Let me first say, we are not buffet people. However, we make an exception every time we are in Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta or Vidanta Riviera Maya. The buffet at the Cafe del Lago is part of our suggested itinerary that we published last year. Don’t confuse it with other buffets. In Riviera Maya there are a couple of buffets , including one in Havana moon and in Nuevo Vallarta there is one by Luxxe building 4 and one at the Grand Mayan pools. These are all perfectly fine, but nothing compares to the ones at Cafe del Lago in both resorts.
Getting Started
You start, of course, with fresh juices and coffee served at your table. From there the possibilities are endless. You can stop at the freshly fried empanadas, don’t miss the incredible variety of salsas. There is custom omelet station, with choose your own ingredients of every variety.
Insider Tip
Due to the high demand for bacon, the custom omelet chef doles it out on request only.
Main Course
oaxaca mole sauce I have ever had. In another section, sushi lovers won’t want to miss the nice variety ofThere is a large variety of fresh fruit and yougurt. there is a section with freshly baked pastries of all varieties. I recommend the chocolate croissants. then the there are the endless rows of chafing dishes heaped with red and green chilaquiles, quiche, sausages, and dozen things I can’t remember. On certain days there will be chicken in the best sushi rolls.
Finale
Relax for a bit , rest up, OK, time for the dessert section. You can have fresh made crepes with fruit, caramel or chocolate topping, sweet pastries, custard tarts and lots more. I am pretty sure there a lots of things i have forgotten.
Practical Stuff
This does all come at a price. The last time we were there the weak peso had brought the price back under $20 US. There is discount for early morning or late (I think after 11:30) whenever you do it , you won’t be needing lunch. One last tip, it seems to come and go at different times of the year, but ask the concierge if they are selling meal packages. The best deal is six breakfasts and six lunches/dinners. For the best value, you could share the tickets with a group and use all the breakfasts for the Cafe del Lago and all the Lunch/Dinners for dinners. Read a funny story about how Vidanta solved the bird problem
Believe it or not , I first heard about La Famiglia in Playa del Carmen in a church in Michigan. No really! Our pastor was using the owner as an example of someone who loved his food and wanted to share it. So of course, we had to try it out when we came to Playa del Carmen. Located just one block off the main drag of Avenida cinco on the corner of Avenida 10 and Calle 10 Norte. After fighting for a parking spot and dodging a downpour we successfully arrived for our reservation on time. La Famiglia is an Italian restaurant through and through. Most of the main floor of the restaurant is taken up by the kitchen, so we were led to an upstairs area where there was more seating. We ordered bruschetta , which turned out to be a little superfluous given delicious basket of bread that soon arrived.
Irrelevant Side Track
Let’s settl this once and for all. It is pronounced Broos-keh-tah. for a full discussion see this explanantion
Starters
After much discussion, both my wife and our friends ordered the chef salad. I had to be difficult and order the goat cheese on the side. I have been trying to acquire the taste for 2 or 3 years. Ain’t gonna happen. The salad was fantastic, with thin sliced pears, jicama, various greens, some kind of sprouts, and the dreaded goat cheese, and very light and delicious honey mustard. My wife tries to claim the goat’s cheese made it perfect.
Homemade Pasta
Our waitress Elena, was from Guadalajara and pleasantly tolerated all of our deliberations. La Famiglia has a wealth of Classic Italian choices, including various homemade pastas. Our friends, Jim and Debbie, split the jumbo shrimp with a side of homemade fetuccini arrabiata. I went straight for the fetuccini arrabiata , (tomato sauce with pleasant kick} with Italian sausage added. Linda tried the gnocchis in a gorgonzola sauce, laced with chicken and topped with walnuts. Stunningly rich and delicious. Maybe even a little too rich, but did I mention delicious? I have always thought that too rich might be an oxymoron. But nobody finished the huge portions.
We tried the gelato and tiramisu for dessert. The gelato was creative and delicious flavor. It tasted creamy but had a bit of graininess to it. Our friends thought it was frozen either too fast or too slow. The tiramisu was very good and not too sweet as it often is in the States. We were settling in for the check when pretty young Elena showed up with a smirk on her face and a bottle of Limoncello fresh out of the freezer. A beautiful, complimentary end to a wonderful meal.
On the way out a pizza was coming up the stairs. Bummer that this is our last full day in Mexico or we would be back for pizza at La Famiglia in Playa del Carmen.
Yucatan food (or Yucatecan cuisine if you want to be fancy), has developed over centuries of living off the land and in a hot, tropical climate. The dishes mix elements of spice, local animals and vegetation, influences from the Spanish, Lebanese, Dutch and the Caribbean, as well as true practicality.
If you’re a foodie then Mexico is a paradise for you! And if you’re not, no worries. You’ll find things as ordinary as turkey and tomatoes, or as exotic as armadillos! Here are some examples of Mexican cuisine that are a must try!
El Desayuno (Breakfast)
Molletes are a popular Yucatan breakfast food.
Chilaquiles
These are often used to get rid of leftovers. They are fried tortilla strips that have been simmered in a red or green salsa and you can add beans, eggs, cheese or meat – whatever you have on hand.
Molletes
There are a couple different kinds of molletes, which are a cousin of the bruschetta in Italy. It consists of bolillo, or a sweet bread, cut length wise and partially hollowed out. It’s filled with pinto beans, cheese and peppers and then popped in the oven until the cheese melts. It is usually served with salsa, pico de gallo, ham, bacon or mushrooms.
Huevos Rancheros
Rancher’s Eggs, is also a traditional breakfast choice. They are basically composed of fried eggs served on fried corn tortillas topped with a tomato-chili sauce, and you can add refried beans, Mexican-style rice, and slices of avocado.
El Almuerzo (Lunch) y La Cina (Dinner)
The steak tacos at Taco Árabe.
Tacos
It turns out there is a much greater variety of tacos in the Yucatan than there is in America, go figure. I tried Rocket Tacos at Tacos Árabe in Mérida. These have been heavily influenced by the Lebanese and are a steak taco with onions topped with an absolutely amazing garlic cheese sauce, or crema de ajo. It’s been years since I had these and I can still taste them. If I ever go back to the Yucatan I will definitely be going back to Tacos Árabe! Another great place to get tacos is Taqueria el Carboncito in Tulum, which is closer to the resorts than Merida.
Sopa de Lima
I also tried this dish when I visited Tacos Árabe in Merida. Their Sopa de Lima was also delicious and I was served a very generous portion. It’s a chicken soup spiked heavily with fragrant lime juice. It’s light and flavorful and wonderful.
Pibil, a popular Yucatan food is usually made of pork and has a smoky flavor.
Pibil
This is probably the most notable Yucatan food item. It came about because of the need to preserve meat on its way home from a hunt, or to save for the future. It’s most often made of suckling pig, and sometimes chicken. First, the meat is rubbed with an achiote paste, marinated overnight in sour orange juice, and then wrapped in banana leaves, and cooked in an earthen pit known as the pib. The pib cooks the meat and suffuses it with smoke.
Tamales
a traditional dish made with the starchy, corn based dough that is popular in the Yucatan, and steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf. You don’t eat the outside wrapper, that is just for cooking purposes, but you can add any kinds of fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses or chilis, whatever your tastes are in the mood for! This Yucatan food is one of the most ancient dishes in Mesoamerica, possibly dating back to 8000 BC.
Ceviche
This dish is made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with a choice of peppers. Additional seasonings, such as chopped onions, salt, or cilantro, may also be added. Ceviche is usually accompanied by side dishes that complement its flavors, such as sweet potato, lettuce, corn or avocado.
Ceviche has a great variety of taste and look because it can be made of countless different sea creatures.
There are tons of other dishes that you can try while in the Yucatan, like empanadas, quesadillas, burritos, queso relleno and more! This is just a sampling of the ones you may be less familiar with as they haven’t been replicated in the states as often. If you need help finding some restaurants with good ratings and close to the location you’re staying visit The 15 Best Restaurants in Tulum, The 10 Best Restaurants Near the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya or The 10 Best Riviera Maya Restaurants 2016.
Yucatan food is great for all it’s flavor and variety, but especially because it can be made to order and easily fit any person’s likes and dislikes. If you ever visit one of the Riviera Maya resorts, try one, or all of these great restaurants and amazing dishes of Yucatan food!
oaxaca mole sauce I have ever had. In another section, sushi lovers won’t want to miss the nice variety ofThere is a large variety of fresh fruit and yougurt. there is a section with freshly baked pastries of all varieties. I recommend the chocolate croissants. then the there are the endless rows of chafing dishes heaped with red and green chilaquiles, quiche, sausages, and dozen things I can’t remember. On certain days there will be chicken in the best sushi rolls.
This does all come at a price. The last time we were there the weak peso had brought the price back under $20 US. There is discount for early morning or late (I think after 11:30) whenever you do it , you won’t be needing lunch. One last tip, it seems to come and go at different times of the year, but ask the concierge if they are selling meal packages. The best deal is six breakfasts and six lunches/dinners. For the best value, you could share the tickets with a group and use all the breakfasts for the Cafe del Lago and all the Lunch/Dinners for dinners. Read a funny story about how Vidanta solved the bird problem
