Willy recently surprised me with a birthday trip to Puerto Vallarta. Shockingly, this was my first time in Mexico! I couldn't have asked for a better city than PV. It was perfectly cultured, had beautiful weather, and was a sight to take in. When I travel, I want to feel like I'm actually experiencing a different culture. I want to have to try to speak the local language. I want to eat the local street food. 

Here were my favorite things we did in Puerto Vallarta.

1. Cruise Marietas Islands via Bahia Alegre

The Marietas Islands are located a 1.5 hour boat ride away from Puerto Vallarta. You can select from various tour companies. We ended up with Bahia Alegre which appears to be what the Mexican natives take vs the popular Vallarta Adventures which definitely caters more to tourists. I liked ours because again, I like to feel immersed in culture. The tour was dual language and popular Mexican music blasted the entire 8 hours. The tour included breakfast, lunch, & open bar as well as the nicest, hardest working staff. The tour included snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and a speedboat ride to the beach. 

The Marietas are a protected reserve so there are only specific areas you can actually visit. Either way, it is still a full 8 hour excursion so plan accordingly!

2. Eat at Pipi's "The Original"

We were introduced to Pipi's "The Original" by some locals. Coming from LA, I'm pretty picky about my Mexican food. We're pretty spoiled out here. That being said, Pipi's lived up to it's name. I think through the years, it's become a tourist hot spot but the food remains authentic. All the servers are super friendly and attentive. 

Prices comparative to the street food are higher but comparative to LA prices, they are a steal. We got the Shrimp Fajita Burrito and the Seafood Enchiladas. Their margaritas are a definite MUST. Willy and I shared a large (rather only size they have) mango margarita, blended - per our waiter's recommendation. 

I was really craving some tableside guacamole and sure enough, they delivered. Although I will say, I don't remember being asked. The guy just came over and starting mashing away. I wasn't complaining but keep that in mind if you don't want tableside guac. 

3. Lounge at Hotel Mousai

Two words. Infinity pool. In all honestly, this property is stunning and state of the art but nothing in the hotel impressed me more than their gorgeous infinity pool. You literally take the elevators up and when the doors open, it looks like the water is infinite. The pool has a view of the Pacific Ocean and you can get poolside massages. What. Say no more. 

We also enjoyed breakfast - also with a view. Per my previous comment, the entire country is a sight to be taken in. 

4. Stroll El Malecon Boardwalk

I described this to Willy as the Mexican version of LA's Venice Boardwalk. The Malecon Boardwalk features shops, eats, and some clubs. There are also tons of street artists! I purchased a beautiful original oil painting of Frida Kahlo for my sister. It is very family friendly. You will see lots of families walking together, snapping photos, enjoying helados. The best part is the Cathedral is right off the boardwalk and has TONS of street food. We literally ate there every single night. After all, it's not a legit taco until it comes off the streets of Mexico. 

Pretty much everything was under $3USD. This is literally my heaven. Eating 100% authentic Mexican food on the streets with locals, being forced to use my rustic Spanish, and strolling the boardwalk food coma in tow. 

5. Stay at Velas Vallarta

We stayed at Velas Vallarta which is located in the Marina of Puerto Vallarta. Just an 8-10 minute ride away from Downtown and a 5 minute drive from the airport. To say the property was breathtaking might be an understatement. We booked through AirBnB and got a great deal on an owner condo. The resort is all inclusive but since we booked through AirBnB, we didn't get those privileges. You can choose to add them on if you wish. 

6. Dine at Emiliano, Casa Velas

Sister to Velas Vallarta, Casa Velas is an adult only, all inclusive resort. It houses Emiliano, a delicious gourmet Mexican restaurant that features outdoor patio seating. We had the pleasure of dining here after our Marietas Island excursion. We were running late and showed up in our cruise garb. They were kind enough to still take us even though they observe a pretty strict dress code. Thanks for understanding!

We dined on fried tuna, sea bass, onion soup, confetti shrimp, and crab balls. Willy enjoyed a glass of wine while I opted for a refreshing mint mojito. If you're lucky, one of the 3 male peacocks will join you for dinner. They're beautiful and super friendly. 

I can't wait for my next trip to Puerto Vallarta. Thankfully it's only a short 2.5 hour flight away from LA. 

xo, Jenny

Fun fact, did you know that you can replace eggs + milk with canned soda when baking? I used to do this back in the day with premade cake mix and sugary soda and was amazed at how amazing the results were. Well today my tastes have changed a little I've partnered with Zevia to upgrade my recipes. For these pancakes, I used Zevia's Cola. Their zero calorie, zero sugar sodas were perfect for making my pancakes healthier. They have a wide range of products so the possibilitie are endless. 

“Zevia is more than a beverage, it’s a movement. Whether you’re craving a pop of flavor, need an extra pep n’ your step before a workout, or fancy something sparkling, we’ve got you covered. Always zero calories, zero sugar and no artificial sweeteners.”

— https://zevia.com/products

Cinnamon Carob Banana Pancakes

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons of sugar (you can use less if you'd like it to be less sweet)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 cup of Zevia Cola
• 1 cup of carob chips
• 1-2 bananas (depending on how much you like bananas!)
• Cinnamon

1. Measure out your dry ingredients: flour, sugar, salt, & baking powder. 

2. In a medium bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.

3. In a second bowl, mix together the Zevia + melted butter. 

4. Combine the wet + dry ingredients. 

5. Mix until mostly smooth. Some chunks are ok. 

6. Sprinkle cinnamon to your desire. I prefer a good amount soI  added quite a bit. It's better to add to the batter so all the pancakes have an even amount of cinnamon as opposed to topping them during the cooking. 

7. Heat pan on medium heat. You can use olive oil or butter to grease the pan. Use a large ladle to spoon the batter on the man. 

8. Once the shape of the pancake forms, add toppings. 

9. Once the edges start to brown, flip the pancake. Allow 2-3 minutes and remove from pan. 

10. I ate mine without syrup because I felt the carob chips were sweet enough!

Enjoy! Let me know if you recreate this recipe and what you think!

xo, jenny

I was first introduced to Girasol last September. My sister's boyfriend wanted to celebrate her fellowship accomplishments and take her out to a nice dinner. A fan of Jonathan Gold, he selected a restaurant from the famed list. Willy and I joined because we'll take any excuse to dine out and try a new restaurant. 

Willy and I came back for a second time and got to try some favorites on the menu as well as some new seasonal items that aren't quite yet available. 

We started the meal with hamachi and octopus. I'm a huge fan of hamachi and will order it almost everywhere I go. This one is served with a gazpacho broth that has the perfect citrus notes. However, I think the octopus really stole the show. Super tender and juicy, the octopus features, "Eggplant Caponata, Cherry Tomato Flora Bella Farms Bitter Greens Toasted Lovage." 

One of my favorite dishes of the night was the Chicken Confit (left). It has a bleu cheese dressing that I've never had with chicken surprisingly. The combination was heavenly and the chicken was cooked to perfection. 

By far my favorite dish was the Braised Beef Cheek served with fig puree and bone marrow. I had never really been a bone marrow fan until a small restaurant named Bestia changed the game for me. This Beef Cheek was so beyond tender it basically fell apart at the touch of my fork. I sliced it with a butter knife. 

“At Girasol, I want to integrate the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired throughout my career, and present a new dining experience for Los Angeles to enjoy. My goal is to showcase a true taste of California by using exceptional ingredients foraged from the Angeles National Forest.”

— http://girasolrestaurant.com/meet-our-chef/

Executive Chef Justin Abram does an amazing job at celebrating the beauty of California cuisine. Definitely worth a try if you're trying to eat your way through Jonathan Gold's picks and/or want a nice dinner in the valley. 

xo, jenny

The Venue in Koreatown opened it's doors officially at the end of January 2017. This exciting new karaoke + bar + restaurant features cuisine by Executive Chef Kayson Chong and cocktails by Devon Espinosa. Chong is a Boa Steakhouse alum and brings his steakhouse experience to the menu with a delicious bone in rib eye. 

image c/o Eater Los Angeles

This new Ktown basement hotspot boasts private karaoke rooms, a fully stocked bar, and beautiful dining area. You can now eat dinner, have a few drinks, and sing the night away. 

image c/o Eater Los Angeles

The Seana cocktail with features passion fruit and is served in a pineapple goblet.

One of my favorite items of the night was the pork belly! It was absolutely fatty but totally worth ever bite. If you're looking for a lighter option, the hamachi is wonderful. The Venue burger was good but didn't really stand out to me. That being said, the fries that accompanied it were crispy, just the way I like my fries. 

My favorite dish of the night, the bone in rib eye cooked medium rare. If I'm being totally honest, of the major steakhouses in LA, BOA is pretty low on my list. I've always fancied it's counterparts more. That being said, this rib eye was a perfect medium rare and paired with the chimichurri made for a great bite. I do wish it came with some mashed potatoes or fries but I suppose you could always order that on the side. 

And of course there's always room for dessert. I thought that I'd prefer the Black Seasame ice cream but as it turns out, I inhaled the Blueberry Tart. It was garnished with sugared blueberries that were so good I didn't share with Willy. 

xo, Jenny