Restaurant Rio Grande has Been Making Traditional Vallarta Style Seafood since 1984. They have a House Special Pescado Sarandeado That is Superb.
And a Visit to Puerto Vallarta’s Smallest Taco Stand Taqueria “El Banquito”
Propane Gas Shortage in Puerto Vallarta
Pueblo Magico Funds Pulled by Government
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Hello fellow travelers, welcome this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico.
That music you were just listening to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta’s Oldest Restaurant on the famous Los Muertos Beach, and The El Dorado Restaurant and Beach Club right next door so you can enjoy that fantastic view of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors, or during the day in its grand splendor for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with our toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends.
This week I’m going to take you to one of my favorite restaurants in Vallarta called Restaurant Rio Grande and I’m going to introduce you to a great young man Alain Hernandez, son of the owner of Restaurant Rio Grande, also you will meet Tino Perez, the owner of the tiniest taco stand in Vallarta but before that, let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta, the 30th of December, 2018.
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The Puerto Vallarta Travel Show Celebrates Two Years
Well it’s almost New Year’s Day so happy new year and happy 2-year anniversary of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is the 96th episode so closing in on the 100-episode mark. Thank you all for listening and remember the deal we made, keep those suggestions for topics coming in and remember to turn your friends on to the show.
I launched this podcast on December 29th 2016 with just three interviews in the can so to speak, and a plane ticket to come to Puerto Vallarta not on vacation, but as kind of a journalist with a microphone and a podcast. I landed January 5th and hit the ground running. And I’m indebted to the first few people who said yes to me when the show was in it’s infancy. Gary Beck who so graciously said yes to me even though he had no Idea who I was. To author Howard Johns who wrote the book about the making of the Night of the Iguana, Gary Thompson from the Malecon Sculpture Tour, Bob Price at The Botanical Gardens, Carmen Porras from El Arryan, Muralist Adrian Takano, Gabby Perez From Gaby’s Restaurant, Pamela Thompson from Healthcare Rescores and a couple more of you I visited with my first trip down, thank you for helping me get the show started and off the ground. And Thank you for the wonderful and invaluable information you have imparted to all of us.
Thanks to you listeners who email me and send me notes of encouragement and tips and suggestions. Those little things are what put fuel in my tanks. The interaction is for me, something I didn’t expect at first because I wasn’t sure if people would listen you know? But I was floored I guess that people actually liked the show. So thank you all from the bottom of my heart and let’s get a jump on season 3 of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show!
Corazón de Niña Schedule Change Again
The folks at Corazon de Nina want to remind everyone that this coming week’s Humanitarian Breakfast Tour will be again 
moved from Tuesday the first of January when you will all be hung over and puking into your respective toilets of gutters or whatever. Recovering from too much raicilla, a bad Cuban Cigar or name your poison. Oh where was I, oh yeah, Corazon de Nina, our favorite Orphanage in Vallarta will be moving the Humanitarian Breakfast from Tuesday to Thursday again this week, so come down this Thursday the 3rd of January at 9:30 Sharp, and see what Melissa Canez is doing for these wonderful children who need so much love. Go there and see what I’m talking about I have information about Casa Corazon in the show notes so go, go.
Propane Gas Shortage in Puerto Vallarta
There is a propane gas shortage in Puerto Vallarta and it’s affecting restaurants, hotels and even god forbid, hot showers in condos and hotels and the temperature of the swimming pools in hotels and condos.
A couple of local restaurants had to shut down due to the shortage. Gas trucks have been making the rounds but it’s slow getting back to business.
It seems there is a refinery in Tlaquepaque that is down for maintenance and that has caused a shortage. There have been lines, long lines for gas way out in Las Juntas near Ixtapa, on the road to San Sebastian near the airport off 200 on highway 544, over at Global Gas. If you are in need of a refill of your propane tank, just line up with the rest of the world. Hire a line sitter. I have a map for you in the show-notes.
Hopefully they will have this all cleared up soon. Hey, I’m coming in to town for goodness sake!
We spoke last week about the festivities that restaurants will be having. Check with your favorite restaurant to check if they have anything planned for New Years, and if they have any room for you. Things will be busy, as long as there is gas that is.
Get yourselves down to the waterfront or up high for a good vantage-point and enjoy the firework show.
Good-luck getting sleep by the way the celebrations get loud and last long into the night in many neighborhoods.
Mexico Celebrates Three Kings Day January 6
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – January 6th is Three Kings Day in Mexico, known as El Día de Reyes. This is Epiphany on the church calendar, the 12th day after Christmas, when the Magi arrived bearing gifts for baby Jesus.
In Mexico children receive gifts on this day, brought by the three kings, Los Reyes Magos, Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltazar. Some children receive gifts from both Santa Claus and the Kings, but Santa is seen as an imported custom, and the traditional day for Mexican children to receive gifts is January 6th.
Arrival of the 3 Kings:
In the days preceding Kings Day children write letters to the Magi requesting a toy or gift that they would like. On the night of January 5th, the figures of the Wise Men are placed in the nativity scene. Traditionally children would leave out their shoes with a bit of hay in them to feed the animals of the Magi (they are often shown with a camel). When the children would wake up in the morning their gifts appeared in place of the hay. Nowadays, like Santa Claus, the Kings tend to place their gifts under the Christmas tree.
After opening their gifts, the children spend the day playing and admiring each other’s presents, sharing them with friends, talking about how they were able to hear or see the Reyes Magos when they arrived at their home, how one of them heard the camel’s footsteps, how the other saw a shining crown in the dark night! Meanwhile, adults prepare for the Merienda de Reyes, an early evening dinner that friends and families share to celebrate the Epiphany.
Rosca de Reyes:
On Three Kings Day it is customary to eat Rosca de Reyes, a sweet bread shaped like a wreath, with candied fruit on top, and a figurine of a baby Jesus baked inside. The person who finds the figurine is expected to host a party on Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas), celebrated on February 2nd, when tamales and hot chocolate are served.
Toys for Tots Vallarta:
Here in Puerto Vallarta, each and every year, CasaMagna Marriott Resort, The Navy League and local businesses join forces to distribute thousands of toys to children throughout the states of Jalisco and Nayarit who would not receive a gift without Toys for Tots Vallarta. This year distribution to the most needy communities in the Banderas Bay region – from Cabo Corrientes to Riviera Nayarit – will take place on Monday, January 9th. If you would like to be part of one of the most heartwarming traditions in Vallarta, please join us at 7 am in the parking lot of the Casa Magna Marriott in Marina Vallarta.
Sources: GoMexico.com • Inside-Mexico.com
https://www.tripsavvy.com/three-kings-day-in-mexico-1588771
Meet and Greet at Kelly’s Pour Favor January 8th and 15th
A quick reminder about those upcoming meet and greet open microphone podcasts coming from JR’s meeting spot, Kelly’s Pour Favor Saloon and cookhouse, we will be on the rooftop eating, drinking and having a great time and talking with you to see what you are doing in paradise. We are meeting Tuesday January 8th from 5:30 in the afternoon till 7:30, and then the following Tuesday January 15th same time 5:30 till 7:30.
Then a feet in the sand open microphone event in front of Cuates y Cuetes on Los Muertos Beach at 2 in the afternoon Thursday January 17th till 4 in the afternoon. Join me for a beer, chips and guacamole and tell us what you are doing in Paradise. Three chances to get on the show. Tell your friends. Let’s have some fun.
Okay, some bad news for the Pueblo Magico Program here in Mexico..
From Mexico News Daily This Report.
Federal government cancels magical towns’ “Pueblos Magicos” funding program’
Tourism secretary wants state and municipal governments to invest their own money in the scheme.
Mexico’s 121 magical towns might not receive any federal money in 2019 because the program that currently funds them has been cancelled.
Tourism Secretary Miguel Torruco confirmed that the government has terminated the funding program known as Prodermágico, explaining that it wants state and municipal governments to invest their own money in the upkeep and promotion of their pueblos mágicos.
The new government has also decided to disband the Tourism Promotion Council (CPTM), which tourism insiders said would affect Mexico’s smallest states the most.
Nevertheless, resources allocated to the Secretariat of Tourism in the 2019 budget presented last week increased by 124% compared to this year but the lion’s share of funding will go towards construction of the Maya Train.
The magical towns program launched in 2001 with the aim of boosting visitor numbers to lesser known destinations with special features that make them attractive to tourists.
This year, the previous federal government allocated 586 million pesos (US $29.3 million) to Prodermágico, meaning that if the money was distributed evenly, each magical town would have received over 4.8 million pesos (US $240,000).
Before the new government took office, Torruco said he would carry out an “exhaustive review” of the magical towns scheme, charging that its rules and objectives had become unclear.
Last month, two tourism experts said that no one really knows how effective the pueblos mágicos program is in attracting tourism because there is no standardized means to measure its success.
The scheme also faced claims during the last government’s six-year term that it is more about politics than tourism and that the designation of a destination as magical comes down to negotiations between state governors and federal authorities, with money as the main motivator.
The decision to eliminate the program’s federal funding is expected to have the greatest impact on México state, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Puebla, Querétaro, Veracruz and Zacatecas. Half of all pueblos mágicos are located in those states.
Despite Torruco’s confirmation that the funding program has been scrapped, Sinaloa Tourism Secretary Óscar Pérez Barros said that both his federal counterpart and President López Obrador had assured state authorities that funding would actually increase.
Pérez said that a 27% increase in funding for Mocorito, El Rosario, Cosalá and El Fuerte was proposed, claiming “it’s in the budget, what happened is that they didn’t label it as such.”
In San Luis Potosí, municipal authorities in Real de Catorce and Aquísimón said that they will seek funding from other federal programs as well as the state government so they can continue to attract tourists.
The latter town was one of 10 destinations that were added to the program in October.
In Jalisco, lawmaker Luis Ernesto Munguía said that cancellation of the Prodermágico program amounted to “punishment” for the state’s magical towns including Tequila, Lagos de Moreno and Mazamitla.
Adriana Cardoso, tourism director in Huichapan – one of six pueblos mágicos in Hidalgo – described the government’s decision as “regrettable,” explaining that the funding had been used both to maintain the town’s “magical” image as well as to promote it.
And I have a link to that article in the shownotes to this epicode of the show.
This is really going to effect places like San Sebastian I’m afraid. We will see what happens for sure.
Okay let’s get to the interviews.
Taqueria “El Banquito” Taco Stand in Puerto Vallarta
I love to eat and I love typical Vallarta style fare. Seafood and tacos.
One of my favorite taco stands in Vallarta isn’t really a stand at all, it’s a closet. Seriously, this taco stand is in a closet, under a stairway, kinda like Harry Potter’s room if you have read the books. The place is on Libertad just up the street from Una Familia, on the same side of the street. It’s called Taqueria “El Banquito” which is a joke
of course. Tino Perez the owner has a sense of humor. He has a single stool out front. Banquito beans a little banquet, and this guy makes tacos dorados, crispy tacos de Birria. Three for 30 pesos. That’s a buck 50 US. And they are so, so good. People line up in front of this little stand that could from the time he
opens and the smell of his tacos comes pouring out of his closet. He has help from his niece who answers calls and packages up these crispy delights as the locals take them away in bags back to the office or
whatever. Many just stand there on Libertad, and gobble down these tacos. So good. So let’s meet Tino Perez, the man in charge at Taqueria “El Banquito”, we will do the Spanglish thing and at the end, I will try to clear up whatever I think needs further translating. So let’s go right now to Libertad #186 and meet Tino Perez, at Taqueria “El Banquito” Puerto Vallarta.
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Contact Information For El Banquito
- Address: Centro Libertad #186 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco ,Mexico
- Phone: +52 322 141 2301
- Facebook Page: Facebook El Banquito
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-banquito-puerto-vallarta
I’m so hungry.
Okay.
He’s open every day except Tuesday from 9 till 4 and I have a map to his closet in the show-notes and pictures as well. Don’t miss Tino!
Restaurant Rio Grande Puerto Vallarta
I only take you to places I like. And this next place is no exception.
I first heard about it from Gil Gevins From Lucy’s Cucu Cabana. I always ask my guests their favorite places as you know and I do try to eat at ask many of these places as I possibly can and this recommendation was …what was it Gil?
So, I went to check this place out myself with my wife back in May, and we both fell in love with this place.
So, I asked the owner Arturo Hernandez if he would let me interview him back in May and he said yes, a little hesitant, but yes. So I promised to come back into town in October to talk with them and when I did, Arturo suggested I talk with his son, Alain
who he said spoke better English. So I set up my microphones in the dining room, and had a chat with this fine young man who’s mom, Gaby and Dad Arturo, opened this restaurant the same year I started coming to Valarta. And that’s a long time so let’s go to Avenida Mexico in Puerto Vallarta Mexico, and meet Alian Hernandez from El Rio Grande Restaurant Puerto Vallarta.
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Nice guy and the food is out of this world. Very authentic Mexican seafood done the Vallarta Way.
Suggestions From Alain Hernandez from Restaurant Rio Grande Puerto Vallarta
Breakfast Ideas
- Amarosa Restaurant Puerto Vallarta
- Canopy River Breakfast Puerto Vallarta
- Cocos Kitchen, Puerto Vallarta
- La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta
- Alcatraces Puerto Vallarta likes the chiliquelles
- Buffet at the Vidante Resort- Cafe de Lago Grand lux
Places to See in Puerto Vallarta
- Mayto
- Tehumamtle
- Manzanilla Corales
- Las ánimas
- Yelapa
- Quimixto
Likes the rivers and Towns of:
- Paso Ancho
- El Nogalito Pablo Maria Waterfall
Suggestions for First Time Visitor
- Bring positive energy
I have pictures in the shownotes of the place, of Alain and a Map that will take you right to the front door of Rio Grande.
Information for Restaurant Rio Grande Puerto Vallarta
- Address: Av. Mexico 1175 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Mexico 48350
- Phone: (322)222-0095
- Facebook: Facebook Page Rio Grande
- Website: https://www.restaurantriograndevallarta.com/en/
I also have a great video embedded in the post of a commercial they did with this actor being shown how to eat the pescado sarandiado that is so precious you have to see it. I uploaded it to the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show Facebook Page so check it out there. And next time you are in Vallarta, try out this restaurant. They are great!
Now next week will be a travel week so I intend to have the first show on the new year come out on Thursday January the 10th, and I will get back to producing the show on Thursdays. Even while I’m in Mexico. I may have to lean on my friends at Vallarta Co-work, but they always come in handy as a back-up.
So, until next year and next month actually from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, stay tuned for more on the ground reports from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with travel tips, great restaurant and excursion ideas and more. Until then, remember, this is an interactive show where I depend on your questions and suggestions about all things Puerto Vallarta. If you think of something I should be talking about, please reach out to me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending us your message.
And remember, if you are considering booking any type of tour while you are in Puerto Vallarta, you must go to Vallartainfo.com, JR’s website and reserve your tour through him, right from his website. Remember the value for value proposition. His experience and on the ground knowledge of
everything Puerto Vallarta in exchange for your making a purchase of a tour that you would do anyway, you’re just doing it through him as a way of saying thank you. It costs no more than if you were to use someone else so do it. Really. And when you
do take one of these tours, email me about your experiences. Maybe you can come on-board and share with others what you liked or didn’t like about the tour. Again, contact me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending off a message. Don’t forget his maps, his DIY tours and his revitalized Happy Hour Board. I have links to all of those in the show notes.
And once again, if you like this podcast, please take the time and subscribe and give me a good review on iTunes if you would. That way we can get the word out to more and more people about the magic of this place. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Remember
I made it easy for you to do just that with each episode I create. But if you haven’t been to my website, you really need to have a look there. I have the links to the places we talk about, interesting pictures and the more all right there in my blog-posts and
show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven’t already all-right? All right.
And thank you to Tino Perez from The Tiniest Taco Stand in Vallarta Taqueria “El Banquito”, go see him and have some tacos dorados, I have his info in the show-notes, and thanks to Alain Hernandez from Rio Grande Restaurant. Go eat there. Really
you guys. And let them know that I told you about their place on The Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. They will get a kick out of that for sure.
And thanks to all of you for listening all the way through this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is Barry Kessler signing off with a wish for you all to slow down, be kind and live the Vallarta lifestyle. Nos Vemos amigos!
