The unpretentious pueblo referred to as Sayulita is located on the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico and has a magnetic persona that keeps drawing us back. The village is just north of a Puerto Vallarta however as we noted prior to it's a world gotten rid of from the "common" tourist destination and exhibits a very unique frame of mind that all visitors experience ... the Sayulita Good Vibes.
A visitor has well over 100 dining choices to select from ranging from gourmet restaurants to merely cooking for yourself with the abundant fresh regional ingredients.
The focus of this short article is on a variety of distinct and genuine local specialties known simply as ... street food.
Street Food by the Sea
Street food in Mexico is typically associated with the standard taco in one kind or the other, however in normal Sayulita culinary design they begin with the fundamentals and take it to another level.
Let's Talk Tacos
The American variation of this Mexican food staple differs from coast to coast but it's essentially a tortilla filled with the main active ingredient and packed with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and complemented with a large dollop of sour cream ... the default "benchmark" for many of us.
However while checking out Mexico we discovered what an authentic taco is everything about.
Sayulita has many epicurean delights, and one of our favorites is something we call a "craft" taco which is offered throughout the town by skilled suppliers who look at a fresh tortilla as a blank canvas to use their creative abilities.
Fresh active ingredients are prepared utilizing secret family recipes, then cooked to perfection and complemented with distinct salsa productions.
The process is intentional and takes a little time, so buy some drinks and enjoy the entertaining street scene including people, vehicles, trucks, golf carts, bikes and a periodic horse or 2 going by at a leisurely rate.
There is something unwinding about sitting on a narrow cobblestone street taking pleasure in the cacophony going by, and at the very same time learning a new capability ... how to support an unsteady table with your flip-flop ... it takes practice and a margarita or 2, however it ultimately ends up being natural.
Fast Food Slow - Made from scratch right prior to your eyes.
Maria's sidewalk dining establishment is a string of tables that extend into the main street right after the bridge as you go into the town. She prepares your specific order right in front of you. At first we thought the service was slow but then realized that the masa she was kneading and pushing into a sopes was for the plate we simply bought.
As you sit and wait you are served newly made tortilla chips with incredible home-made salsas and unwind while slowly drinking on a refreshing margarita ... after all, what's the hurry!
Gastronomic treats using Beef, Pork and Chicken
El Itacate became one of our favorite areas for exceptional meat tacos as well unusual breaded chicken and vegetarian entrees.
We had the difficult task of tasting the majority of their menu items simply to make sure the quality corresponded ... a sacrifice however, alas, someone needed to do it and in our viewpoint they do it right ... exceptional comes to mind!
Eclectic Street Food Choices Abound
The Chicken Woman
Along Main Street there is a business owner grilling chickens. She has it down to an efficient regular and offers "simply" chicken and when she sells out she shuts down the grill and goes house.
The Churros Man
Fresh hot churros are fried curbside and evaluating from the continuous line of fans the sugary treats are popular.
Libations for a Revitalizing Time out
There are numerous outdoors bars along the streets causing the beach and it makes it simple to get beverages along the way. As a side note, including a $10 USD suggestion on your first order gets you VIP treatment and a much better pour on your margaritas going forward ... so they state.
Cooled Fruit Pleasures
Along the side road Tourist Attractions in Cyprus resulting in the beach are suppliers offering rejuvenating fruit healthy smoothies as well as fresh fruit cups ... simply choose the various active ingredients and they change it into a healthy tasty treat.
Baked Goods
Offered from standard shops such as Panino's Pastry/ Coffeehouse in addition to from the non-traditional suppliers offering warm and delicious pastries from the back of a truck ... the crowds verify their quality and taste.
Toes-in-the-Sand Food
Well sorta ... You are eating on the beach but on dinner plates, using flatware and cloth napkins ... OK, so you ordered off Don Pedro's menu (very same prices as if you ordered in the dining establishment AND its provided to your lounge chair) ... but your toes are in the sand as you take pleasure in the beach's ambiance.
Vendors on the Beach
For the more casual experience there are numerous vendors on the beach offering fresh, cold coconut beverages served in the husk, grilled shrimp on a stick, iced oysters, donuts with a "special spice", pastries, cookies, and there is even a pushcart (a hard act in the sand) with dozens of various sweet treats ... you got ta love it!
Summary
Simply Scratching the Surface
There are so many eating and drinking choices that we only scratched the surface by focusing on street food and the daylight possibilities.
As the sun sets and nightfall reduces across the town a totally different Sayulita is launched. One with a vibrant and festive pulse that starts to gently beat as the street food paves the way to more fancy food offerings and an energized music scene starts to unfold ...
But that is for another article someplace down the road.
Viva Mexico ... Viva Sayulita!
After all, what is the rush ... be inspired ...