improve they can return to their families, or can be placed in adoptive homes.

Donations
Donations are not just about monies, and although that is very important, you can also become a volunteer by applying and filling out a simple volunteer application. Come and play, read, or get creative with art and the children…whatever you would like to do, as these kids need all of the love and support we can give.
Please call or email to find out what time to come volunteer your time, as different needs are during the week, and Saturday and Sunday are open all day for volunteering. You can make a donation online at the website www.manosdeamor.com via PayPal with your bank or credit card, which makes it easy to donate!
Donations can also be made to this project and can be made by check, Mexican, American or Canadian. Please make your check payable to:

Manos de Amor pro Bahis, a.c.,
and mail to:
Casa Hogar Manos de Amor
Calle Rio Balsas y Rio Copostela
Colonia El Tule Dorado
Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico
63732

You may call Hogar directly at 329-298-3680 and speak with Veronica (Vera), who is the main care- taker for all of the children, or you may also contact Nichole by email at: Casavaliene@gmail.com for more information.
The Next Fundraiser on April 15, 2012
The next fundraiser is a bazaar, so please bring your slightly used clothing to sell, or any other items that would sell easily. These children need help, and supporting by donating items to sell is a great way to help!
Where is Casa Hogar?
The orphanage is located at the corner of Rio Bolsas and Rio Compostela in Colonia Buenow Aries in Bucerias. To get to Casa Hogar, take Rio Colorado (the street directly across the highway from Billy’s Gym, (Mexican Marilyn Monroe) up about blocks. You will cross over the Canal. Go another three blocks.

On the right side corner you will see a house with swans on it, and on the telephone pole across from that, you will see a sign with a  red arrow directing you to Casa Hogar. Turn right at that corner. Go two blocks. On your left is a small tienda called Los Portrillos. Turn right there and the orphanage is one block on your left.  Look for the many signs with arrows posted along the way.

Here is Vera and the volunteer staff at Casa Hogar. They truly need your support how ever you choose to give it, whether is be monies, clothes, or donating your time and loving energies for the children. These kids deserve a good family, so you may want to help in that way as well! Thank you for all of your support!

 

Visit beautiful Bucerias on your Mexico vacation, or relocate to the Riviera Nayarit for life! 

© 2012 Riviera Nayarit Fun Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha