January 3rd, 2016
We really should not complain here in Southern Delaware. The temperatures so far have been great and it has felt like summer all through the Holidays. But, as we start a new year, and being that it is January, the temperatures dipped a bit this a.m. Thinking about the blue waters of San Juan. Getting to Puerto Rico is pretty easy. It is a relatively short flight and there are daily flights from Baltimore (BWI) and Philly.
Every first Sunday of the month the Mercado Urbano or Farmers Market takes place at 1054 Ashford Avenue…9 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is a great way to get up close and personal with farmers, and artists. It is a family affair with plenty of food for everyone. This will be the first Mercado Urbano of 2016!!
This time of the year in San Juan the temperatures will be in the low 8Os, which is great for walking and exploring the Condado area. Mercado Urbano is also ocean front.
Fresh coconut water.
Local produce.
Every Sunday there will be paella.
Local cookies…bring back childhood memories.
Cod Fish Cakes or Bacalaitos. They are so good, and yes they are fattening.
Fresh Pasta.
Throughout the day there are plenty of activities. On Sunday, December 3rd from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. Yoga with Lara. All you have to do is bring your mat.
From 10 a.m. unti Noon you can participate in Boot Camp with Spartan Fit.
From 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. there will be live entertainment on the stage.
Shop around for Puerto Rican cigars.
Every household in Puerto Rico has “pique” or hot sauce, locally made.
And please stop by to meet Carla from Carla’s Rosaries. All made by Carla…they are beautiful. Check her out on Facebook. Her website is http://www.carlasrosaries.com.
This customer was so graciously posed for a photo.
If you are in the metropolitan area of San Juan, please stop by. It is a lot of fun!!
October 19th, 2015
On November 19, 1493 Puerto Rico was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to claim lands for the Rulers of Spain. When he arrived the island was called Borinquen by the Indians who lived there, but Columbus named it San Juan Bautista. Old San Juan is 522 years old.
It has diverse architectural and historic treasures and these make Old San Juan quite distinct from any other place in the world. It has lively plazas, parks, and promenades, restaurants, and plenty of shopping as well. One such shop that I visited was Spicy Caribbee located at 154 Cristo Street or Calle del Cristo, Old San Juan, PR 00901 Tel. 787-725-4690 Website? http://www.spicycaribbee.com
Follow them on Facebook.
Their Spicy Caribbee line is their own recipe and has been created to make cooking fun. They have been serving customers since 1988. They do ship and there is also online shopping, as well. The photo shows Sica, the owner, taking care of customers.
The hot sauces looked amazing. It is their recipe and they are made for them. You can buy individual bottles or the small crates. Some of the sauces are hot and others are more a condiment to enhance your cooking like the Ginger and Garlic.
If you are in the store you will be able to sample some of the sauces before purchasing.
Coffee is so much of a part of the Puerto Rican tradition. At any time of the day a cup of coffee is always offered. Their coffee is from Hacienda San Pedro, which is a family tradition for 4 generations.
Rag Dolls, homemade in Puerto Rico are a tradition….their particular ones were so cute and my little granddaughter, Sophia, got one of them.
Their tropical jams are prepared just for them, as well. Banana, Mango, Guava, Pineapple, Mango Pineapple and Hot Pepper Jam…use them on toast, pastries or in any cooking were you want to add a bit of the Caribbean. Honeys and teas!! Remember that they can ship everything to your home.
Rubs are so easy. Just rub your chicken, steak, or fish and then decide your method of cooking it….got some of the rubs!!
So as the weather begins to cool off in the Northeast….the Caribbean is warm year-round.
Have a good one!!
February 19th, 2015
I am praying that it gets a little warmer at the Delaware Beaches…..but I remember well a couple of weeks ago when visiting Puerto Rico we went to the Mercado Urbano or Urban Market that takes place at Ventana al Mar (Window to the Sea) on Ashford Avenue in Condado the first Sunday of every month. A popular place to be in order to get up close and personal with many local artists….and taste that delicious Puertorican food.
The rosaries did attract our attention. They were beautiful. Meet the artist behind Carla’s Rosaries and bracelets…Carla. Very friendly and most accommodating. So many of us asking questions…could you add this other medal or replace this one for that one. With a smile on her face she obliged.
 
Carla’s Rosaries are sold in Puerto Rico at Carla’s Sweets in Guaynabo and at Carla’s Sweets cart at Plaza Las Americas in Hato Rey. Please visit http://www.carlasrosaries.com. Tel. 787-792-9777 You can find Carla’s Rosaries on Facebook, as well. Please note that Carla’s Rosaries can be purchased online.
 
Carla is also the baker behind Carla’s Sweets. So successful in San Juan. I will have to try them next time, but in the meantime you may visit http://www.carlassweets.com. Shop online, shipping available.
Carla’s Rosaries and bracelets are made with semi-precious stones. The metals are not silver, but alloy and pewter. With time the rosaries will take a “vintage” look. With a bit of care they can last you a lifetime.
 
Please open http://www.carlasrosaries.com, to read about her story. At times when a door closes, another opens. It was pretty much the case for her. Going through a difficult time in her life, she went to a family retreat. She stated that during the retreat she felt anxious….a couple acknowledged the fact that praying had changed their lives. Carla started to cry. Some began to pray for her and gave her a Rosary, blessed by the Virgin of Medugorje. They also gave her the novena of the Divine Mercy, which is supposed to be prayed at 3:00 p.m. Her story is passionate, she is devout of the Divine Mercy, very spiritual, and very much at peace.
Carla wanted to wear a rosary, not in a traditional way. She loves accessories….so Carla’s Rosaries began. Carla’s Rosaries can be worn in a traditional way, or you can wear them like a scarf…worn like that by Carla on the above photos.
   
The Mercardo Urbano or Urban Market will be at Ventana al Mar on Sunday, March 1st, and you can be sure that Carla’s Rosaries and bracelets will be making a statement like they usually do.
Note: You may have your rosary blessed.
February 15th, 2015
 
While we celebrate Groundhog Day in the U.S. on February 2nd, the French celebrate Fete de Chandeleur or Crepe Day!! Walking on Ashford brought us to the CrepeMaker, located at 1302 Ashford Avenue in Condado. Tel. 787-545-5138. Find easily on Facebook as CrepeMaker de Puerto Rico. In San Juan, they have 4 locations.
Visualizing the fact that at this time of the morning, the weather is warm with plenty of sun in Condado. Outdoor seating available but if it gets too warm for you, there is plenty of seating indoors.
The CrepeMaker was a pleasant surprise for us. So many types of crepes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also offer wine and beer.
I thank them for letting me take the photos. They were very busy.
At the time of our visit the majority of customers were getting the Breakfast fare….Better Cheddar, Florentine, El Rancho, the Western Crepe…you name it.
Waffles, topped with powdered sugar, cinnamon, bananas, strawberries, and whipped cream on the side. Nutella? They do have it.
My Very Veggie was totally awesome!! Marinated sun-dried tomatoes, sweet red onions, roasted red peppers, fresh baby spinach, basil, tomatoes, mushrooms, melted mozzarella and their signature pesto sauce. The crepe was crispy and perfect for that particular morning.
You can also find at the CrepeMaker soups, fresh salads, and crepe combo specials for kids.
Have a good one!!
February 11th, 2015
 Beach in Condado Local talk radio in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware I heard this a.m. that some legislators want to introduce a law in Puerto Rico where parents of overweight children are going to be receiving some fines.
At times pictures are worth a thousand words…..Have you been to Puerto Rico? Have you tried any of the local food? Full of flavor and probably not the healthiest if you make a point to eat it all the time. Large portions, as well.
I just came back from PR and look at these photos. And I participated in the chowdown.
Well, the fries were made from sweet potatoes. That helped. Adding the plantains and cheese….that side salad is what pretty much you get in a lot of places. Don’t ask me why the tomatoes have to look that way on this tropical island.
Two side dishes that were shared, but meant to be for one person. The second photo shows half of the portion of the beef. The salad was excellent, but not the norm.
Good way to start the day? Of course!!
A popular booth at the Mercado Urbano in Condado….the Roasting Pigs!! Lechon Asado. The line never stopped.
A little paella after the Lechon Asado….yum!
Fresh pineapple to clean your palate? Maybe.
Instead of dessert, why not finish with a tiny fried bacalaito….cod fritter.
Heavier meal at lunch for many Puertoricans….who can resist this at Dona Ana in La Plaza del Mercado in Bayamon.
A side salad with stuffed plantains…with local beef.
Rice and beans because the stuffed plantain was not enough.
And cheesecake, which is nothing new, but it was drizzled with Guava.
The “pirulis” reminded me of my childhood. Did not buy any, by the way.
Back on Ashford Avenue in Condado, you can find a good salad on the second floor of FreshMart.
This roasted chicken on Ashford in Condado was awesome….totally surprised me. Fried plantains, of course and “some” veggies.
Pizza from Via Apia on Ashford in Condado.
Exercising at Ventana al Mar…We were too busy eating and checking things out.
But the best fresh vegetables and fruits can still be found from the vendors that sell out of their trucks. A scene still found in the Metropolitan area of San Juan.
Self control? I used to have so much of it. Back in Delaware trying to get rid of those unwelcomed pounds…..but, It Was Worth It?
So, you decide…fine the parents for overweight kids? That’s ridiculous!
NOTE: Where to eat the above mentioned foods in Puerto Rico…..stay tuned.
February 10th, 2015
Walking on Ashford in Condado is a past time for many that are visiting the island of Puerto Rico….plenty of upscales shops, restaurants, and hotels on this very popular Ave. I hear the community is involved in making sure Condado lives up to its name.
Ashford Avenue is within walking distance of beaches and everything else to make your vacation a special one. As a matter of fact Ashford Avenue is parallel to the beach. Taxis, and public transportation can take you to Old San Juan, a city over 500 years old.
The Art Deco Buildings are beautiful and one in particular is the Miami building located at 868 Ashford Avenue and built in 1936. The colors are peach and light blue.
“The Art Deco style represented luxury, glamour, exuberance and faith in social and technological progress.” Bold geometric designs, lavish ornamentation, and colours characterized this style.
Congratulations to San Juan, Puerto Rico since the National Register of Historic Places has recognized 3 iconic hotels and has welcomed them as members. They are the Caribe Hilton San Juan, built in 1949, Condado Plaza Hilton built in 1963 and the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel built in 1919.
The Condado Vanderbilt is located at 1055 Ashford Avenue. http://www.condadovanderbilt.com The style? Mission/Spanish Revival. This is a 5 star hotel, known for luxury and special services. Ballrooms, banquet meetings…the hotel is oceanfront. So, I stopped to check it out with my Puertorican cousins, Sonia, and Margie. Resort wear is the choice for dressing.
The hotel has been updated completely. The marble floors, I believe are the original ones.
 
We stepped into the Vanderbilt Court…here are some of the photos.
Please visit http://www.condadovanderbilt.com/our-story-condado-en.html to learn more about the history of this gorgeous hotel, which is very interesting.
LOCALISTA – Puerto Rico Disena. Location? Condado Vanderbilt Hotel.
A must stop shop for everything designed by independent designers. Local brands and Puertorican designers, promoted by Localista. Website? http://www.puertoricodisena.com. Catching our attention…..
La Mantilla by Marx Rosado is a modular surface that works well as a wood carpet, a flexible parquet, a non-permanent wood flooring or a cover for horizontal and vertical surfaces. It is open modular assembly.
Jewelry by Marcia Budet. You can find Marcia Budet on Facebook as Designer Marcia Budet.
The clutches made in crystal clear acrylic Plexiglass with original photography, I loved. They were made by designer Natalia Subira.
Promoting Puertorican designs, buying local…http://www.puertoricodisena.com/localista-a-design-store.
And then, as you come out of the hotel head over to Ventana al Mar….and forget that is winter at home. Have a good one!!
November 23rd, 2014
I’ll bet you…..Who hasn’t said this at one point or another? We all have. You are gambling on the outcome of something. Growing up in the Island of Puerto Rico, a destination for gambling, it was no big deal. Let’s face it. You “wanna” gamble, you’ll do it anywhere, even from the comforts of your own home.
In Puerto Rico the islanders do visit the casinos which are in every hotel. Years back the dress code was: men would wear coats and the women were very smartly dressed. Casinos would have racks filled with coats of every size for those that did not have any. After dinner it was fun to go to the casinos and try your luck and hopefully nobody would have to stroll the walk of shame.
One of my favorite casinos in Puerto Rico was the one at the El San Juan Hotel in Isla Verde. Elegant and classic, just like casinos should be. It still looks that way.
Casinos bring out a lot of emotions on people. The gambling factor, the drinking, the undesirables….but, some will always live La Vida Loca. Pennsylvania, and Delaware have casinos. So, when Marylanders were up in arms about the casinos coming to Maryland……I was like, what’s the big deal? The State needs money, and jobs. Otherwise, they will come to Delaware and Pennsylavania, so if you can’t fight them, you might as well join them.
Horseshoe Casino opened in Baltimore, in August of this year. Arriving in Baltimore, I passed it and did not even notice it. That’s how understated it is. Located at 1525 Russell St., Baltimore, MD 21230. Tel. 844-777-SHOE. Website? http://www.caesars.com/baltimore. Right next to the Ravens’ Stadium, Orioles Stadium, and the Inner Harbor….walking distance!!
Horseshoe Casino offers free parking, which by the way is bright, and with plenty of security around the perimeter of the casino. We are in Downtown Baltimore and just like any downtown, security is a must.
Horseshoe has partnered with the local hotels. You can make reservations right from their website. The casino has 122,000 sq.ft. of gaming space. For those that love table games…Blackjack, Craps, Bacarat, Roulette and plenty more. Check the website above mentioned. Slots? Many, many. It is also a multi-level casino.
We arrived early afternoon, just in time for lunch. Entertainment in this cool bar at Horseshoe was already on-going.
For those that love to sit at a bar and enjoy a food court for there is a level just for that.
Celebrity chefs have taken notice of Baltimore and the charm this city has to offer. We decided to visit Guy Fieri’s Baltimore Kitchen & Bar. This restaurant has seating for 350 customers, but it does not feel that big.
Guy Fieri has about 7 other restaurants throughout the U.S. So, this latest one is part of the branding of a chef’s cuisine.
Immediately, we noticed that the servers were attentive and friendly.
Are you hungry? Be prepared for large portions. Shareables, they call it. Eat them tapas style. I am not kidding, the portions were huge and the food was great. You will have to “up” your exercise routine, after dining here.
I started to notice other customers getting their food brought to the table….wow, we were in for some trouble.
The B-More Fries passed by….waffle cut with a creamy blue crab dip, Old Bay and green onions. You see what I mean?
A Caesar Salad!!
A Burger followed those gigantic dishes for 2 people.
We had already ordered and suddenly our table was covered with food…decadence!!
Following is what we had.
Shashimi Won-Tacos – Love these, really, they were delicious. Sashimi grade ahi tuna and mango jicama salsa on crispy wonton taco shells, drizzled with sweet soy and wasabi cream.
Vegas Fries – A Guy Fiori’s signature dish. The crispy cut fries, the spicy buffalo sauce, topped with blue cheese crumbles, served with a blue-sabi dipping sauce. Crispy, well seasoned and the sauces were just right. Yikes!
Lollipop wings served with veggies and Guy’s blue sabi sauce, added to an already exciting afternoon lunch. These particular wings a little sweet and a little tangy! Easy to handle!
How could we not have a salad? Always complementing a lunch or dinner….this was a meal in itself. The Guy-Talian Deli Salad it was called. It was in a crown of prosciutto-wrapped smoked provolone. It was also filled with crisp romaine lettuce, imported Italian meats and cheeses, pickled veggis and tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. Totally, awesome! Presentation and taste did not disappoint.
Needless to say….no dessert was needed or necessary, but they do offer desserts comparable in size to our lunch.
I think Horseshoe is a good addition to Downtown Baltimore. Check the websites for the upcoming events at Horseshoe.
Something that caught my attention was that on Thursday nights, except Thanksgiving and Christmas…Chips & Salsa is a happening thing at Johnny Sanchez. This restaurant offers extended Happy Hour on Thursdays and free Salsa Lessons by dance instructors Mike Fok and Kaya Barraza. This Mexican and Southwestern restaurant was opened by celebrity chefs John Besh and Aaron Sanchez.
Have a good one!!
October 23rd, 2014
I love the title my Mother in Law gave to a family cookbook of recipes: Begged, Borrow, & Stolen. That’s how I feel when I use recipes. The good thing is that I usually change them with a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I make the recipes my own.
So, being that it is cooler, rainy, windy…and Fall, I think that the Curried & Apple Soup could be a keeper. Served with a side dish of tostones or fried plantains and Mojito….it is even better. The word Mojito has been around for such a long time. In Puertorican cooking it means a sauce made for dipping certain local delicacies.
Carrots are so healthy and the saying of “an apple a day, keep the doctors away”, is probably so true, as well. Hope you like it.
CURRIED CARROT & APPLE SOUP
2 tablespoons margarine
1 small onion, chopped
1 leek, thinly sliced
1 small fennel bulb, cored and chopped
salt and pepper
1 pound carrots, cut into 1/4 inch rounds
3/4 pounds celery root, chopped (regular celery will do)
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
4 gingersnaps cookies
1/2 tablespoon yellow curry powder (more if you like curry)
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/2 teaspoon of finely grated fresh ginger
2 thyme sprigs (1/4 tsp. ground thyme will do)
3 cups chicken stock (I used unsalted chicken stock)
1 cup Apple Cider
1/2 cup sour cream (I used non-fat)
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Garnish: Toasted pumpkin seeds, chopped mint, fresh cilantro or cilantro paste, and favorite hot sauce; optional. The pumpkin seeds were toasted on the stove in a frying pan. Make sure they do not burn. So good!!
In a large saucepan, melt butter. Add onion, leek, fennel, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cook stirring here or there until softened and veggies are browning.
Add carrots, celery, apple, gingersnaps, curry powder, garlic, ginger, and thyme. Cook until the carrots and celery soften somewhat.
Add chicken stock and apple cider. Bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat for about 15 minutes until the veggies are very soft. If using thyme sprigs, remove, otherwise, continue with the next step.
Working in small batches, depending on the size of your blender, puree the soup with the sour cream and vinegar until smooth. What I did was mixed the sour cream with the vinegar and added a tablespoon with each batch. This is a creamy soup so, make sure there are no lumps.
You can reheat the soup and seasoned it with salt and pepper, if necessary. Laddle the soup into bowls and top it with the garnish above mentioned. ENJOY!
I decided that Tostones or Fried Plantains would be great with this soup. A meatless meal, no less! Plantains are a starch. If you let them ripen, then, they are sweet and if green you can make Fried Plantains. For the longest time I used to mashed them with a plate, but now I have my Tostonera from Puerto Rico. The Tostonera and the Pilon are a necessity when cooking Puertorican food. The Pilon is very versatile…use it to mash garlic, make mojito, and other PR dishes.
 
The plantain was peeled, cut, and ready for the next step of frying.
Fry the chunks of plantain in oil until lightly browned. Then, place on the tostonera, or between wax paper.
 
The tostonera is going to make it so much easier to mash. Otherwise, while between the wax paper, mash with a plate. 2 plantains were used on that evening. Finish mashing them and keep on paper towels until the next step.
 
Heat the oil back again and place the mashed plantains in batches once again. They will rise to the surface. Let them get nice and light brown. Take them out and place on paper towels again to drain the oil.
You can serve them on a platter with just butter and garlic salt. Or you can make the mojito by placing in the Pilon or Mortar 1 garlic clove, a pinch of salt. Then with the pestle, crush garlic and salt together. Add a bit of olive oil, a tablespoon or so, a small can of tomato sauce, tabasco and cilantro. Then squeeze half a lime and add it, as well. That’s it.
Note: This recipe is gluten free. Make sure you check the tomato sauce, the chicken stock, and apple cider. Have a good one!!
 
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