Explore the New Restaurant Recommendations section for Jaltemba Bay – written by Tara Spears
Tara’s Best Bets
| FRONT PAGE | NAYARIT NEWS | Tara’ Best Bets |
TRAVEL | HOME & LIVING | MEXICO INSURANCE PRODUCTS |
TRAVEL BUDDIES |
Tara A. Spears
When you visit Mexico, you will find that salsa is everywhere, from street food stalls to high-end restaurants, and it is an essential component of most meals. Initially I was hesitant to use it, but once I tried salsa, I loved it. Mexico, a country known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and delicious cuisine, is a paradise for food enthusiasts. Naturally one expects great things from this iconic and beloved cooking element in Mexican cuisine. Salsa is a flavorful and spicy sauce made from a variety of ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and cilantro.
When I moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in 2000, for the first time in my life, I experienced food poisoning repeatedly the first month but chalked it up to a foreign stomach not being used to the spicy food. By the time I was here six months, I was 20 pounds under my lowest ideal weight. I didn’t know that salsa can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms, especially if it’s not handled or stored properly.
In case you aren’t aware, food poisoning is a general term for illness caused by contaminated food, while salmonella is a specific type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning- the terms are related but not interchangeable. Because I loved salsa I educated myself about proper preparation and storage.
Therefore, in late 2000 I was not surprised to read the headline “99/100 Restaurants Tested Had Botulism in salsa…” The issue was not the quality of the venue but the tradition of keeping food at room temperature. The result of the Health Department testing was instigating the food regulation that stipulates that salsa can only be a maximum of two hour unrefrigerated. Therefore, if you walk into a restaurant and a bowl of salsa is sitting on the table, red flag alert! Do not eat it. If salsa is brought to you after you are seated, chilled, it should be safe.
In the 1990s and early 00s, it was the custom for EVERY restaurant and food cart in Mexico to have bowls of salsa sitting on the tables from the time they opened until they closed. It’s when I learned first-hand what the adage ‘watch out for Montezuma’s revenge’ refers to. This slang expression is the quick onset of gastrointestinal distress, including diarrhea and stomach cramps, that travelers often experience after consuming contaminated food or water while in Mexico. This condition is commonly caused by bacteria, particularly strains of E. coli, that is quick to grow in room temperature salsa.
In fact, at that time, food poisoning was so common that the Mexican Health Department (the Secretaría de Salud) specifically under the General Law on Health and NOM (Normas Oficiales Mexicanas) investigated. The Secretaria de Salud then enacted standards that emphasize sanitary control and preventing contamination by passing a regulation in 2001 that prohibited salsa from being at room temperature for more than two hours. Today, the proper handling of salsa in restaurants is the norm.
Let’s look at some of the most popular types of salsa in Mexico: Pico de Gallo is an essential side for Mexican food. It’s stuffed in things, piled on things, served as a side. It’s by far the most well-known Mexican salsa. And it’s definitely no coincidence that the red tomato, white onion and green cilantro/coriander represent the colors of the Mexican flag!
Salsa roja, a mild and smoky sauce made from tomatoes, onions, and chipotle peppers. Salsa verde, a tangy and herby sauce made from tomatillos, jalapeños, and cilantro. Salsa cruda, a raw and spicy sauce made from diced onions, jalapeños, and cilantro. Salsa negra, a dark and earthy sauce made from chipotle peppers, garlic, and spices.
is more than just a condiment in Mexico; it has cultural significance as a symbol of community, tradition, and hospitality. In Mexican culture, salsa is served at home and often served at social gatherings, celebrations, and holidays. Salsa is a way of bringing people together and sharing in the joy of good food and good company. When you visit Mexico, you will find that salsa is an essential part of most meals, and it is often served with a variety of dishes such as fish tacos, tortillas, and grilled meats. Today, salsa is a staple in Mexican cuisine, and enjoyed by people all over the world.
Scholarships Help Local Men Achieve Bright Futures
Tara A. Spears
So many seasonal vacationers take the time to give back to their adopted community. It’s amazing what the kind and generous folks at the La Penita RV Park accomplish by holding Sunday Hamburger Night for approximately 10 weeks to generate money for scholarships. Did you know that the public is welcome? No ticket required, simply take a cab to the RV park just north of the Penita main Avenida. Choose your grilled burger or sausage and sides, sip from the open bar, relax and have a good time. As the vacation season wraps up, plan to attend the Sunday, March 1, Scholarship Fundraiser. Not only will you get to meet the students but the food and libations are accompanied by an exciting silent auction! Come to the Park pool area between 5:00 -8:00 pm to check out all the goodies. What an amazing impact each burger and margarita will have for these young men!
Presently, the RV Park Educational Fund is supporting 23 talented men. The range of study is impressive: there are 4 engineers, 4 in business, 2 lawyers, 2 architects, 6 in health care fields plus three studying to be doctors! These guys are smart, motivated, and the future of the community. In the 19 years that Carole Thacker has managed the Educational Fund, it has provided financial help to more than 34 men.
The RV Park Educational Fund opens the door to the opportunity to achieve their dreams! For the majority of the students, without this scholarship he would not be able to attend university.
In 2008, the cost of Mexican university tuition was $800 pesos a year. The cost gradually increased until January, 2023, the tuition saw a huge increase to the current level of $4,500 a year. Due to the generosity of the park residents, the Educational Fund was able to increase the scholarship amount to keep pace with the expense. The reason that the RV Educational Fund assists only men is because there is another organization that funds the females according to that group’s objective.
It’s very important to know that the RV award is based on several criteria-not just economic need. This is why there is such a high success rate of graduates. Not every applicant receives an award: we evaluate to consider who is academically capable of succeeding, and how his education will benefit the community, leadership potential, in addition to his economic need.
In a tourist/ hospitality driven economy there is a high demand for the business degrees to manage the hotels as well as in the support technical fields. In this area there is high demand for all the typical service fields: business, engineering, medical. The awards are made for one year but renewable until the student completes his studies and graduates.
We applaud the motivation of these outstanding young men as they strive to achieve their potential and to enhance the quality of life for themselves, their families, and their community. Each young man dreams of the day that he will have his own business or executive level employment. Who could have imagined that enjoying a burger and margarita under the palms would have such significant and long-lasting benefits? Please help by being a sponsor- message Carole Thacker.
Tara A. Spears
Who doesn’t love a party? And a party on vacation in a coastal Mexican town, well it doesn’t get any better. This year’s theme, Tropical Charro (Sultry Cowboys,) celebrates the strong ranching presence in Nayarit. Usually Mexican fiestas are child inclusive and there are several amusements for them during the day but carnival after dark is the adult party of the year. This event kicked off on Thursday, February 12, with a parade, appearance of the politicos, and a beauty contest. The weekend has stellar bands performing live in the Penita town square or the bullring. A very popular activity is the stunning Sunday afternoon calvacade of horsemen that ride from Los Ayala, through Guayabitos, and down the avenida to finish at the Penita Bullring where there will be three live bands entertaining.
The carnival concludes on Tuesday, February 17, with a parade and one last band. A new carnival theme related event is being held in Guayabitos on February 24: Mardi Gras on the Beach , 11 am-4pm. Besides the bands, games and entertainment, there is plenty of cold beer and tequila plus lots of food venders. The main avenue of La Peñita de Jaltemba becomes the epicenter of the celebration, welcoming riders and spectators in a vibrant atmosphere. The perfect weather, the caliape of sounds blend with the shared happiness of the crowd dancing in the street makes for a lively evening.
Although the original Mardi Gras carnival started in New Orleans, USA, the idea of getting all of your naughtiness out of your system before the austerity of lent quickly captured world-wide interest. It’s just such a natural thing to want to dance in the street in small town Mexico, carnival is a great idea.
The local food venders offer a wide variety of gastronomy, desserts, sweets, ice creams, popsicles and traditional favorites. There will be stalls selling tamales, atoles, champurrado, corn, esquites, cakes, sandwiches, jellies, flans, pie, cake, tejuino, fresh waters of different fruits and flavors. Another popular booth sells delicious coffee from Compostela, which already has more than 55 brands. Available by the aromatic hot cup or bagged beans to take home.
Typically, there are beautiful handicrafts of Compostela and Nayarit, in wood, leather, beads, fabrics, embroidery, glass and ceramics. The Leather goods for the field, livestock or charrería worker are sold. Not to be missed, of course, is the Carnival Finale, which is a beautiful Parade of Allegorical Floats and a final band.
In case you didn’t know the importance of the dates from a tourist point of view, after carnival prices go up. In 2026, Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18 (Ash Wednesday), and ends at sundown on Thursday, April 2. Good Friday and Easter are both early this year thanks to an early Mardi Gras. This year, Good Friday will be on April 3, and Easter Sunday will be on April 5. Regardless of your faith, these dates are significant from a monetary point of view. In Mexico, the ENTIRE country has spring break at the same two-week time, which enables millions to visit the coast on vacation. Therefore, airfare and room rentals are at their highest.
Don’t miss out on the unforgettable party atmosphere of La Penita Carnaval, consider it practice for Semanta Santa!
