An Abundance of Food
29 November 2015 | Tortugal Marina, Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Beth/ high 20's, damp
Have we ever been eating well these last few days!
We have had several very good meals in the "Purple Turtle" - the restaurant here at the marina, an enormous Thanksgiving feast, and a delicious dinner today at Banana Palms - a new restaurant around the corner in Lago Izabal.
The food here has always been good, but it is especially tasty this year. I have tried all three soups - black bean, tomato/coconut, and vegetable/noodle, and they are all hearty and flavourful. There is usually a nightly special for 50 Q - an excellent price of about $8. CA. One night I had grilled tilapia with rice and vegetables (and it was nothing like the tilapia I have had at home - and that Jim refuses to call fish at all!) Chicken in Mushroom sauce was also great, and Jim likes the Tuscan chicken. Friday night is pizza and movie night here - just as it was when our kids were young! 2 large pieces of homemade pizza, salad, and a beer or soft drink for 50Q, followed by a movie and popcorn makes for a fine Friday night.
On Thursday, American Thanksgiving, the cruisers put their gastronomical talents together with the kitchen staff as the boaters gathered to celebrate. Jerry (Czech & Mate) deep-fried a turkey that he had basted the night before with a secret concoction. The kitchen staff baked a ham with pineapple and made their wonderful creamy mashed potatoes and gravy, and a big platter of stuffing. The rest of us brought more vegetables, salads, and desserts. There were tabouli, waldorf, green, tomato/cucumber/basil, rice salads, curried carrots, and three kinds of cake. Oh my! We sat at long tables on the patio and ate till we couldn't eat another bite while Dave (Cordelia) entertained us with old favourite bluesy tunes, and his own compositions from his CD, "On the Rio Dulce". It didn't rain, the moon was big and beautiful, and it was just the best kind of gathering of friends and food, music and conversation.
Today, we joined Czech&Mate and Cordelia to dinghy up river past the Castillo and around the corner into Lago Izobal. It is so close, and yet we rarely go up that way, but we heard from Seakist Chris that there is a new restaurant called Banana Palms, so we set off to find it. It turns out that it is a lovely resort with beautiful swimming pools, fountains, gardens - and a fine dining restaurant. We got there shortly after 2 on a Sunday afternoon and there were a few other tables of local people. After perusing the extensive menu, we ordered shrimp skewers, roballo al Diablo, and chicken cordon Bleu - all in the 120 Q range so not inexpensive but not overpriced for the quality. As is often the case, the wait was long, but when it came, the platters were beautiful and generous. We would all highly recommend it - but eat a little something to stave off the hunger before you get there - and make it your highlight meal of the day!
There are pictures in the gallery - just look on the right side of the blog and find the Guatemala 2015 album. You will also find the pictures of Jim and me as we climb aboard over the stern of the boat - those pics that made Jim Lea almost spill his drink laughing!!