Heap many moons ago, when I still had a cast on my leg, my venerable colleague in Mexican Expatriatism, Life in the Corazon’s Todd, challenged me with a “blogger’s tag” based on his blog, Breakfast in Patzcuaro.
He asked me to blog and photograph a breakfast I enjoyed in Playa del Carmen. I realize that according to Margaret Mason, no one cares what I had for lunch, but breakfast is an entirely different story. Breakfast is the fuel of champions, just ask Post what they think of Wheaties.
Well, as I told Todd, I would LOVE to write that blog, and I would get on it IMMEDIATELY. Just as soon as my cast was off. Just as soon as my cast was off, the smell was gone, and I’d had a pedicure. Just as soon as my cast was off, the smell was gone, I’d had a pedicure, and I’d been reimbursed for my medical bills. Just as soon as my cast was off, the smell was gone, I’d had a pedicure, I’d been reimbursed for my medical bills, and I’d lost the 10 lbs I put back on while I couldn’t exercise with the cast on. Just as soon as…as soon as…wait a minute. You’re catching on, aren’t you?
I slacked. I forgot. I slacked AND forgot. And yet, this morning I ate breakfast outside my home for the first time in months. And Wayne and the boys from Isla Mujeres were there to witness the Bacon Bacchanalia that ensued.
I was lucky enough to spend time with Gringo in Paradise Wayne and the boys for the last few days. I’ll be blogging our July 4th outing soon, but this morning we said our temporary farewells with a breakfast at Playa del Carmen restaurant, La Vagabunda (The Vagabond). This restaurant is located in the North end of 5th avenue, between Calles 24 and 26. When I first ate breakfast there, the prices were lower and the decor a bit shabbier, but it is still a fairly-priced and consistently good breakfast spot.
Mondays typically happen to be my least favorite day of the week, but something about this morning cheered me up enough to make this the best Monday of my recent memory. Thank you, Wayne. Thank you, B. Thank you, L. Who’s your mama?
It took me quite a while of tedious digging through stacks, but I managed to find the dirtiest, most disheveled menu of the bunch. And another thing: why do they look at us and automatically assume we want the menus in English? Half the time now I WANT the menu in Spanish, since I just don’t GET what they are trying to say in English, since they often translate LITERALLY. And misspell, like, everything. Just give it to me in Spanish, for fuck’s sake.
While it used to be less expensive, this is still a fair menu, and quite extensive. But I still can’t understand how they can label something an “American” breakfast if it is MEAT-FREE.
I wanted you all to be the first to know. Wayne and I? We’re in love.
One of the cooler things about living here is that when you drink orange juice, it doesn’t come from frozen concentrate. You’re looking at 6 (green in color) oranges, strained, people. They don’t give you that nasty-ass pulp unless you ask for it. Bless them.
Huevos Rancheros…yum to the motherf-ing-ola, y’all. Two eggs, fried sunnyside up, on a bed of tortillas spread with a light coating of refried black beans, and topped with a lightly spiced tomato sauce and grated cotija cheese.
Can you see in your mind’s eye the double rock devil horns I was making? Going to work afterward was a true drag, let me tell you.
Wayne looks relaxed!! Hope he was able to hug lots of puppies. Glad you all had a great weekend together.
By: Islaholic Trixe on July 8, 2008
at 5:58 am
I assumed you were waiting cause the leg was STILL a bit smelly!
Yummy.
Welcome to the breakfast club.
Todd
By: Todd McIntosh on July 8, 2008
at 6:10 am
PS, the yummy comment was referring to the breakfast not the leg.
I reread it, and just wanted to clarify!
Because that would be all sick and shit!
Todd
By: Todd McIntosh on July 8, 2008
at 6:11 am
This was interesting and FUN…thanks Heather….the food looked great
By: luvinlife on July 8, 2008
at 6:25 am
good choice for brekky
By: Laura on July 8, 2008
at 8:26 am
As Rachel Rey would say..that looked YUMM-OO!!
By: maas1114 on July 8, 2008
at 9:24 am
Why does the ladybug (or manbug) have a palm tree growing out of its back?
Thanks for posting the menu cause now I remember what I like to order there, the Vagabunda. I love the bread with the beans and cheese on it!! No better way to start your morning in my opinion!!
By: Vanessa on July 8, 2008
at 9:29 am
Ahh. We love you too! I notice you didn’t post a pic of the 50 or so pieces of bacon that were scarfed down!
p.s. to islaholic. I was relaxed! You should have seen what I looked like when I arrived on friday!
By: wayne on July 8, 2008
at 9:44 am
Islaholic: Wayne did seem relaxed! Bob gave a very nice compliment, saying that in all his visits to Playa, he’d never had as good of a time as he’d had this past weekend. Aww.
Todd: Whatever. You know you think my stinky foot is yummy.
luvinlife, Laura, mass: It was very good…wish I had some right now.
Vanessa: I dunno about the palm tree, that is weird.
Wayne: I don’t scarf. I daintily nibble in a ladylike fashion. Har har.
By: heatherinparadise on July 8, 2008
at 10:16 am
whar’s the bacon???
and please send me all of your strained pulp… I love pulpy OJ… I want to CHEW my OJ… yeah, babeeeee….
By: charmarie221 on July 8, 2008
at 2:48 pm
We love Vagabunda, although we go more to see Marco, our usual waiter, than for anything else. Their “Saludable” breakfast is yummola.
By: mexpat on July 8, 2008
at 3:44 pm
Wayne, I am sure adored you like all who meet you, do.
My fav breakfast(although believe it or not, I NEVER had Huevos rancheros) is MIGAS yum!
By: Amy on July 8, 2008
at 5:10 pm