We Have A New Restaurant

There is a new restaurant called Sabores located in the former Blue McCaw Building in town.  I would assume from the name it will be Puerto Rican cuisine.  Haven't heard much about when it will open, but it must be soon since I did see one of the food purveyors delivering there. 

 

Don't forget Mediterranean Tapas tonight at the Mar Azul.  Should be some good eats.  Monday night the Spam Cook-Off returns.  The Cook-Off will be 7-10pm, with appetizer, entree, dessert and sculpture categories.  A $5 donation at the door will give you tasting rights and support the humane society. 

 

The Vieques Against Crime (VAC) group headed up by Sandy Malone of Weddings in Vieques has been spotlighted recently in most of the newspapers.  The group is focusing on creating a cohesive community/police relationship.  This includes training in English and victim advocacy for the police officers as well as appealing to the public  to report crime whenever and wherever it occurs.  As we all know, a community policed by it's citizens is a safe one. 

 

I have mentioned previously that there is a huge movement to ''green up'' Vieques.  I have just seen one the first steps toward that with the drink cups from Duffy's in Esperanza.  They are green and they change color when something cold is put in them.  Way cool.  The idea is to buy your cup and bring it with you wherever you go.  That will eliminate at least six plastic cups per day, per person going into the trash.  That translates into 1.8 million cups per month. (Scary, huh) I just found out that a friend's family member is in the biodegradable business.  The cups, eating utensils, plates, bags etc that his company produces are made from corn husks.  They are sturdy and reusable until they sit in the sun.  The sunlight degrades them in a very short time.  The items are already in use at many marinas around Puerto Rico, since if they accidentally get blown overboard, they will simply disintegrate.  No dead sea turtles with this stuff.  This kind of thing is so important to us.  We are an island and we can't truck our trash to someone else's backyard. 

 

The road work continues, but the potholes have grown exponentially with the rain we've had in the last two weeks.  The section between the Green Store and the Malecon is terrible.  The area in front of the turn to the middle road has come unglued again.  The flats outside Esperanza have crumbling shoulders so the road is only about 1and 3/4 care widths wide.  Shrink that when the vehicle coming at you is a huge dump truck headed to the road construction sites. 

 

May 23rd is Birthday Night at Kuhn's.  For everyone with a birthday in May, attendance is mandatory.  Kuhn's actually does this every month, along with weekly dominoes.  Pretty fun and you get to visit the wine room and see what's new in there. 

 

JC

 

 

Spam is Back

Just got word that the Famous (Infamous) Spam Cook-Off is on for Monday, May 21, 2012 at Al's Mar Azul.  For the uninitiated, this is undoubtedly one of the most absurd and fun events ever.  You get a can (or 12) of Spam and create something as nearly edible as possible.  This is not just your average spam 'n eggs or spam 'n cheese competition.  Think caviar, pate, silk cake and much more.  Not only is what you create important, but how you showcase it as well.  One year, there was a huge spam sand castle complete with ramparts, flags, and a drawbridge.  Not a spam fan.  There is lots of Tequila there also.

 

It's all happening at the Mar Azul.  On Thursday, May 17, Jimmy is dishing up Mediterranean Tapas for this months specialy night.  Always a good time, and the mediterranean diet works for everyone.

 

Some energetic people had started up a Rotary Club on the island.  The meetings are every Tuesday night, 7pm, at Lazy Jack's and last abolutely only 30 minutes or less.  I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of Rotary Clubs, but I wasn't really aware of the magnitude of the whole thing, on a national or international level until I read up.  Anyway, the issues are humanitarian.  The Vieques Club is working toward funding youth programs and hopefully will be able to get funds from the National Rotary to supplement what is raised here.  Stop by the meeting if you are here.  Dues are minimal and the end result huge. 

 

The roadwork continues here.  The gutters that have been built along the edges of the roads are doing their job of keeping the water off the traveled portion of the roads, but we haven't yet figured out where it is all going.  One can only assume that wherever it is, there will be one ginormous pothole.  There are two John Deere backhoes at work on this project.  Both are totally tricked out.  One has chrome plate on the hoe part and wow is it shiny.  The other is done in matte black.  The stereo systems in both of them them rival anything you ever listened to.  Pretty sure these guys drive  them on date nights.   Only in Vieques. 

 

JC

REGIONS OF ITALY @ COCONUTS Saturday, May 5,2012

“LIGURIA”

PRIMI
Calamari alla Piastra- Grilled calamari with lemon, thyme & garlic
Daily Bread
Pizza con Pesto, Gamberi, Pepperoni e Provolone
PASTA
House-made Pasta Rollatini con Manzo, Cippoli e Funghi
SECONDI
Petto di Pollo en Vino Bianco con Insalata di Farro
Pesce Spada Grillata con Finocchio, Limone e Patata
Bacala e Gamberi Dorati
DOLCE
Fritelle di Ricotta con Nutella Gelato

787.741.9325  for  Reservations & Information
59 Calle Benitez Guzman, Isabel II
FRIDAY-TUESDAY 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

A Few Things Are Changing

Dorothy from Coconuts asked that I include news about the restaurant.  She writes:

 

As we approach the summer season, some changes are in store.  First, as of next Friday, May 4^th, we will be open Friday – Monday for dinner only from 5-9:30 p.m.  A new summer menu featuring lighter fare such as cold soups, additional salads, and even more fresh fish will be available by or before Memorial Day weekend.   We intend to begin our "Sabor Latino" evening on Mondays as well. 

Our seasonal closure will commence on Monday, July 30, 2012.  We will reopen for the 2012-2013 season in early November.  A surprise is likely as far as venue.  Stay tuned!

We thank all of our friends and customers for their patronage and support during our fourth season! 

Happy Summer,

Chef Alex, Dorothy, Susan & the Coconuts Staff

 

So, there you have it.  Dorothy has been playing the venue card pretty close to the chest, so I can't even speculate on it.  When the rumors start I'll pass them along.

 

The Trust has some exciting news.  In Puerto Real there is an abandoned school.  It's directly across from the school that isn't abandoned.  I had always thought that when I won powerball I would try to buy that property.  It has great space and cool architecture.  Anyway, the Trust has made an agreement with the municipality to have use of the school property, called Escuela Barbosa.  A grant from one of many, many goverment agencies has been secured in the amount of $60,000, and four individuals have pledged $10,000 each, so there is $100k to renovate the buildings.  The Trust will be using the space for the educational programs, and the renovations will all be "green".  The property itself will become an educational tool.  For more info you can go to the Trust's website, vcht.org.

 

Trade Winds has moved into the 21st century by installing a Point of Sale computer in the restaurant.  That is the computer screen you bang on with your fingers and the order goes into the kitchen.  While seating people the other night, I joked that with the new computer, if you order chicken and get steak, just eat it, since we don't know how to fix it.  At least I thought it was a joke.  Last night, someone ordered Churrasco and got a Filet!!!! ( I was hoping that I could order a medalla and get a bottle of Abarino for $3, but unfortunately the system is working in that area).

 

JC

 

JC

 

Relay for Life

2012 Relevo Por La Vida de Vieques, PR
28 de abril de 2012 en Balneario Sun Bay
25 días hasta el Relevo!    

2012Vieques Relay for Life April 28-29 in Sun Bay. 
You can join a team or just make a donation.
American Cancer Society and to local Vieques health needs.
www.relayforlife.org/viequespr

~kg

Pastrami Sandwich

How far would you go for a great pastrami sandwich?  It took me about two hours and two modes of transportation.  But I got one at FOODSPACE in Luquillo.  Lunch at Chef Michael's was fabulously good and just what one needs to get into the shopping zone.

 

Island living has its perks to be sure.  The view at work is the harbor in Esperanza, you can go to the beach at the drop of a hat, but......there are some oddities to it as well.  The pastrami sandwich being just one.  I am sure that most of you haven't ever thought about needing (not just wanting) to go to Walmart.  When you want some fresh vegetables you just stop at the store right?  How about when you need a special size light bulb, or a pair of socks, or a part for your car?  Here on Vieques, those things turn into an adventure.  It starts off weeks ahead of time.  You start compiling the list of what you need.  The week before your shopping excursion you call the rental car company to absolutely positively have a car.  The day before you go to the ferry to get a ticket.  The system is usually down and you have to go back at least twice to get one. The day of your trip you barely sleep for fear of missing the alarm which is set for 4am.  After nearly scalding yourself trying to make coffee, you stumble into the car and head to the dock with every piece of luggage you own, all empty. 

 

After getting on the boat, you realize that the AC is set for about forty degrees and you have to dig through your luggage to find the sweatshirt that you are pretty sure you packed.  If you can't find it or forgot it, you change seats to get as far from the AC as possible and curl into the fetal position to protect your vital organs from freezing.  After an hour's ride (if you get the Cayo Blanco or longer if you don''t)  the boat docks in Fajardo.  The crush to get out the door is bigger than the one at the last Rolling Stones concert you went to.  After finally getting off the boat, the search for the rental car begins.  (if you rent from world car rental however, you have to stand by the door on the boat the entire trip so you can sprint to the office.  Reservation or not, there is one line.  Reservation or not, you don't get a car if you are at the end of the line.)  So, back to searching for the rental car....the area by the docks is jam packed with taxis, people dropping off or picking up people.  The road is one way, but then the cargo boat lands and the three hundred foot tractor trailer can't make the corner after unloading, so it has to go up the street the wrong way. 

 

Now, once in the rental car, you creep slowly up the street due to all the traffic.  Being smart, you finally reach the road that will take you the back way to Route 3 and hang a right.  Unfortunately, this route takes you by two schools which causes at least another thirty minute delay.  So, at this point you have been traveling for close to three hours and are just getting to the parking lot at Walmart.  (Smart people park near the crows nest which houses the parking lot security.  That way if you forget what your rental car looks like, they can help you.)  Everyone synchronizes their phones and agrees to meet back at the car in exactly forty five minutes.  You can tell the Vieques people by the speed of their shopping.  There is no price comparison or product comparison.  You race up and down the aisles throwing things in your cart. 

 

This same thing happens at Costco, Home Depot, Marshalls, National Lumber, Old Navy, Sears, etc.  Shopping has to be finished no later than 2pm.  (and that is cutting it close).  The final stop is Lolita's for a well deserved Margarita.  But before you allow yourself to get one, you have to pack.  All the bags from all your stops have to be put into the luggage you brought.  This means that most of the packaging your items came in will have to be discarded.  As the packing becomes more frantic, the likelihood of throwing out directions, warranties and receipts becomes very high.  The mound of trash that has accumulated outside the rental car is larger than most trash barrels so you have to find a dumpster.  After that margarita, the race is on to get to the rental car office and back to the dock area to catch the 4:30.  Once there the stacking begins.  This is the method by which you are actually going to be able to get your stuff onto the boat.  The rolling dufflebag or cooler becomes your base, insulated bags are then bungee corded to the base.  Rugged items are tied to the sides and home goods like towels and pillows are stuffed in between.  You have to adjust the stacking several times to get just the right balance so the whole thing doesn't flip on you when you try to roll it down the dock.  And of course, the 4:30 boat is late.  About 6pm you roll off the boat and make the long trek to your car.  During the crossing, the balance on your stacking has been compromised so each little bump causes a major problem.  Even if you skip having a beer at the Mar Azul, it is usually after seven before you get home and you still have to unpack because the salmon filets are defrosting a warp speed. 

By the time the shopping expedition is over, you have been up for nearly twenty hours and you feel good that you actually went to the big island and got back in the same day. 

 

But that pastrami sandwich made it all worth it.

Concierto con el Municipal Steel Band

Concierto con el Municipal Steel Band
Miércoles (Wednesday), 25 de abril/April de 2012, 6:00 PM
Jardín de Incubadora (Garden of Business Incubator)
cerca de la Panadería La Viequense
(near the big bakery) Panadería La Viequense