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Stables Ranch Grill at Otero Ranch

8/28/2015

Tubac, Arizona in 2014

Golf Resort?

Don and I were headed to Bisbee, AZ. We saw Tubac on the map and remembered hearing there was something historic and artsy about this community... and we were hungry for lunch.

I prefer old roadside diners or curious cafes in historic hotels. A restaurant at a golf resort doesn't usually sound like a "dining adventure" to me. But this lovely resort was located on the Otero Ranch, established in 1789. We could eat and absorb a little history!

Lunch in the Old Stables!

We walked through the lovely fountain courtyard and into the Stables Ranch Grille. It wasn't just a cute name, the building once housed the horses used by the Otero Family and Spanish settlers, working the ranch. The old stone floor was original.

Beams and Arches

I'm not sure when the other rooms were added on, but the brick arches and wood beams made it all blend. We moved to the back, for window seats!

As you can see it was not crowded. In fact we were the only diners, which seems to happen to us a lot when we travel off season. It was early May, with perfect weather, but we didn't see a golfer in sight.

Dining View

What we did see were the Santa Rita Mountains and a picturesque view of a pond, white fencing and cows in the distance!

Private Dining

Don was pretty delighted with his fish tacos, with pineapple-mango slaw on pickled jalepeno tortillas. My apricot chicken salad with walnuts was like dessert! But as yummy as the food was, I'll remember the staff more. Our friendly waiter was excited to see Don's wallet made of stingray skin. He'd been hoping to get some stingray cowboy boots. The hostess was chatty when I showed enthusiasm about our view. When she pulled out the vacuum a while later and got to work before we

finished eating, I wasn't even annoyed. (That usually bugs me!) Our private dining was as comfortable as if we were eating at a friend's house... who had chores to catch up on!

The Bar

I had to take a stroll into the bar, where the only other customer was hanging out. He didn't seem so amused when the bartender invited me to try out one of the saddles... or I would have invited him to pose! The bartender wasn't old enough to remember when John Wayne used to come to this bar, but he was around when Kevin Costner and Rene Russo hung out, during the filming of the movie, Tin Cup.

A Lucky Find

It's always fun to have an unplanned adventure which involves good food and nice atmosphere and a little history. I think if I was going to plan a visit in the future, I'd aim for dinner, with a view of the sunset and a few more diners to liven the place up. Of course I wouldn't mind having Kevin Costner join us at the table. Of I'd even go along with the ghost of John Wayne... of Mr. Otero!

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Lunch in Tombstone, AZ

8/26/2015

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Saloon Options in Tombstone

I'm embarrassed to even say I went to Tombstone, but we did in the spring of 2014.

It was early, so the there were more people dressed like this, than tourists with their newly purchased cowboy hats.

Which Saloon for Lunch?

I liked the name Crystal Palace, so I told Don we should go there.

All Men?

There seemed to be only men at the Palace. (That is a man with the long blond hair) And most of them had their heads bowed down at the bar. I don't think they were praying. I don't even think they were texting. I'll tell you later what I think they were doing.

A Manly Kind of Place

Maybe it was the macho moose..elk head or whatever that was, that attracted the men. Or the tall ceiling with bullet holes? That's attractive to men, especially tall ones, who can spot those holes in the tin, while they chuckle about their own gun mishaps.

Of course the gal at the door wearing the black & red, Frederick's of Hollywood get-up, couldn't have had anything to do with the number of men in the place.

Beer or Lunch?

It was early, but we were hungry and there were indeed people ordering food. "Maybe we should just sit at the old bar, for the real experience." I told Don. "We can have a beer and decide if we want to go all out and have lunch." You can be like that when you're on vacation.

People Watching

So we sat near the end of the bar where there was some good people watching. Maybe not as fun as this old image of the bar, but we did watch an incredibly old man in a cowboy hat leave his stool. At first I thought he was doing a slow-motion, soft shoe dance to amuse the costumed hostess. But then I realized his arms were held out for balance and his slow, toe to heel, sideways shuffle across the worn wood floor was just the way he moved...until he grabbed hold of the railing.

Where to Look?

Our barmaid wandered down to take our order and it was all I could do to keep from busting out in giggles. Her body, squished into her little outfit was like a cartoon drawing. When she returned and leaned in with the beers, it was as if she also was offering a plate with 2 mounds of jello hors d'oeuvres. I'm not kidding. It was weird. Again, I wanted to laugh, but her icy expression seemed to be saying, "Don't even look at them!"

So I stared forward at the bar mirror, which reflected a raunchy old-style painting from the opposite wall. And then a quick glance at the fine calendar tacked to the wood and I realized, we were being served by Miss April!

Looking Down

So all those men gazing downward, were either so incredibly intimidated by Miss April's eye-rolling attitude or they were all texting photos of her to their friends. That better not be what Don was doing! I wish I'd had the guts to get a closer picture of her because I truly wanted to study how she fit into that corset thing!

Conversing with Miss April

I started to feel sorry for Miss April. Probably no women will ever talk to her. And men are either rude to her or are too intimidated to speak. So I struck up a conversation. I stupidly asked about the history of the saloon.

She answered in monotone and pointed to bullet holes above. I should have just gone ahead and asked her the question I really wanted an answer for. "That contraption, that is lifting your boobs up in such a comical way. .. does that thing make you feel like you're in a middle-aged nightmare and trapped forever in a Mammogram machine?" She would have probably sighed, "Mammo-what, Honey?"

Big Nose Kate's

We finished our beers and moved on. The tough guys in black, at the entrance to Big Nose Kate's Saloon, seemed much less intimidating.

A Friendlier Place!

The vibe was touristy, but totally comfortable at this saloon!

A Nice Change

It was all noisy, crowded and sort of silly in the spacious saloon. But we had a great time, seated up on a raised area where we could enjoy more people watching! I was feeling mighty content and relaxed as we shared a Rueben sandwich and some chili. Some man from a nearby table stopped by our table to comment about my pleasant smile. I'm past flirting years and he was mannerly and not drunk. Which makes that comment all the more confusing. Was I radiating some kind of grinning relief because I was far, far away from Miss April?

Oh Those Silly Tourists

There were a lot of middle aged tourists having a grand old time, posing behind the bar or even on top of the old player piano. Such silliness! Then I reminded myself of all the goof ball things I do with posing and cameras. I guess I won't make fun.

"Locals"

So as we listened to the live music and counted all the cowboy hats and chuckled over a few tourist babies nearby, we also took in a few of the "locals" dressed in sheriff and outlaw attire. Don and I had such a short visit to Tombstone, we never quite grasped what the place was about. It's not like we paid a fee to come into an "Old West" theme park with paid actors. How does all this work?
We'll have to figure it out next time!

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Harborside Restaurant in 2014

8/24/2015

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Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach, CA

I love the word pavilion. It conjures up images of spacious grand structures, where fun things happen. The Balboa Pavilion has been having some fun since it opened on Newport Bay in 1906.

Ferry from the Island

Don and I were visiting Balboa island in May of 2014, when we realized we could catch the ferry across the bay to the iconic waterfront pavilion and recreation area.

It was a pretty fun little trip, watching the sailboats and glide by. We could see the ferris wheel, palms and the flag waving on the top of the ornate cupola.

Best Approach

Seeing the pavilion from the water, was ideal. You could imagine the ballroom on the second level, where there was no charge for dancing, unless you wanted to dance in the roped off area in the center. In the 1930's, during the Big Band Era, Goodman, Basie and the Dorseys played here. There were also dance marathons in the ballroom, where contestants danced until they could dance no more!

A Bathhouse!
I've always been curious about the seaside bathhouse world at the turn of the century. When I visit nearby Galveston, I have to just imagine those Victorian structures. They're all gone.

It was just an hour ride on the new Pacific Electric Railway from downtown Los Angeles in 1906. The whole lower floor was a bathhouse, so travelers could change from their city clothes for a day at the beach. There were even options for renting bathing suits. For those who would rather look at bathing suits, in the 1920's there were bathing suit parades with judges of course.

Today

The look is not so impressive today. But at least the pavilion continues to run. And there was a very cute Balboa Bakery on the corner with a fun old Donuts sign.

Harborside Restaurant

The entrance on the street is a little too modernized for my taste, but at least there was a restaurant on the lower level, so we could enjoy the once grand place.

Bar and Restaurant

My bar image is not too impressive, with tourists on cell phones and ball caps. Not one of those long striped bathing suits in sight anywhere! But we took a window seat and ordered some wine and 4-dollar small plates to celebrate the "Longest Happy Hour in Town" (11-7)

It would have been fun to have dined there at night with dim lighting, so we could imagine the Victorian crowds or the gambling and dancing crowds that came in later years. But, how could we complain? We had a "lunch" for a few bucks and a window where we could watch kids taking sailing lessons, or a mini parade of flag covered yachts.

A Step Back in Time?

Our dining adventure at the Pavilion didn't really give take us back in time to experience a different era. (too many tourists around us) But the world we watched from our table, was just as foreign as a different time period. Someday I'll have a dining adventure on a sailboat or yacht!

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Bear Wallow Cafe

8/24/2015

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Alpine, Arizona in 2014

Don and I were on the road headed towards Winslow, when we made a stop for lunch at this fine place. We were still chuckling a bit as we entered, because we had just noticed a truck flying by on Highway 180, with a gas hose flapping from the side of the truck.

Wood Covered Cafe

We passed the fine sign with the bear weathervane, then climbed onto the porch, noticing an awful lot of banners with "POW- MIA" and "Don't Tread on Me" thoughts. The inside reminders, "No Bikes on the Porch" and "No Cell Phones" didn't seem too welcoming, but we got a nice greeting from staff.

Screen Door and Knotty Pine!

I love a screened door, propped open with a half a brick, especially when there are moose and bear images involved. And I do love knotty pine! The pine walls were covered in photos! Good for browsing.

Cluttered and Cozy!

Stools, booths, lights hanging from antlers, brown & tan tile below and shiny wood above! What a welcoming sight, just inside that door!

Where to Sit?

We chose the back "sunroom" with booths along a windowed wall. The tables provided cozy seating and a view. I was also hopeful about a good people encounter, since the man in overalls looked like he might know the local gossip.

A View and Gossip

First we enjoyed the view below, of some hunter's cabins and some trees that hadn't realized it was spring, yet. Then we had a chance to meet Rick, who sat behind Don. "Looks like you two are a long way from home." You have to love that line. When he heard we were headed for Winslow said, "Oh, I'm sorry." We had to fill him in about the Harvey House Hotel we were excited about. He came around.

Rick told us he'd been coming to Bear Wallow since he was about 5 years old. He knew the area well and gave us some suggestions for scenic roads and historic towns. Our chatty waitress got in on the conversation. She and Rick had already heard about the truck that ran away with the gas hose!

Food and History

Rick had recommended the Half and Half Chili. It was a great mix of regular and green chili...with lots of onion! Don had a burger which was pretty basic. We read the menu, hoping for some history of the cafe, but learned more about Alpine's history. No wonder I was feeling woozy. Alpine is at 8,050 feet!

Taller Than Don

I made Don do a quick pose with the chainsaw bear near the porch. The words "Bear Wallow Cafe" were barely visible on the fish, held by the paws. Sweet old bear at a funny old place.

We always like to catch the unusual places, before it's too late and they're suddenly gone. I have a feeling Bear Wallow isn't going anywhere soon.

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Home Cookin' By the Cake Lady

8/19/2015

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Mount Vernon, Texas

This was quite a little find at the beginning of our road trip last fall. The window on the left said Home Cookin' and the window on the right said The Cake Lady.
I still don't know which is the name.

A Tiny Town

We were headed from Fort Worth, Texas to Hot Springs, Arkansas. This 2-lane road was not the fastest route, but Don loves an old highway and he was intrigued with Highway 67, which starts in Presidio, TX and ends around Davenport, Iowa.

Alp Cafe

It was a Sunday, and small town cafes are often closed. But we spotted an old blue neon sign that said "Alp Cafe" and there seemed to be a car in the lot.

The sign itself was worth the stop.

Flag and Curtains

You never know what you might find when you venture into a little cafe on the edge of town. And the last thing you want to do is walk in and insult the owners by not staying. But the curtains in the window and the un-tattered flag seemed to be a good sign. Plus there was a big tree in back with a glimpse of a wooden deck. This must be good.

Donna, the Cake Lady

I have no pics of the omelet and fried eggs we ordered. They were fine, but the chatty owner Donna was the finest. She'd just been open 6 months, but seemed mighty happy with things so far. She had 7 kids and 27 grandkids and figured if she was always going to be cooking anyway, she might as well open a restaurant. As for her name... people started calling her The Cake Lady for the delicious treats she used to sell on the town square.

A Little History

We asked about The Alp Cafe sign and Donna said that was the original name. The old sign recently was discovered in a river and rescued.

The Alp, was a 24-hour joint back in the 1930's. Donna said she'd heard a lot of wild stories about the men who headed over to the Alp late at night... after taking their dates home. At that time there had been no bathroom, so the customers had to go over to the filling station. You can see the building next door, with the restroom doors on the side. I'm sure there's still a worn path between the two buildings...but I didn't really want to look.

Daily Special

The cook, who may have been a relative, rang the bell a few times to announce an order. That was sort of amusing, since for most of the time we were the only customers. I should have

taken that bell sound as a signal and looked up at that window. I would have made a wiser choice with my order! We had chosen breakfast since it was before noon, but we could have had the $6.95 special! It was an amazing platter of stuffed pork chops, green beans and dressing!

Next Time! We'll have to come back and catch up on more news with Donna and for sure get the daily special.

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Las Brisas in Laguna Beach

8/19/2015

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Going Down Memory Lane

I try not to clutter my dining blog with touristy places that you can read about on Yelp. But for nostalgia's sake, I need to throw out a few words about Las Brisas!

Now

This is a photo I took in May 2014. I don't have a photo from the early 1980's when Don and I lived up the road often walked to the restaurant for Happy Hours on the patio. At that time it had just been open a couple years, as Las Brisas.

Way Back

Back in 1938, when Laguna Beach was a more isolated beach town, the building with its grand ocean view, was the Victor Hugo Inn. That was long before Don and I used to come. It was also before O.J. Simpson used to frequent the place. It's a little creepy that we hung out at Las Brisas about the same time period that he did.

Happy Hour in 2014

A year ago, it was an even shorter walk from our hotel to Happy Hour than our walks from home 30+ years earlier. It was early evening, and blue umbrellas were shading us from the hot sun. I was glad to see the blue and white theme was still happening.

The patio was as packed as we remembered. Back in the '80's, you had to be sly and quick to grab a table. I also remember only eating Mexican food. The menu had expanded and we enjoyed some excellent sushi.

Another Visit

We were in town a week, so we headed over again on the evening of Cinco de Mayo. At least one of us had to have a margarita to celebrate the occasion.

Getting Chilly

I knew I was back in California, when my brow felt damp from the hot sun... until the sun began to lower and I felt a shiver of cool!

In a matter of minutes, the staff was running around, turning up the flames of the standing heaters and lighting the fire pit.

Mariachis on Cinco de Mayo!

I don't recall seeing mariachis at Las Brisas in the past! But suddenly we were surrounded! Perfecto!

We requested our favorite song "Malaguena" which requires at least one very decent singer, who can hold notes for a long time! These guys got a good tip!

One More Visit

I paid one more visit to Las Brisas, on an early morning run. I snapped a cell phone pic and sighed at the old favorite with the wonderful view of the Pacific.

Empty

It was odd to see the place empty, especially the tiled table that circled the fire pit. So many had gathered around that pit on the other evenings.

Bette Davis... a Few Days Later

After leaving Laguna Beach and heading back to Texas, we stopped at a hotel. As always, I checked to see if the hotel TV got the Turner Classic Movie station. It did, and what should be playing, but the 1942 film, "Now Voyager" starring Bette Davis. In this scene she is seated on the patio of the old Victor Hugo Inn... in just about the same spot as the fire pit! Small world! I love it!

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Lunch at the Mission!

8/17/2015

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The Mission Inn Hotel - Riverside, California

My last entry was about a surprising lunch, when Don and I found ourselves dining at a lovely hotel in Guatemala. It reminded me of another surprise lunch... in an old hotel!

Stopping While on the Road

Don and I were traveling and needed food. We weren't looking for a big dining adventure, and we had zero interest in getting off the highway to see Riverside. In the 1980's we lived not far from Riverside and our vague memories were of a worn out, smoggy community. But a quick glance at Trip Advisor while in the car, caused me to shout at Don, "Quick, exit here! We should try this place!"

A Massive Hotel with Flying Buttresses

Stopping for lunch gave us a chance to explore this rather impressive hotel that took up more than a city block. We wandered the exterior, which we learned later, had incorporated elements of all 21 California Missions. I'm not sure which old mission had "flying buttresses", but this hotel had a few propping up the structure. I still remember the first time I heard that term. "Those are flying buttresses." My older brother told me as he pointed to the oddly shaped, marble things jutting out of the side of a cathedral. I was 11 and most of his teasing was done with a straight face.

Side Entrance

We walked a bit and headed to the side entrance, way from the main street. We walked by a giant birdcage with some noisy parrots and a number of huge antique bells on display. As we headed towards the door, a stylish woman of about 70 paused and greeted with a pleasant expression. "My, but don't you two just look like million dollar travelers!" Her smile seemed genuine, there was no hint of sarcasm and her speech wasn't slurred, so Don and I smiled back with our thanks and tried not fret over how odd that was.

Las Campanas

There were quite a few options for lunch, but we couldn't resist the first outdoor patio we saw. The restaurant, Las Campanas, which means "the bells", was named for the grand collection of rare and ornamental bells that can be found throughout the hotel grounds. Mostly we were attracted by a trickling fountain and the tall shady palms.

Peaceful and Cool

We hardly needed the table umbrellas for shade. There were arbors and umbrella-shaped palms high above. The tile covered cafe tables seemed perfect for the Spanish style setting.

History

It wasn't until we popped open our wooden menu that we started reading about the history of these amazing bells and the Inn. Frank Miller opened a 2-story, 12 room, adobe boarding house in 1876. By the 1890's Riverside was the richest city per capita in the U.S. (Who would've guessed?) In 1903, big expansions on the building began and the hotel (which was owned by the Millers until 1956) now has 238 rooms!

Bells!

In our little dining patio, we had a nice view of a few of the 400 bells that decorate the property. The Miller family at one time had collected 800 bells! The oldest bell is from 1247.

Lunchtime!

Las Campanas is known for its Mexican cuisine, so Don went for the Carnitas with roasted pork and Guajillo mole, guacamole, beans and rice. I had an open face quesadilla with Monterey Jack, queso fresco, avocado, cilantro pesto, arugula and pico de gallo. It all tasted as fresh and and pleasing as the garden atmosphere where we dined. (Funny, because all we remembered about Riverside 35 years earlier... was the smog!)

Hotel

We explored the hotel after lunch and I can't begin to describe the extravagance of the place, where Bette Davis and President Nixon were both married...not to each other! This hotel has been on my list and someday, I'll hopefully have it on my Notable Night Blog List!

The Dining We Missed

Our exploring lead us to a number of indoor dining rooms that were very impressive. And then there was the enchanting courtyard with bright red umbrellas and flowers tumbling from balconies and a much grander stone fountain in the center. Oh man! I wish we had explored first and eaten out there. As for the more formal dining, those places can wait until we return for an overnight!

Till Next Time

Don and I headed for the car with images of all these crazy details in our heads. To think we had nearly pulled out the jar of peanut butter at a rest stop! I love traveling and the finds you make along the way. But I have to hand it to Trip Advisor for this one, or we would have never stopped!

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A Lovely Lunch in Guatemala

8/12/2015

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Hotel Atitlan at Panajachel

Don and I spent 2 weeks in Guatemala and we did not expect any cloth napkin meals. Most of our meals were cooked on a wood-burning stove by our home-stay host. But our lunch at this lovely hotel was a surprise treat!

Getting There

We had taken the shuttle boat from San Pedro to visit the village of Panajachel for the day. At the dock we flagged down a tuc-tuc and mentioned something about "Hotel Atitlan" thinking it was just an area we wanted to visit.

A Lovely Hotel

Our little 3-wheeler had to stop at a gate to enter the hotel grounds which included botanical gardens. We had to pay a fee, but were told it would be reimbursed if we dined at the hotel. This wasn't at all where we thought we were going, but the lush growth surrounding this lovely "hacienda" was hard to pass up. Even the lobby was a treat with all the beams and colorful walls and tile-work.

Through the Bar

The bar was empty at lunch on a Monday, but the daylight made it easy to see the colorful decor and curious bar and fireplace.

Terrace Dining

The hostess walked us through a large and intriguing dining room with cages of macaws and small flittering birds. There were spacious tables near windows overlooking gardens, but we were drawn to the patio seating with all the colorful napkins and cushioned chairs. (In 2 weeks, we never adjusted to the flat wooden chairs in every home and restaurant)

Ahhhh!

For most of our lunch we had the patio to ourselves.

Water View

We had a view of both the luxuriously empty pool and Lake Atitlan.

And...

There was another glorious view with clay birdhouses hanging above a colorful assortment of flowers and a hazy mountain background!

Then There Was Lunch

Our waiter arrived with a white shirt and bow-tie and handed us menus, covered in Guatemalan woven fabric. I was feeling unworthy in my "camp clothes", but our waiter made us feel more than welcome. Luckily Don's Spanish was good enough to communicate our wishes, since English speaking guests are not the norm.

Our food arrived, looking as festive as the hotel gardens. Don's salad was full of surprises tucked into avocado halves, which were surrounded with tropical fruits. My chicken empanadas came with a fresh chopped salad and black bean soup on the side. We enjoyed the "just enough" sized lunch with a little wine and some bread and butter. That was a real treat since I'd been served corn tortillas with every meal since arrival.

Exploring!

There's nothing better to me than following a good meal with a little wandering. First we wandered inside. It's hard to see how cute "Ladies Room" door was, with handwoven doll as a sign. I also loved the wall of mugs that we passed!

Gardens!

And then we wandered through the gardens where we found lovely stone paths, benches, large cages of tropical birds, and an island with a tiny rooster house and flowers and flowers and flowers!

Good-Bye

We headed back up from the gardens, passing the patio where we'd eaten. I took a look at the distant hotel accommodations and made mental notes. Someday?

Bit of Paradise

We rode our tuc-tuc back into the village and spent the rest of our day bartering over prices at shops and dodging the overly aggressive salespeople. We had fun, but it made our memory of lunch at the hotel, all the sweeter. Hope to stay longer next time!

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Ruthies Garifuna Cuisine

8/7/2015

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On the Honduran Island of Roatan

Ruthie's is not exactly a dining destination for the tourists who come to Roatan by cruise ship. It's not a place you pass by on your way to the beaches or diving centers. Ruthie's is in the Garifuna village of Punta Gorda, in the northeastern part of the island. The settlement began in 1797, when 3,000 Afro-Caribbeans were deported by the British, from the island of San Vincente. Today it is a somewhat isolated fishing village with its' own language and culture... and I was eager to sample some Garifuna food!

Directions... with a Machete

Don and I had Jorge, as our wonderful guide for the second day of our visit. He is a native of Roatan, but his ancestors were "Paya Indians, Spanish and a little of everything else". He was happy to include Punta Gorda in our plans for the day, but he needed some local help for directions once we arrived. Don and I watched the local man point out directions with his machete. Luckily we we've seen a lot of machetes used as a cutting tool in recent travels... or we might have been less relaxed about the gesture.

Ruthie's

It wasn't quite 11:00 yet and there had just been a huge downpour. Things were pretty quiet as if the whole village was still asleep. But we saw a couple people sitting under the shady palapa near the "Ruthies" sign, so we approached with crossed fingers.

Lunch?

No one exactly jumped up to greet us. But one of the women pointed to the back deck, so we helped ourselves to a stack of chairs and found a table with a view. That's a little silly to say, since there were no "view-less" tables.

Don and Jorge took a seat and I just had to roam for a bit. I took this photo from the end of the the deck, near an open window which opened up to the tiny kitchen. It already felt like we'd intruded a bit, so I forced myself not to stick my head in to see what was going on.

Peaceful

The water was calm after the morning rain. I wondered about the narrow "kayuko" tied to the side of the covered dock. Who used that boat? Where did they go once they got in the boat?

Home From School

Directly below us, I heard the voices of 2 little boys speaking Garifuna. Since children on the island either go to school in the morning or afternoon, I guessed these kids were done with school for the day. I have some fun memories of walking home from school when I was a child, but I never got to wade through waters of the Caribbean!

Island Time

There was no doubt about it, we were in a world where time moved slowly. And that worked perfectly for us. Don and I ordered Honduran beers, Barena and Salva Vida.

There were no menus, but Ruthie told us what she could serve that day. Yellowtail was the catch of the day and she could make "Machuca". I had heard about that Garifuna soup made with coconut milk and fish. I was game. As Jorge told us stories of growing up on the island, (long before developers and tourists) we could hear noises coming from the little kitchen window. It was an almost comical slapping-thunking sound that came from that small room. "She's pounding your plantains for your soup." Jorge laughed.

Served with a Smile!

We enjoyed every minute of our long wait for our meal. Ruthie had done all the work herself in that tiny kitchen. We finally got a big smile out of her when we mentioned seeing her name on the internet. "You're famous!" We announced. Not too famous, because I keep trying to find that piece of info I read weeks ago about her restaurant and I can't find it! But she seemed pleased to know we'd heard of her.

Fish with a Smile

Actually Don's smile, could be seen as an expression of panic. But his past business trips to Japan have prepared him for things much scarier looking than this fish. Maybe that fish is smiling on the plate... or he should be, because the plate decoration makes him look like he has legs... which is funny. Don did a good job with his fish and gave Ruthie lots of praise.

Machuca with Kingfish

Okay, this photo display hardly looks appetizing, but I loved every bit about this meal, starting with the retro flowered china. Don shared his rice and fried plantain, which was served in a Tupperware style container. I spooned chunks of plantain mash and squeezes of lime into my funny looking soup. Then I was treated to a smooth and flavorful slurp of sweet coconut milk broth. The kingfish was fresh and melt-in-you-mouth yummy. And I'm not a huge fish lover!

Coming to Life

After finishing and lingering, Ruthie placed a paper napkin on our table with $25. written in marker. Who knows if that's what locals are charged. But we got plenty for that price and she messed up her kitchen just for us. I asked her how to say "Thank you" in Garifuna. I can't remember what it was, but I she laughed when I tried to repeat it to her. We headed out to the street and stopped to chat with the men who had just started up a game of dominoes. "Who's winning!" I asked. Which is a really dumb question since they hadn't started. But the man in the white shirt with stripes, was more than happy to announce that he was the winner!

Heading Off

We climbed into the van and pulled away from the curb just in time to see Ruthie coming out the door to wave with a big grin. Maybe she was acknowledging our tip. Or maybe it was her

afternoon personality just kicking in! I would love to visit Ruthie's in the evening when locals might be filling up the tables. But no complaints. I loved our quiet little visit, with lots of time to enjoy!

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