Category Archives: Mexican

A little Akumal, Mexico eatery called Gynn’Ak

Posted on by
3

Hi, I’m back!

I went from Las Vegas, Nevada (stayed at the Cosmopolitan Hotel)

and then to Akumal, Mexico

It was my last spring break ever, so I figured I’d get two great spots in.

I apologize for my absence, but once I get the time back, I’ll be devoting much more time to TFG. I missed you all!

Some things I came back with from SB 2012:

  • a nice sunburn patch on my shin
  • a beautiful seashell Ryan found on the beach for me
  • some sand in my suitcase
  • relaxed muscles due to a beachside massage (thanks Laura!)
  • and finally a more functional left foot. (hallelujah)

I’ve got so many exciting posts for you all, so first we have:

Gynn’AK (pronunced [jean-awk]) <— ha don’t laught at my phonetics

Where: Akumal, Mexico

What: Thai/Mexican cuisine

A quaint little 5ish table restaurant in the heart of Akumal, Mexico rests Gynn’AK, the culinary product of Gynna Sainz. Cousin of Ryan Wolfe (my boyfriend), Gynna has been cooking for a long time and was formally trained at culinary school as well. She started out as a caterer and private chef, but she’s now open for business and is also rated #1 on Trip Adivsor.

She cooks the food, she seats you and her doggies and kitties will happily join you at your feet. It’s a warm place (quite literally) for an ice cold ginger lemonade and her house special: the lion fish. I started off with the hibiscus tea, better known as “Agua de Jamaica” if you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about.

Lion fish have said to have been released from an aquarium somewhere, and they now take over the seas in places like Akumal. Because their spines are poisonous, they dominate most sea life. Gynna and her family took it upon themselves to hunt each and every lion fish down, and she even serves it up at her restaurant.

I was all fished-out, so I went with her coconut curry chicken tacos with a side of the (amazing) Thai slaw. The slaw was the best part–slightly tangy with a crunch.

If you’re lucky, she will serve you the food herself. If you’re luckier, she’ll take a break from her lunch rush to sit and eat a bite herself:

Be sure to stop by if you’re near the Riviera Maya.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

 

Austin, Texas: Abel’s by the Lake, waffle shots, Maudie’s and Rudy’s BBQ

Posted on by
2

Sunday evenings. One of my favorite times of the week. A time to relax, be productive, eat good food, catch up on tv shows and be with your loved ones.

Tonight I’m blogging from my house in Austin, where I’ve spent the weekend eating lots of great food, being with friends, hanging by the pool, bar hopping on 6th street, snuggling with my pups and getting in some quality time with my parents. I feel lucky to get to come home here to Lake Austin and luckier I’m only a 200 mile drive away!

After hitting some of the fun Austin places I knew would be popular amongst the friends from SMU who had never been to Austin before, I realized I’ve never blogged about these places! I eat at the same places in Austin, but have never thought to blog about them since it’s nothing new for me. THAT is something I am going to work on in both Austin and Dallas to bring you more reviews here at That Foodie Girl.

First stop was Rudy’s BBQ.

Let me just say I ate/drank many things I have not consumed in months…time for detox week before Las Vegas this weekend! I had a brisket sandwich.

Morning after 6th street activities was brunch at Abel’s on the Lake.

I had only been for lunch, so the mimosas and egg dishes were a treat to someone who lives for brunch (you’re looking at this girl right here). It was a beautiful morning on the lake, sun was shining and there’s no better spot to brunch than on Lake Austin. I had their veggie frittata:

It came with a bit too much parmesan and was a bit bland for my taste, but it was pretty much the healthiest item on their menu. Speaking of healthy, Ryan had their special for the day, their chicken fried steak (I think so?). Health aside, it was necessary due to the activities that were indulged in the previous evening.

And finally, a super special brunch item that was really pushed by the waitress. Their “waffle shot” that supposedly tastes just like waffles.

That’s a shot of Jameson, chased by a gulp of OJ, then a bite of bacon. In that order only. The verdict? He said it tastes like whiskey paired with OJ and bacon. No waffles involved.

And finally, my family’s favorite, Maudie’s Tex Mex.

I had their chicken fajitas and a skinny margarita. And too many chips and queso. But hey, you only live once right? That’s what I was telling myself this weekend. It’s ok to cheat every now and then.

We rounded the night out with a trip to the movie theater to see Project X. It was horrible. Don’t waste your money. I felt sick afterwards due to the handheld camera work and copious amounts of drugs and alcohol (that was occurring in the movie obviously, haha).

Enjoy the last moments of your weekend!

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Newest Mexican restaurant in Dallas: Mr. Mesero

Posted on by
4

Mr. Mesero

What: Mexican

Where: Uptown Dallas

Yes, my last post was an announcement of Mr. Mesero’s arrival on McKinney Avenue. But today I got the pleasure of actually tasting the food. It’s owned by restaurateur Mico Rodriguez (Mi Cocina, Mia’s, etc.) and it’s some delicious authentic Mexican food.

Whether you’re a Mi Cocina fan or not, this place rocks. The inside is clean, sleek and brightly lit, with friendly staff to go with it. The lunch hour was almost full, and it made for a great spot for conversation and great food.

Not only was the service fast, but the portions were perfect. Usually a Mexican lunch is overbearing because of it’s large and in charge sizes. Not here. It’s the perfect amount.

I had the grilled veggie tacos with a side of rice. The rice had little bits of carrots, and it was perfectly cooked (I love rice, can you tell?) On the side was their fresh slaw–cabbage, carrots and a few other veggies with a delicious dressing. I put the slaw in my tacos and it was a great combo with the warm veggies.

Not-so-authentic Mexican for our starter, we had their queso with spinach and artichoke. Let’s call it the Mexican version of spinach artichoke dip. It was really yummy with their large round fresh tortilla chips.

Another starter was the tapatias. Mini tacos with shredded brisket (?) and a little cheese and sour cream. They weren’t my cup of tea, but everyone else loved them.

Ryan had the enchiladas mexicanas–one with shredded beef with red sauce, the other with chicken and tomatillo sauce. Yum, yum, yum. Perfect amount, fresh and just perfection.

…and they convinced us to order dessert. Not sure what this one is, but it was moist and could almost be a chocolate tres leches cake, if that’s possible. Their desserts come from La Duni, so basically, they’re really good.

As if I couldn’t rave enough about this new Mexican (with a side of American) eatery, I went with my boyfriend and his mother who are both Mexican and even they were raving about the place and couldn’t believe the authenticity. It’s actually Mexican, people. But if you’re afraid of non-TexMex, they have some more “gringo friendly” options.

I also got the pleasure of meeting owner Mr. Rodriguez, and his presence at the restaurant was very inviting. The fact that he was there greeting guests and even back in the kitchen says a lot. Just go try it.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Foodie News: Mr. Mesero opens on McKinney Ave

Posted on by
Reply


(photo taken from the Dallas Observer)

Mr. Mesero

What: Mexican

Where: Uptown Dallas

Alright, maybe it’s not hot-off-the-press news, and maybe it’s been opened for 2 weeks. But who would have known?

Mr. Mesero is located on McKinney Avenue in the building Burger Girl used to be. Owned by Mr. Mico Rodriguez (of Mi Cocina fame), Mr. Mesero offers classic Mexican food with a hint of American food.

A great spot for lunch or dinner, I like what I see from the photos, and the food is supposed to be delicious.

Oh, and, the menu is really simple with very reasonable prices.

(full review coming soon!)

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Lol Ha, the best food in the Riviera Maya

Posted on by
2

Good morning, foodies!

Vegan week is over and I’m kind of sad. Last night I celebrated by eating a chicken sandwich and had some frozen yogurt, but I ended up feeling kind of guilty…weird. I can say that my week of being vegan definitely changed me. I felt lighter, never bloated, clean, healthy and energized. Although it was frustrating at times, for the most part, eating vegan made me realize it is possible. For now I will try to lead a well-balanced food life, switching between meat and meatless, dairy and dairy-less. If I can have a meat substitute or a soup without dairy, I know I will go for those options.

Now I can talk about other foods!

Lol-Ha

What: upscale Mexican and American

Where: Akumal, Mexico (Riviera Maya)

The best food south of Cancun. A 1.5 hour drive from the Cancun airport, rests a beautiful white sand beach town along the Riviera Maya called Akumal. A quaint quiet family town that was originally a coconut farm then a small yacht club, Akumal was founded in 1968 by Pablo Bush Romero, a businessman, diver, archaeologist, writer, historian, hunter, philanthropist, adventurer, you name it. When Romero founded the town, it was a great spot for scuba divers, as “Akumal” means place of the turtle.

Romero, who happens to have been my boyfriend Ryan’s grandfather, passed away when Ryan was still a young boy. An amazing man who seemed to have accomplished almost everything and anything in his lifetime, from discovering a shipwreck right off Akumal bay to going on safaris in Africa to writing several books, he left his legacy as well as the beautiful Akumal for all to enjoy. With it, the Hotel Akumal Caribe was born, which has been under the ownership of Ryan’s parents, Laura and David Wolfe for years and years.

Lol Ha, the main restaurant of the resort, is the most successful and delicious eatery in all of Akumal. Yes, you could call me biased, but I’m proud to say they truly do serve the best dishes. Lol Ha keeps up with the food trends in the U.S. and still stays true to the Mexican classics done right.

Before we start, I’d like to say my photos don’t do the food or drinks justice. I’ve eaten at Lol Ha more times than I could begin to count, and this is one of the first times I tried to take photos of the food. Because of the dim lighting and the night of sharing pizza, I didn’t get to snap photos of some of the dishes I enjoy every time I’m there. So I also took some from the Lol Ha Facebook page.

This is a photo of the original beach bar in 1974. This structure is actually still in place, with several other palapas surrounding it today.

This is the interior of the charming Lol Ha by night. There’s live music several days a week and gorgeous lighting that makes for a romantic setting.

One of my favorite Mexican classics: the queso fundido. A creamy, thicker version than the “queso” you may know of in Texas, this “queso” is thick enough to put in a taco and add chorizo or even seafood. I like it with chorizo, and the richness of the Oaxaca cheese makes for an overwhelmingly delicious appetizer. I’d recommend sharing with at least 2 others, otherwise you won’t have room for the main course.

My go-to dishes at Lol Ha are the tampiquena and the Chilean sea bass. The tampiquena is unlike any other–it’s made with beef tenderloin instead of flank steak. It makes a huge difference. The dish comes with rice, beans, guacamole (only the freshest), tortillas and a little quesadilla with salsa. You can eat the tenderloin alone or you can make tacos with all the fix-ins. I’m not much of a red meat eater anymore, but when I do eat it, I can’t resist the Lol Ha tampiquena.

Their sea bass comes resting on a bed of creamy fettucini with a bit of bacon, cherry tomatoes and arugula. The sea bass is a buttery texture that just melts in your mouth. So delicious, and a great option for a lighter meal.

As simple as it is, Lol Ha does their brownies right. They’re the perfect consistency, not too hard not too soft, and they have melty chocolate chips throughout the brownie. An impressive dessert list, Lol Ha offers everything from bread pudding topped with house made meringue to chocolate lava cake to homemade key lime pie, to everything in between. And unfortunately, it’s all good.

Their homemade key lime pie rocks. Not too tart and sweet, and a homemade crust. Yum.

The impressive chocolate mousse.

Not pictured are their awesome cocktails and an extensive beer list. Bar manager Sam will whip up any cocktail you can dream of and more. My favorites are their mojitos, caipirinhas and the new basil cucumber gin drink. Pick your poison, they’ll make something you’ll love.

So, if you’re ever in the Riviera Maya (i.e. somewhere between Cancun and Tulum) you must stop by Akumal even if it’s just for happy hour and a snack. If you can stay for dinner, even better. The atmosphere is unmatched, and there’s no better place to enjoy dinner than on the beautiful beach of Akumal.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Riviera Maya Food, beach and back to reality

Posted on by
2

Today is a sad day. The day I had to wake up and not hear the waves crashing, and smell the ocean breeze along with my freshly squeezed orange juice, while staring out at the bright blue sky. Today I woke up to pouring rain in Dallas, Texas, only to realize I had a lot of work to catch up on before heading to class. Sad.

But, I do have some exciting things for you foodies and Foodie Girl readers! …after I walk you through a fun lunch we had in Tulum, Mexico.

Be Tulum

What: seafood + traditional Mexican

Where: Tulum

Before reaching the actual restaurant on the beach, we walked on stone steps through the jungle, passing by little tree house like bungalows each with their own private pools, shaded by palm trees. A wonderfully romantic spot, we kept walking, and were greeted by a trendy balcony bar with seaside decor, a nice sized infinity pool overlooking the beach, and a bunch of little wooden tables and chairs. On the actual beach sat big beds with brilliantly colored pillows, a perfect spot to relax and tan on the beach.

Sitting right on the beach for lunch, we got a perfect amount of shade and breeze. Pictured is my boyfriend on the left and our friend Spencer on the right. Only problem with dining in the sand is the uneven surface! Looks like they’re about to tip over!

We all started off with a Corona. Perfection. Then came the food.

I loved the details of this gorgeous boutique hotel. Especially at the table. The little shell shaped wicker basket made for a cute and fun way to display their house made tortilla chips. A little trio of different salsas came with it, including their delicious pico de gallo, which was amped up a bit with fresh lime juice. Mmm.

I had their caprese salad. As you can see, the tomatoes weren’t exactly bright and fresh, but it made for a refreshing beachside lunch. The walnut pesto was really light and delicious, pretty much making the whole dish.

Ryan had their flank steak tacos, filled with bell pepper, onion and a side of guac. He enjoyed them a lot, but there wasn’t anything too special about them.

Tulum is such a quaint little beach town filled with amazing boutique hotels and fun eco friendly restaurants. If you’re ever in the Riviera Maya area, definitely drive south to Tulum. It’s a not-to-be-missed kind of spot.

…and for my announcement:

THAT FOODIE GIRL GOES VEGAN! For a whole week (starting yesterday evening) I will be eating vegan, searching for the best Dallas vegan restaurants and will be letting you know lots of details like products I liked and things I missed the most. Stay tuned!

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Digg’s: The SMU hangout

Posted on by
Reply

We sat down the other day with Joey Milan, owner of Digg’s Taco Shop. SMU’s The Daily Campus news editor Meredith Carlton and I got to taste the new recipes and brainstorm some ideas that would greatly benefit SMU students.

Being SMU’s neighbor and new friend on the block, Digg’s has proven to be the convenient and delicious taco stop for both students and Highland Park residents.

Although sometimes it’s hard to veer away from your “regular” Digg’s choice (mine is the chicken burrito bowl), sometimes you’ll discover that almost every item at Digg’s is tasty. First, I tried the slow-cooked brisket taco. It was filled with flavor and even had some of their fresh “slaw,” but could have been a bit tenderer (yes, that is a word). I’m more of a chicken kind of girl, but I know you meat lovers would enjoy it.

Then, I tried their salad bowl. Going from iceberg lettuce to romaine and mixed greens definitely gets my attention. The greener, the better. The salad was large and in charge, filled with carrots, tomatoes, black beans, some roasted corn, cheese and a really yummy balsamic dressing. You can also add any meat to the salad and it makes for a much lighter lunch than the burrito bowl.

Next up, nachos. Mmmm so good. Crispy white corn tortillas with cheese, black beans, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos and a roasted pork I believe. I’m not much of a nacho fan, but when I tried these, I became a nacho fan. Not too greasy like you would expect nachos to be, and the meat on top was cooked to perfection.

Finally, I tried the grilled shrimp habanero tacos. If you love spicy food, you’ll love this taco complete with Digg’s own “amped-up sauce”. Wow my mouth was on fire.

Oh, and, Milan was so nice, he sent us home with their home baked crispy donut holes with a side of jelly. I know you’re thinking, donut holes at a taco shop? Just trust me. Try them.

And although Digg’s is the first store of its brand, Milan is no newcomer to the taco scene. He had several taquerias in Houston that did so well he sold them for an offer he couldn’t pass up.

Whether you’re new to SMU or you just haven’t gotten to try Digg’s yet, you’re in for a treat. Named “Digg’s” as a nickname for a “fun joint to hang out at,” they strive to keep students around. They care so much that they offer fun Thursday nights complete with live music and margarita specials. We were even let in on a little secret: there will be pitcher specials too.

And if that wasn’t enough, after 7pm on Thursdays you can show your SMU ID and get a free SMU Digg’s T-shirt.

Can you digg that?

Please become a fan of That Foodie Girl on Facebook, and follow @thatfoodiegrl on Twitter for updates and fun foodie tips.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

What I Ate Wednesday Party

Posted on by
2

It’s that time of the week! Time for my second “What I Ate Wednesday” and a link party with hostess Peas & Crayons.

Yesterday was a very adventurous and exciting food day. But, it started out with this boring item:

Breakfast

I was running late to work, so it was the first thing I could grab. It’s Clif Bar’s “Crunch”– a granola bar that kind of reminds me of Nature Valley bars. Not my favorite, but it tied me over til lunch.

Lunch

Would you look at that bowl of goodness? This was my attempt at a creative way to use what I had in my fridge, and lucky for me, it turned out great. I sauteed the broccoli and red bell pepper with fresh garlic, a little olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Then, I boiled some water, added the quinoa and cooked for about 10 minutes. I added the veggies on top of the quinoa, sprinkled in some feta, and drizzled a bit of Amy’s balsamic dressing. Best part about this lunch other than the fact that it filled me up? It’s extremely healthy.

Dinner

Dinner was the interesting part. I went to a tasting at Jorge’s Tex Mex to sample their old and new menus. We were seated in a private dining room at a table for 10–all for the food critics and socialites of Dallas.

We ate lots of food, and drank lots of margaritas. They brought us a margarita at the beginning, between each course and at the end for a “dessert”. My favorite was the brunch item– the chicken enchilada with an egg on top. I love breakfast food anytime of the day.

And that concludes my exciting day of food! Happy hump day everyone!

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Komali: a not so authentic Mexican eatery

Posted on by
3

Komali

What: “Contemporary Mexican cuisine”

Where: Uptown Dallas

Komali, Chef Salum’s latest endeavor, opened up fairly recently to provide Dallasites with an authentic Mexican meal.

I had heard of Komali once or twice before (with mixed reviews), but when I saw the deal on Scout Mob for 50% off the bill, I was in. I didn’t even check the prices on the menu before I came in because I knew I’d be getting a great deal anyway. I invited my friend to come along, and we set off for our very first Komali adventure.

This “contemporary Mexican” eatery is located in Uptown in a little strip center that was fairly foreign to us hip and out-and-about young 20-somethings. The outside of the building was sleek and trendy looking, and as she opened the door and headed to the hostess stand, I was immediately cut off by a bus boy waving a towel over his head. I was the one who waited for him to pass before catching up with my friend a few steps ahead of me. I’m not really easily offended, but I didn’t like that the bus boy couldn’t step back for the customer to pass by, much less to enter the building. Oh well. I wasn’t going to give up then.

We were promptly seated at a four-top table. The inside was clean, modern and trendy—a must for an Uptown eatery. I looked around and noticed the place was not bustling, but not quiet. It was an interesting crowd…I felt like many of the patrons represented Dallas’s recent reality shows quite well.

Our waiter brought over the menus and we began perusing the drink menu. There were several eclectic and interesting drinks to choose from, and our waiter was very friendly and answered all of our questions. I went with the Komali margarita and my friend Lisa went with the habanero margarita. We both enjoyed them—but I’d say my margarita was a bit on the sweet side.

We started off with the queso fundido. I had had it before in Mexico, so I knew it was good. Queso fundido, a melted Oaxaca cheese with chorizo mixed in, usually comes very thick and with a side of tortillas to make your own quesadillas. The cheese was good, but when the waiter set the serving fork into the bowl, a pool of grease emerged at the top. Yikes. It was super greasy and a little too melty for queso fundido. I’d much prefer the queso fundido done the right way at Lol Ha in Akumal, Mexico.

For our main dish we shared the filete de huachinango, or the grilled snapper Acapulco style. It came in a tomato-based sauce with a side of grilled veggies and hash browns. Yep, hash browns. I was hungry so I ate most of the hash browns with it, but it was a really strange concept. I don’t know if they ran out of regular potatoes or what. The fish was really good, but the sauce threw me off. It was a pretty heavy dish being a fish entrée, and my general thought was that I could’ve easily cooked that meal myself rather than spending a whopping $18 on it. Good thing we got 50% off, because that meal was way overpriced for what it was.

Finally, dessert time arrived. We held out hope and ordered the crepas de cajeta, or the crepes with goats milk caramel, caramelized plantains and toasted pecans. Hands down the best part of the entire meal. There was a bit of chocolate drizzled on top and plenty of caramel—a great dessert to share.

When the bill came, I showed our waiter my cell phone with the deal on the screen. He was very nice and went back to get us our new bill. The manager came by to greet us and acknowledge the fact that we had come in because of the Scout Mob offer. The bill ended up being $32, but $42 with the tip. It would’ve been double that without the deal—which is an insane amount considering we shared our main dish. Overall, the food was alright, but nothing special. Another thing we were a little let down by? There were no chips/salsa/guac. I understand they’re trying to achieve a more authentic Mexican eatery, but chips are always a must in my book.

So if you’re going to go, hurry up and get your Scout Mob deal. Otherwise, I don’t see myself going back for mediocre food at such high prices.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Mambo Taxis at Mi Cocina mean party time

Posted on by
2

I had a wonderful birthday yesterday, but tonight it’s time to really celebrate. With the classic Mambo Taxi at Mi Cocina! It’s a frozen margarita with sangria goodness swirled in. They’re kind of dangerous–so maybe just a few.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Get excited for my last NYC posts for next week–and some exciting chef interviews I have coming up!

And if you were wondering what to give me for my birthday, just like That Foodie Girl on Facebook! Thanks everyone!

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl