Beach - The Hungry Nomad

Dinner at Papa Grandes (Fenwick Island, USA)

Papa Grandes is a new restaurant opened by Matt Haley, a man who has already opened several restaurants in the area, including some long-standing favorites with my family. Each of Haley’s restaurants have distinct feels to them and offer up completely different foods. When you first step into Papa Grandes it definitely has a very laid-back feel to it, as most places in near the beach do. The inside is decorated with various painting that remind me of the hand paintings you would imagine finding in caves. This atmosphere had us all ready to try the food as well.

To start my Mom, sister, and I got the seafood ceviche, queso fundido, and the shrimp and chorizo pincho. Before our starters came out, we were served complimentary tortilla chips with a red salsa that had a kick to it. It was a nice change from the bread normally served at other restaurants, but several of the chips were on the stale side. However, we didn’t have to wait long before the appetizers came out, so it didn’t damper our spirits too much.

The ceviche was good and came topped with a scoop of tasty avocado. While my sister and I both liked the avocado, we did agree that the ceviche didn’t really need it. Beneath this, the ceviche was made up of shrimp, octopus, and baby scallops, and it was a refreshing, tart starter for a hot summer night.

The queso fundido was the complete opposite as it was a heavy cheese dip accompanied by corn tortilla chips, but everyone at the table agreed that it was delicious. I think it was the overall winner for the night. The third appetizer received more mixed reviews. My sister enjoyed the entirety of the dish, but I thought the chorizo was a bit overdone. By the time we finished these, our main meals were already coming out from the kitchen.

As we were eating in a Mexican restaurant, the emphasis was definitely on tacos for the main course. We got both the duck tacos and the tacos al pastor, and in order to change it up a bit, my sister got the shrimp quesadillas. I didn’t taste the quesadillas, but my sister talked them up and particularly loved the ancho honey sauce that topped them. I did, however, try the pork in the tacos al pastor, and I wasn’t crazy about the taste as it was a bit on the dry side.

As a long-term San Diego resident, my mother has had these tacos a lot and said that the pork in the tacos at Papa Grandes was a bit different than what she was used to. According to her, the meat is slightly wetter than what she was served here. My duck was the complete opposite of the pork though, and the meat was nice and tender. My tacos came topped with a bit of guacamole, shaved radishes, and spicy pickled red onions. Despite the pork being a bit dry, everyone was pretty happy with their main courses.

Although we had quite a bit to eat, I am always one for dessert, and we decided to get the churros and the chocolate pot. The churros came with chocolate and were a delicious, sweet end to the meal. On the other hand, the chocolate pot was a dessert that was a bit more complex. It was a thick chocolate served chilled that was topped with whipped cream and chili powder. It definitely satisfied my sweet tooth, but it is probably best for the more adventurous chocolate-lovers out there.

Overall, the service was quick and friendly, and I felt comfortable at this restaurant. Even though a few of the dishes weren’t the best thing I’ve ever eaten, I was satisfied by the end of the meal, especially since it is one of the cheaper restaurants in the area. I enjoyed my first Mexican experience down at the beach, and considering the fact that Papa Grandes has only been open a couple of months, I was happy with this new place and hope to come back.

A relaxing stay at Palm Garden Resort (Hoi An, Vietnam)

April 23, 2013 1 Comment

Our stay at Palm Garden Resort in Hoi An was to put it simply perfect. It only took seconds to realize it. As the taxi drove up the drive way to the open air grand entrance of the Resort I knew we were in for a treat. The entrance of the hotel is grand and beautiful. The staff welcoming, warm and professional. And if the modernity and bright cleanliness of the hotel is not what you envisioned Vietnam to be like, the traditional clothing worn by the staff will quickly remind you of where you are. Before arriving, we were concerned with the distance from the actual town of Hoi An but all our worries were put to rest as soon as we arrived. There were free hotel shuttles taking guests to and back from town which is only 5 KM away. It’s best to stay at the beach resorts rather than the town because the hotels have so much more to offer as oppose to staying at the town.

The Grounds:

After a smooth check in we were walked through the lush green grounds of the large hotel to our room. The hotel is split into various sections across 5 hectares of beach front property. Of course not all rooms are ocean view but I certainly enjoyed the tropical garden view to that of the beach. Pathways connect all rooms and buildings to the beach, central pool, spa and various restaurants.

The Room:

Our room was exceptionally clean, with large sliding windows leading out to the patio and directly on to the gardens offering a peaceful and relaxing environment where you can only hear the birds and bees. The furnishings were modern Vietnamese. The air conditioning was on full blast and worked really well. The bathrooms were nice and modern although they could use an update as there was a musty smell in the air. My only real complaint about the rooms were the thin walls. In the case that you had a neighbor staying next door, conversations and television noise came through the thin walls. It wasn’t much of a concern of ours since we started our days early in Hoi An either in the fishing village or lying by the beach and ended our nights by coming back late from the village, hands full of shopping bags (I happened to buy some amazing art in the village).

Restaurant:

The food at the hotel is really good and authentic but costs well above what an average meal in Vietnam typically costs. The traditional Vietnamese food specific to the region of Hoi An is available on most of the menus at the hotel and is not to miss. Definitely try the white rose dumplings and lemongrass beef. The breakfast buffet is out of this world with a selection of European continental treats such as waffles and pancakes but also a selection of chinese dim sum, congee, vietnamese pho and much more.

Spa:

The Spa is serene and beautiful from the outside. There are fish ponds surrounding the spa and many of the hotel grounds. And while the grounds are beautiful, the actual services are not very professional (and cost more than what you would typically expect in town). I had a massage and a facial at the Spa which was definitely not what I expected and paid for. The change rooms include a steam and hot sauna and an older jacuzzi.

Overall?

The experience at the Palm Garden Resort was exactly what we needed after our dizzying whirlwind experience in Hanoi and Halong Bay. It is the perfect place on the beach to relax before making your way south to Saigon.