subject: You Say "Pastry," I Say "Postre" [print this page] You Say "Pastry," I Say "Postre" You Say "Pastry," I Say "Postre"
For many visitors, a trip to Mexico's Pacific coast is all about the beach, the sun, the sand (and perhaps the large bucket of iced beverages). As you plan your next seaside holiday in a Puerto Vallarta vacation rental, you need to know that there's more to love about this city than sun block and beach umbrellas. And you can put "Good Food" at the top of your To Do list, because there are more excellent restaurants here than you can visit in a month.
Where to start
You can find dozens of recommendations for fine dining, and you'll certainly want to sample a few that look promising. In the meantime, however, keep your eyes and ears open for signs of greatness in that most humble of meals, breakfast. If you can drag yourself out of your Puerto Vallarta vacation rental before the day is too far advanced, you might want to pay a visit to one or more of these establishments, where the bread and pastries are delish. Fondants, at 236 Matamoros, is renowned for their wonderful cream cheese-filled pastries, so highly regarded, in fact, that the counters have usually been picked clean by 9 a.m. Unless you're an early riser, you might as well pass this one by. As an alternative, visit Paris Caf, at 158 Pino Suarez, where you can select from yummy croissants and tarts la your favorite French bakery. It might not be traditional Mexico, but who can argue with great French pastry?
Pan or postre?
If nothing but the real thing will do, visit the Panaderia y Pasteleria Yarita, at 244 Basilio Badillo. (Let's take this opportunity to interject a brief Spanish language lesson. A panaderia is a shop which specializes in the creation of a variety of Mexican breads, or pan; pan dulce, sweet bread, is a particular favorite. A pasteleria turns out pasteles, which is pastry to non-Spanish speakers.) Their empanadas are local favorites. Let's say you missed breakfast, perhaps because you slept until noon, and the upshot is that you have also missed any opportunity you might have had to score some great breakfast food at one of the above-mentioned bakeries. Do not despair, because it's probably close to time for dessert (postre), and you can pick out some great sweets at Pie in the Sky, 247 Lazaro Cardenas. One hears that the chocolate besos (kisses) are well worth the calories.
