Riviera Maya, Mexico

February 14, 2008  •  Mexico, Riviera Maya, Travel

My husband and I just spent a week at the El Dorado Royale resort on the Riviera Maya in Mexico, halfway between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Warm weather, sunny beaches, and a gourmet all inclusive resort all added up to a fabulously relaxing week away. I forgot my camera and wasn’t very diligent about writing details down about what I ate, but at least I captured the highlights.

Thursday, 2/7
After a long and tiring travel day (why does it take 10 hours to get to Mexico from Denver???), we enjoyed a beach buffet with the other employees who were with us early in the week.

Mexican Sparkling Wine (not half bad!)
Mixed Greens & Tomatoes with Caesar dressing
Grilled Shrimp & Vegetable Kebabs
Grilled NY Strip Steak
Spinach Florentine with onions and cream (I had seconds of this for dessert!)

Friday, 2/8
We joined two other couples of a more intimate dinner at the La Isla restaurant, and open air Mediterranean themed spot in the center of the resort.

Fried Provolone with Baked Apples
Olive Tapenade
Caesar Salad
Mahi Mahi with Vegetables and Rice

Saturday, 2/9
the one problem with all inclusive resorts is the wait to get into the popular restaurants. In this case, we waited until 9m to be seated in the Italian Restaurant, but it was well worth the wait.

Beef Carpaccio
Caprese Salad
Seared Tuna on Sauteed Vegetables
Gelati
Amarone with the meal
Limoncello for dessert

Sunday, 2/10
Our group returned to Denver on Sunday but we stayed on with one other couple. We chose Kampei to dine, a Pacific Rim/Asian/Sushi spot near the casitas.

Yellow Tail and Salmon Sashimi
Volcano Roll
Spicy Tuna Roll
Red Curry Chicken Hot Pot with Rice
Stir Fried Noodles with Beef and Vegetables
Pineapple Fried Rice
Fortune Cookies – an enormous oversized fortune cookie holding ice cream and adorned with actual fortune cookies

Monday, 2/11
Dinner at La Cocotal was perhaps the most interesting cuisine, featuring inspired Mexican dishes.

Green Tortilla Soup
Tamarind Duck Breast, sliced and served with a Potato Gratin
Tres Leches Cake
Duckhorn Merlot

Tuesday, 2/12
We dined at Los Fuentes on our final night because they feature a culinary theater – unfortunately that turned out to be a big, boring disappointment. The food, however, was great and we managed to stuff ourselves one last evening.

Salmon Ceviche
Duck Confit Salbute
Caesar Salad
Blackened tuna with Corn Salsa and Vegetables
Trio of Ice Cream (I think papaya, mango and pineapple but honestly I couldn’t tell)
Oregon Pinot Noir

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