This month I decided I wanted to give all of you travelers a Spanish lesson! Actually I just want you to know how to translate a typical Puerto Rican menu! Many people say that they want to try typical local food however when they see the menu written in Spanish, with no translation, they get scared. I will provide some of the words that you will see on the menu and also describe a few items that you might see one of the street vendors selling. On weekends you can experience an inexpensive "foodfest" while visiting any of the local stands, many of which are located in Esperanza or at the entrance to Sun Bay. There are other vendors along the main road from the airport to the town of Isabel Segunda also.
Before we get to the menu translation here are some of the updates on the island! In all honesty there is not a whole lot of new business happening or I have not done my homework. But as we all know things change here on a regular basis and I could update this letter at least once a week and still fall behind! February is usually fundraising month for the Vieques Humane Society. Although they usually have an Art Auction as well as a Goods and Services Auction ( this is usually gift certificates donated by various island businesses ) I do not have dates and locations for these events yet. The Inn on the Blue Horizon, or rather Café Blu is hosting Sushi Night and all proceeds will go to the Humane Society. Chef Michael puts together a fabulous Sushi platter for $25, this is easily a dish that can be shared by 2 people as an appetizer or an entrée for one! He will also have some tempura and stir fry entrees available and Saki to make it an authentic Japanese feast! The event will take place on Monday, Feb.12th and reservations are definitely required as they can only handle a certain number of people. Chef Michael's Sushi nights are famous here and as always the Inn is one of the most beautiful spots to enjoy a meal or even just a cocktail. On Valentine's Day the crew of the Oasis, located at the Water's Edge, will be hosting a dance to benefit the Humane Society. They are hoping to have a DJ provide romantic music and will be offering light fare! The cost of the evening will be $25 per person with a cash bar. As the Oasis had the best party on the island for New Year's Eve I am sure that Mary Alice will make this event lots of fun! Remember that your $25 goes to the Humane Society! I hope all of you will consider attending one or both of these events and making this a great year for our animals! If I receive information concerning the auctions I will ask our terrific webmaster to post that later!
To continue a fabulous week of dining and dancing or if you happen to be arriving for a long President's Day weekend make sure you put Café Media Luna on you calendar for Sat. Feb.17th. Boricua Jam will be performing with special guest trumpeter Luis "Perico" Ortiz. Monica told me that the nickname "Perico" means "Songbird" in Spanish. I am sure this is who I heard last year at one of the Jazz Nights and he blew all of us away! He, as well as the band, are all incredibly talented musicians and as I recall everybody was dancing in their seats as well as on the floor! Monica is putting together a special menu for the night and reservations are required for dinner. There is a $12 music fee if you just want to show up late and enjoy the music however for this group if you are not eating dinner do not count on getting a seat. They were very popular each time they performed so many of us will be making reservations for dinner. I suggest you get on the phone now if you want to enjoy a truly fabulous evening of Jazz, (787) 741-2594! By the way when I spoke with Monica she says she is feeling great as she approaches her 6th month of pregnancy.
The folks at the Oasis are continuing with their "theme" nights! Tues. Feb.6th will be Spanish Tapas night. If you are not familiar with Tapas an easy translation is appetizer. They will have about 20 different selections and prices for each will be around $3-5 a plate. This is fun if you like trying a variety of things. They will of course be making up gallons of Sangria to enjoy with your food! On Feb.20th they are having a Fat Tuesday night! That is the translation of Mardi Gras! They are flying in some Crawfish and other stuff and this will be a new experience for me as I am totally unfamiliar with this type cuisine! These nights are always a huge success for them as it offers us locals something new and different to do at a great price!
As I have said before Duffy at Chez Shack keeps me on my toes. As of right now Duffy is going to do Grill Night only on Mondays. He has closed the kitchen the other nights. He has some plans but was not ready to disclose them at this writing. Grill nights is still one of the most popular events on the island as he has a steel drum band performing as well as great food. Again as I learn more I will ask Jim to add it to the update!
Capt. Richard is working overtime this season with his cruises and snorkel trips. His evening cruises happen Wed., Fri., Sat. and Sun. and he is offering 2 trips now! One leaves at 5 PM and the other goes out at 7:30 PM. He is still offering music, dancing, rum punch and snacks for $20pp. In addition to the nightly cruises he is still offering his guided snorkel trips twice daily! The first trip leaves at 11AM and the second at 2PM. Bring along your own cooler of beverages and snacks and enjoy a relaxing and informative trip aboard his 40' glass bottom boat! The cost of the snorkel trips is $30pp. For both events he needs you to make reservations so he knows how many people he will have aboard, call (787) 741-1980. He now also accepts MasterCard and Visa when you call for your reservation. Just an FYI, a percentage of his business now is donated to the VCHT, Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust, which is very involved in protecting our island!
Future dates to also put on your calendar are Feb.22nd, March 15th and April 12th. The VCHT is having their second Annual House Tour, a great way to see some of the fabulous homes on the island. When I spoke with Scott, one of your Innkeepers at the Crow's Nest, he told me that as of now the plan was to offer tours of 4 different homes on each of the dates and to offer light refreshments to the visitors at the cost of $40pp. This was a very successful fundraiser last year and it is the only way that many of you will get to see some of the great house designs and furnishings of the Caribbean. If any of you have seen or plan to visit our Bio-Bay please keep in mind that the VCHT has been instrumental in protecting the bay as well as being involved with many other important conservation issues affecting Vieques. The proceeds from the House Tours go right back into the funds for improving our lovely island of Vieques! As I have been in many of these homes you will not be disappointed in seeing some of the most wonderful views of the Caribbean and Atlantic that you might otherwise not get to see! For reservations and more information please call the Crow's Nest at (787) 741-0993.
Now for our Spanish Food lesson! I have a menu in front of me from a new restaurant that recently opened on the Florida road named El Caobo. They are open for breakfast and lunch only right now and do not have a liquor license as of yet. The menu is entirely in Spanish and the owners speak a little English! I managed just fine with them though and they were very friendly and helpful, Unfortunately not knowing their schedule, I walked in at closing time so have not had a chance to try out the food but it all sounds good. I am not listing their menu but using it as a guide for a typical Puerto Rican Restaurant! This is not going in any order but more a translation of words that you might see when reading a menu. Good luck!
Desayuno/Breakfast
Huevos/eggs Jamon/Ham Salchicha/sausage
Revotillo Criollo con Tostadas/ omelet with ham, onion and peppers with toast. Criollo means more or less native or native sauce, usually a tomato base, when seen on a menu.
Almuerzo/Lunch
Cena/Dinner
Pastelillos/ deep fried turnovers and some of the fillings would be
Carrucho/Conch Chapin/Fish Langosta/Lobster Carne/Beef
Pollo/Chicken
Asopao/rice soup with usually a seafood like Camarones/Shrimp
Sopa/Soup
Ensalada/Salad and the Mariscos/Seafood varieties are usually made with oil
instead of mayonaise.
Pescado/Fish, this is a general term for fish not a type of fish although Chillo
usually means Red Snapper.
Pulpo/Octopus
Ajillo/Garlic sauce Ajo/Garlic
Cebolla/Onion
Pimiento/Pepper
Lechuga/Lettuce
Mantequilla/Butter
Pan/Bread
Frito or Frita/Fried
Empanados/Breaded
Costillos/Ribs
Mofongo/native dish prepared with mashed green plantains and usually has
some type of meat or seafood available with it.
Churasco/Beef steak
Chuletas/Chops usually Cerdo/Pork!
Papa Asada/Baked Potato
Pinchos/Kabobs usually pork or chicken
Higado/Liver
Rellenos/Stuffed for example Relleno de Papa is mashed potato with a meat
filling then deep fried, these remind me of Shepard's Pie!
Alcapuria is grated plantain filled with meat, looks like a corndog maybe!
Bacalaito/Codfish fritter
Tostone/Fried Plantain
Arepas/Fried dough
Arroz Blanco/White Rice
Arroz Amarillo/ Yellow Rice
Habichuelos/Beans usually Rosadas/Red sometimes like soup Negros/Black.
This is a very basic list of words but it might help you feel more comfortable when trying one of our local restaurants or eating on the side of the road! Buen Provecho means enjoy your food and the natives will say it anytime they see you eating!
Hope you found this informative and I urge you to take advantage of one or more of the great fundraisers or activities offered in the next few weeks. Enjoy and if you can't be here at least you can feel like you still know "What's Happenin'" in Vieques.
Thanks for reading!
Judy
PS: If there is anything you would like to see in the newsletter or have any feedback please email
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askjudy@enchanted-isle.com
From Judy: If you have read some of the past letters by Peggy you will be familiar with the "must do" things here. If you have not read them I suggest that you take a few minutes to browse through them to become better acquainted with life here on the island. She has filled her columns with lots of "things you need to know" and I don't want to pass on the same information month after month!
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