Placencia, Belize: Maya Beach Bistro

It’s amazing how quickly the months fly by. It feels like just yesterday, but it has been three months since Brad and I were adventuring, relaxing, and drinking all the rum punch in Placencia, Belize. Not a day goes by when I’m not reminded of a special moment or place or feeling from that vacation. It was like a honeymoon but better because, after 10 years of marriage, we are more ourselves as individuals and as a couple. There is a level of comfort and intimacy that simply cannot exist when you are on your honeymoon, but after a decade of marriage, if you’re lucky, time has made everything so much better. 

Of all the places Brad and I have been over our 10+ years together, I think Placencia was the most surprising to me. It found its way into my heart in a way the typical tourist destinations in Central America wouldn’t have. I won’t soon forget how I felt when we were there. I’m tucking that feeling away in a special place for days when I really need it.Another thing I’m tucking away for a rainy day is the memory of an amazing meal we had at Maya Beach Bistro where we experienced unmatched hospitality and thoughtful, flavorful dishes. When we return to Belize, this will be one of the places I will be most excited to revisit. Between the beautiful setting and the simply amazing food, I completely fell in love with this sweet spot on the beach. Cocktails with that view? Yes. A thousand times yes. 

Our meal started with a trio of salads, brought to us by our wonderful waiter, Cedric. He was so kind and helpful the entire night. And the salads, the first of many stunning dishes brought to us by the talented, yet quiet and humble, Chef Mary Kay Bader (formerly of Potager in Denver). The watermelon salad was my absolute favorite. The sweet and salty flavor and combination of textures was perfect, especially paired with the humid, salty sea air.

From the grouper with pineapple salsa to the Belizean French toast with shrimp, the perfectly cooked red snapper, and the peanut brittle ice cream pie (a MUST order) every dish was creative and used Belizean ingredients and flavor combinations beautifully. I mean, Belizean French toast with shrimp? Love. 

All of the food was amazing, but my favorite thing we had that night was the seafood chowder based on a Garifuna fish stew called Hudut. The chowder, with creamy coconut, sweet potato, fresh herbs, and perfectly tender fish, rendered me speechless. I became even more in love with the dish when Chef Mary explained the inspiration behind it. There’s something so wonderful about taking a meal that has been enjoyed by generations and giving it a new look. That connection to traditional Belizean cuisine was evident throughout the evening, but especially in that bowl of chowder. 

One of the most important things a restaurant can do is make diners feel at home, cared for, and cared about. It's not so different from inviting someone into your home. You want the food to speak to them and to create a sense of comfort. Maya Beach Bistro succeeded at making us feel all of these things, from their warm, welcoming smiles to the creative, yet approachable, food.

If you’re heading to Placencia, I HIGHLY recommend visiting Maya Beach Bistro. You will not be disappointed! And if you see Cedric, please tell him Rachael and Brad say hello. :) 

Here is a list of everything we ate that night, along with a few notes about each dish:

• Trio of Salads: The watermelon salad was our favorite. Texturally and flavorfully interesting thanks to fresh watermelon and pickled watermelon rind. Sweet and salty.   

• Belizean French toast with shrimp: Savory, comforting, and full of amazing flavor. Presentation could be slightly better with the addition of a fresh garnish to offset the brown sauce. 

• Grouper: pineapple salsa has a subtle heat that hits the back of your throat but is immediately calmed by the pineapple and coconut. Works very well with the fish to make a satisfying, flavorful meal.  

• Leek Flan: Creamy & delicious! Sweet potato chips make it fun and approachable. Conch can be a bit tough but its texture goes well with this dish. 

• Seafood Chowder: SO flavorful. Wonderful twist on seafood chowder with inspiration from traditional Garifuna stew, Hudut.  

• Grilled Red Snapper over Spicy Root Veg: fish was UNREAL. JUICY, flavorful, perfectly cooked, fresh. 

• Peanut Brittle Ice Cream Pie: DO NOT MISS THIS. Pairs perfectly with a glass of port. 

What to expect (travel to the restaurant/during your dining experience):

• It took us about 20 minutes, by taxi, from the southern part of the peninsula to get to the restaurant. The total was about $20 USD each way. 
• The dining area is covered, but be prepared to weather the elements anyway. Bug spray is a good idea. 
• Staff is very friendly and accommodating. They are also very willing to make suggestions when it comes to food, cocktails, wine, and anything else you may need help with.  

Tennessee Pimento Cheese Crostini

Don't worry. I'll get to this pimento cheese crostini recipe momentarily. First, a little about this visit to Tennessee...

Tennessee has always been a summer state in my mind. I rarely spent time there outside of summer vacation when I was growing up with the exception of a couple Christmases that I barely remember. This last trip, in the middle of spring, was something very different. We flew into Nashville in the midst of some epically bad weather. Storms and tornadoes peppered the entire region and I wasn’t entirely sure I’d made the right decision flying into the thick of it. Someone was watching over us because we made it safely and, despite a few toddler-related road blocks, the drive from Nashville to Cookeville went smoothly.

We stayed with family in Cookeville for the first couple of days, which was bittersweet this time around because it was my first visit since my grandma passed away. I don’t think visits here will ever feel the same now that she’s gone. Still, I feel her here. Riley was playing on the kitchen floor of my grandparents old house the other day. Rain was clamoring outside and my mom was preparing some leftover cornbread for us to snack on. He sat there in the middle of the floor and I was sure my grandma was watching every move he made with a dainty, sweet smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. I could picture her joy so clearly in my mind as I paged through her 1970’s copy of the Better Homes and Garden Cookbook, complete with her old Sunday school list and a hand-written recipe for window cleaner.

We left Cookeville on Wednesday and drove through the still rainy Smoky Mountains in search of the cabin we reserved. To be honest, we were all rather exhausted and ready to be done traveling for a while. Travel is getting more difficult as Riley gets older. After some curvy roads with sharp, hairpin turns, we finally arrived. My first instict was to turn around and demand a new cabin because it seemed precariously perched on unsteady beams.

When a toddler is present, this is how your mind works.

Still, we decided to go ahead and give it a try. Once we got past the initial feelings of uncertainty, we embraced the taxidermy-filled walls and settled in. The wrap around porch drew us all in despite it's slightly tattered swings and the occasional large bumblebee buzzing in to keep on us our toes.

The hot tub overlooking the Smokies (see image above) didn't hurt.

We drove through Maryville, Tennessee on our way to the cabin and stopped at a little store called The Market. We ate sandwiches and sipped ice cold water then browsed the shelves for a few minutes in search of something delicious to purchase and bring up the mountain with us. I spotted some pimento cheese, which I despised as a child after watching my grandfather spread a pasty substance barely resembling cheese on a slice of Wonderbread. At the Market, pimento cheese looked delicious. Thick shreds of cheddar cheese mixed with roasted red peppers, spices, and a barely-there touch of mayonnaise didn't seem as scary.

I bought a little tub along with some fresh French baguettes and a Granny Smith apple. I simply sliced the bread, drizzled it with oil and sprinkled it with a bit of salt and pepper, then toasted them to golden, crusty perfection. Spread with a healthy amount of pimento cheese and a few thin slices of Granny Smith apple, the crostini was better than I anticipated.

Then I drizzled it with local Locust honey and it became even more amazing. But the honey is optional.

Tennessee Pimento Cheese Crostini

Ingredients

• 1 small French baguette, cut into eight 1/4 inch slices
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and black pepper
• 1 cup pimento cheese
• 1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the bread slices on a large, rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil.
3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Bake 6-8 minutes or until lightly golden.
5. Spread each toast with some of the pimento cheese and top with two or three of the apple slices.

5 Recipes to Make for a Road Trip

We just returned from a week in Iowa/Minnesota. We drove. Did you know that there is a lot of Nebraska out there? And it all mostly looks the same? I'm sure it's a lovely state in some respects but when you're driving from Denver to Minneapolis it can be hard to see anything but the backs of your eyelids. Am I wrong?

It was all worth it to get to Minnesota though...

I'm not going to paint a rosy-colored picture for you when it comes to road-tripping with a 2 year old. It isn't easy and it certainly isn't always pretty. This time was worlds easier than the first road trip when Riley was only a year and a half old. This time we were able to play games like "I Spy", he was able to color without immediately dropping all the crayons and his coloring book on the floor, and a simple handful of cheese crackers kept him happy for at least 10 minutes at a time. Huge improvements. Seriously.

And yes. We let him watch some educational shows on our iPad. With a child who refuses to sleep in the car this is sometimes the only way I can keep myself sane.

The first family vacation we took as a threesome was when we visited Kyoto, Japan. Riley was almost 4 months old and I remember looking at his peaceful little face as he snoozed away on the Shinkansen. We strapped him into his carrier and explored some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Riley fell asleep in the peaceful bamboo forest, played on the tatami mats at restaurants while we slurped noodles and dipped tempura, and flirted with anyone and everyone who would pay attention to him.

Kyoto Lunchbreak | Set the Table

It was a wonderful, joyful trip as you can probably tell from the above photo. Plus, in Japan, we were never far away from a place that served incredible food. Handmade inarizushi, comforting Japanese curry, and big bowls of ramen were always around to fill our stomachs and keep us going. Unfortunately, the same is not true when driving through the Midwest in the United States. Rather than giving in to the many fast-food chains at each and every exit along the interstate, I wanted to give you some other options that will make you feel better about what you're putting in your body.

1. Quinoa Salad with Peas, Bacon & Golden Raisins

Sweet, salty, and healthy. This is an ideal alternative to heavy pasta salads that travels well. Pack the salad in mason jars for easy, spill proof storage and keep in a cooler.

2. Irish Soda Bread with Dried Fruit & Nuts

There is no denying bread's status as a great comfort food. Slice the bread and put it in an airtight container before you start your drive. Add a little almond butter and you've got a protein-filled snack to get you through those long hours of driving.

3. Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons

These chocolate-dipped macaroons are the perfect 2-bite treats for long car trips. They are reasonably healthy and last for 2-3 days in an airtight container. No need to stick in the cooler UNLESS you are driving during a really warm time of year. In that case, stick 'em in the cooler so they don't melt everywhere. Got it? Good.

4. Smoked Salmon Dip in Endive Cups

Say hello to the perfect light lunch! Flavorful, filling, and easy to eat on the go. Or during a picnic in the back of your mini-van. Whatevs.

5. Smokey Homemade Cheese Crackers

Cheese. Crackers. Homemade. Need I say anymore? I'll take two handfuls pleaseandthankyou.

Crested Butte, Colorado

Some of my happiest memories as a child were made during family road trips to Tennessee. My sister and I spent the entire drive being as goofy as possible; we built "forts" with blankets in the backseat of the mini-van, which in hindsight was probably not the safest thing for my dad as he drove; we blasted the air-conditioning so we could bundle up and get a little break from the heavy, humid air and Southern heat; we laughed until our stomachs hurt and tears ran down our cheeks, usually over things no one else would understand. As I head toward 30, I'm happy that my sister and I can still recreate that silly, giggly feeling from our younger years, even if those moments are few and far between now that we live so far apart.

Brad, Riley and I began a similar tradition with our family when we drove to Crested Butte from Denver last week. Riley may not have a sibling to laugh with yet, but he and Decorah the dog entertained each other just fine. Sometimes, Brad and I would peak in the backseat to find Riley smiling like a total goofball at himself in the mirror attached to the headrest of his seat. Other times, we would sit and listen as he babbled on about this or that. We had no idea what he was saying, but he was quite sure of himself and every sound was wonderfully expressive.

Just as my family had places where we had to stop on the way to Tennessee, we have our favorite  as well. Camp 4 Coffee is one of those places. The first time I went to Crested Butte was probably 5 years ago. Brad and I made the trip with his parents and they showed us around the town. Camp 4 was one of those places that, long after leaving the little mountain town, I never forgot. Each time we return to the coffee shop, everything tastes even better than what I remember. The lattés are absolutely perfect when enjoyed outside the shop in the crisp, mountain air and warm sun. A fresh-baked cake donut doesn't hurt either...

One of my favorite memories from this trip has to be taking Riley sledding for the first time. The smile on his face was so infectious. I was reminded of winter days spent sledding in Minnesota on the hills of a nearby golf course. We would sled until our cheeks were pink and slightly numb from the cold and we had screamed in excitement at least a dozen times as we flew down the hill in our plastic sleds. We would then go home to the warm kitchen and sit down to sip some hot chocolate and thaw out. Quintessential winter moments like these should be experienced by every child. I can't wait for next year when we can do it all over again and see how Riley has grown since this first ride.

One of the greatest parts about the trip was being able to take in the view from the patio. Each time I see the massive mountains all around us my breath catches in my chest and I am in total awe of how amazing this earth is. After living in Japan, I had forgotten that the United States has some pretty incredible sights to see. This trip was exactly the reminder I needed.

I think we tend to take short vacations for granted. No matter where you go, a few days away from the stresses that can accumulate at home is often enough to make you appreciate the day to day stuff. When we returned from this trip, I walked into our new house and felt, for the first time since moving here from Japan, like it was a relief to be "home". Between the new memories we made, traditions we started, and the quiet time Brad and I had together, this was the perfect vacation.

Now the question is, when can we go back?