Seafood Pleasures

The state of Jalisco is well-known for seafood, and most eateries will showcase their best recipes from the very start of the meal. The appetizer pictured above is a fine example.

On the left, a Lobster Taco with cilantro remoulade and carrot slaw; on the right, Seafood Ceviche with shrimp, squid, and scallop ceviche, marinated in lime and Mexican salsa.

These appetizers were served at Las Casitas Restaurant within the CasaMagna Marriott.

Both were delicious, but the lobster taco stood out as one of the best things I ate in Puerto Vallarta.

The resorts here are spending money to bring in top chefs from larger cities and from places like Lima, which is becoming a culinary capital in Latin America. But the chefs who come here work hard to integrate Jalisco favorites with their inviting, delicious creations.

San Lorenzo Bread

Latin American pastries usually don't garner a lot of attention.

So San Lorenzo Bread was an unusual find. These soft, fresh rolls are filled with just enough cream cheese to get some of the filling in every bite -- but not so much that they become sloppy to eat.

These rolls were found at Mi Pueblito Restaurant and Bar on the beach, adjacent to the Playa Los Arcos Hotel Beach Resort and Spa.

But if you should visit a bakery in Jalisco state, ask if they offer San Lorenzo Bread.

It's a unique and budget-friendly treat.

Catch of the Day

Walking along the Malecón, which is the stone walkway that parallels the beach in the central part of Puerto Vallarta, you will see many food items for sale. The Catch of the Day is usually displayed alongside attractive prices.

Remember that long before Puerto Vallarta was a resort, it derived much of its collective income from fishing. The most common catches here are mahi-mahi, red snapper, small tuna, yellowfin tuna, small sailfish, grouper, and mackerel.

Buyer beware: Some sales stalls, including the one pictured above, display fish in the tropical sun without ice.

Puerto Vallarta Chocolate

This fact might catch you off-guard: Jalisco chocolate is well-known and highly sought among shoppers here.

Many think about Europe as a destination for fine chocolates, but cacao was first cultivated in this part of the world about 1500 B.C. It had a place in Mayan and Aztec ceremonies and was even used as currency.

Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates is a shop in what is called Puerto Vallarta's Romantic Zone (Ródolfo Gomez 118) and the owners offer a look at how their creations come together as well as a wide variety of flavors and products.

Cold packaging is available for those who want to carry Puerto Vallarta chocolate through the tropical heat to a lucky recipient back home.

Here's a luxurious little treat that's unique to the destination -- a treat for which you'll only pay a few U.S. dollars unless you get carried away with the variety of sweets on display.

Tortas - A Traditional Mexican Sandwich

Tortas, or Mexican sandwiches, represent another inexpensive treat. They can be filled with lettuce and vegetables or fried beef slices, as pictured here.

Tortas rarely cost more than a few U.S. dollars and can make for a quick, inexpensive meal. The same is true, as one might expect, of tacos in Jalisco. They are readily available and rarely cost more than a few pesos.

Every 15 days, Puerto Vallarta hosts a street festival in the small park and pavilion near the Malecon arches and the Naval History Museum. This celebration includes the work of local chefs, who sell small portions of their favorite specialties, and a Mexican Folk Festival called Verbena Popular that features a local dance company performing traditional favorites.

The food portions are much like tapas in Spain, but this Comida Típica isn't always so typical.

Some of the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta showcase their latest menu creations. It's a chance for budget travelers to inexpensively sample these treats and perhaps audition a restaurant or two for later splurges.

Check locally to see if that 15th day will coincide with your itinerary.

A few restaurants here are worthy of consideration for splurge meals on your budget trip. If you follow sound budget travel strategies for dining, you've saved money on other meals so you can afford to enjoy at least one fine dining experience that will reveal the specialties and culture of your destination.

In Puerto Vallarta, many of the top restaurants are associated with a hotel or resort.

Here are a few possible splurge-dining options in Puerto Vallarta:

Gaviotas in the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort offers Mexican gourmet fare just steps from the beach, with outdoor and covered dining options available. A specialty is the five-course meal, complete with fresh seafood and a light desserts.

La Corona Cocina de Autor in the Villa Premiere Hotel is open only for dinner and specializes in international fusion offerings. Shorts and beachwear will not fit the dress code here.

Diners at Mi Pueblito Restaurant and Bar in the Playa Los Arcos Hotel Beach Resort and Spa enjoy a terrace view of the beach and bay as they bite into Mexican specialties as well as international fare.

Las Casitas in the CasaMagna Marriott is open for all three meals and offers a view of the beach. Gourmet Mexican dishes punctuate the dinner menu, but during the day you can bite into pancakes, sandwiches and some rich desserts.

River Café also is open for all three meals, and can be found in Puerto Vallarta's Isla Rio section. The romantic atmosphere serves as a fine backdrop for entrees such as Roasted Spring Chicken and Grilled Sonora Rib Eye.

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