Las Carmelitas | | by
Angela Corelis - august 12, 2002. |
Enjoy dining in the country,
but don't want to drive forever? There is a solution, Las Carmelitas. It is a
'campestre' (country style) restaurant 10 minutes from downtown. Drive to the
top of the Par Vial, turn north to Terra Noble, at the first dirt road on the
left is the entrance to Las Carmelitas. Do not let the road daunt you, the drive
is worth it. (My little 2-wheel drive Nissan made it up the hill even before it
was improved.) Located at 1,200 meters above sea level, the
view is breathtaking. One can get a view of almost 300 degrees, from Cabo Corrientes
to Punta de Mita to Las Palmas. My favorite time of day is an hour before sunset.
One can view an outrageous tropical sunset, see the city light up and then watch
the fireworks from the Marigalante. All the cooking is
done on a traditional clay 'stove' with mesquite wood to give the food that special
flavor. Even the hand made tortillas are cooked over the wood fire. My favorite
is the Arrachera, with the mesquite fire flavor, it is the most tender I have
found anywhere. All meals are served with rice, tomato
or cucumber, nopal (cactus) salad, molecajete sauce, grilled baby onions and handmade
tortillas. The waiters were attentive, but not oppressive.
Personally, I am
happy with a basket of fresh handmade tortillas, guacamole, Nopal salad and a
bowl of Charro beans to accompany a breathtaking sunset. Owner
Petro is often on hand to welcome guests. He calls dining at Las Carmelitas 'a
new height of adventure.' It is a place to which I intend to return to enjoy not
only the sunset but the mesquite cooked food. P.S.: There is no longer a toll
to use the road. Menu:
Soups - Cream of Carrot
18, Cream of Squash 18, Onion 15, Guacamole 25, Charro Beans 18, Entrees - Steaks:
Arrachera 90, New York / Rib Eye 140, T-Bone 120, Ribs 75, Chicken Breast 50,
Chorizo w/ cheese 55, Seafood: Jumbo Shrimp 145, Tostada w/cheviche 10, Fish Filet
a Las Carmelitas 240, Filet of fish 75, Octopus 95. angela@pvmirror.com |
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