Another instalment of all things food and all things that food makes us feel... ...and Im feeling like seafood lately. On the last day of Los Tres Amigos gallivanting all over the cityscape of Merida we head North to Norte and a relatively new restaurant called El Pez Gordo. The restaurant has been open for about 6 months now and we saw the Fat Fish and I wanted to take the West Coast Canadians for a taste of East Coast Yucatan seafood samplings. The decor colours are right out of a childrens crayola colouring box. Lime greens, grapefruit reds and sky blues cover the high ceilings and walls. Hand blown glass lights and colourful mosaics adorn the premises and a great bar that looks right out of Gilligans Island complete with grass roof! The staff were right on the ball as we walked in and the place was buzzing. Two floors were packed to the rafters and staff were dressed in great looking polo shirts ( I wonder if they are for sale ) with all the 5 or 6 mascots that are part of the ambience of El Pez Gordo ( the Fat Fish ). Although Im not too keen on pictures on menus, since we are no where near fluent in Spanish, this was a good thing in this case. Nothing like ordering up a dish of prawns and getting a side of shredded cabbage instead , hehehehe, so the pictures are a bonus and we just pointed and grunted as the friendly staff smiled and took our orders. Actually the owner came and greeted us and recommended a few things - actually, he ordered our whole meal, hehehehe. This was key as he gave us the tour of the menu and seemed to know what we were looking for and ordered a nice selection of vastly different items. We had no idea what we were in for as Julian and his beautiful wife, Elenita, laughed and joked with us. Elenita was a charming and warm as I have come to notice with most Spanish women. She recommended the ceviche two ways and we were not disappointed at all. The Ceviche is not in the traditional sense, a hard biting citrus flavour, but in fact, had a slight sweetness I havent found in any ceviche Ive tried. Small pieces of fresh mango, jicama and dragon fruit nestled besides ample chunks of fish, octopus and good sized shrimp with cilantro and fresh Merida limes came in a porcelain fry pan for a very interesting presentation. Then the adventure started. We soon had some kind of tacos that were heaped with perfectly done shrimp ( nice and firm ) and shredded pork. I know I know, shrimp and pork??? A cup go a smooth creamy cheesy concoction that held oodles of firm shrimp, perfectly cook fish and shredded local cheese that resembled feta. Winner! Another interesting kinda of a potato hash brown cup filled with seafood topped with another kind of cheese. Small bite sized deep fried tuna bits set on a bed of guacamole that my guests devoured in seconds. Nice sized long pieces of local fish covered with what I think was Corn Flakes and deep fried to make one of the crispest fish sticks I have ever eaten ( I cant stand fish that comes out crispy and two minuted later is as limp as a wet rag ). And finally some sort of stuffed taco brimming with seafood and the ever present frijoles negro - black beans. Another special treat was the sauces that come on the table for you to try at your leisure. A total of four really different sauces in squeeze bottles and bowl of fresh tortilla chips. A coconut syrup with fire roasted habaneros that just knocked my socks off. The fire roasted habs were hot yet the roasting tempers the heat to a bearable tolerance, hehehe. The mayo, avocado, Italian parsley was obviously a fire retardant to coat the mouth after diving into a sauce with no conscience designed to get your attention, pronto! A carrot based, fruity, orangey sauce with a nice heat to it and of course the rip your face off traditional HOT sauce just daring you to squirt a little of the habanero madness picked from the devils own garden. Bonus... All the sauces are for sale and I know you will not find these styles and tastes anywhere else but El Pez Gordo. The boys in fact picked up one of each for their travels back to Canada ( they told me there was no problem at the border with bringing them into the country ). Ive always said that the true complement to any Chef or Owner is not the very tasty or excellent dinner comments. The thank you come in the silent form of empty plates and every plate that we ordered was cleaned within an inch of taking the marking of the damn things, hehehe. El Pez Gordo has a nicely stocked bar and a good selection of ice cold beer which is a pre requisite for any self respecting Mexican restaurant. We waddle from our tables as the staff said good bye and both Julian and the lovely Elenita bid a soft adios. If you like seafood with a decidedly Mexican twist then you cant go wrong with El Pez Gordo - The Fat Fish. El Pez Gordo is located across the street from a large casino with a large inflated Corona bottle at the parking entrance. Plaza Monaco avenue Garcia Lavin y 57 Phone (999) 3168065 elpezgordo.mx fb and twitter ElPezGordoMx Gregorito Ate Here.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 15:57:58 +0000
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