The Ocean Grill Restaurant is located in a cove overlooking Colomitos Beach, south of Puerto Vallarta. It’s a destination restaurant accessed by panga, or a hike through the jungle. I interview Ernesto Paulsen, the owner.
Brewmaster festival is Coming to Vallarta
The Mayor of Vallarta Announces an Interstate Metropolitan Zone
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.
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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,
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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 on a little adventure, to a destination restaurant called The Ocean Grill, we’ve talked about the Ocean Grill briefly some time back when we took that hike from Boca de Tomatlan to Las Animas? Well. You are going to meet the owner and creator of the Ocean Grill Ernesto Paulsen. Also we will hear from our friend Edgar Rivas who will fill us in on the upcoming Brewmaster Festival but before we get to our guests, let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta, the 8th of November, 2019.
Funds to Maintain The Los Muertos Pier
So I was discussing the lack of lighting on the Los Muertos Pier the two weeks I was in Vallarta in October, and I announced the lights were back on this lats week.
For some time, the maintenance of the pier has been a sticking point. Everyone was pointing fingers at everyone else as to who was in charge. Was it the boat owners association’s problem? The Municipal Government? Who’s responsibility was it? Almost from the beginning there were issues with corrosion, lights being stolen, burning out and so forth. There have been concerns as to the stability of the sail, and whether the whole thing would fall over in a good wind. Well, it looks like help has finally arrived in the form of funds…let me read an article I found on in Spanish that I translated as best as I could for you from a Facebook post regarding just that and more.
Approval of the agreement for an Interstate Metropolitan Zone in The Bahia
The agreement was authorized with the Office of Conventions and Visitors here in Vallarta for the maintenance of the Los Muertos Pier.
The the City Council approved in ordinary session the ‘Coordination Agreement for the Installation and Operation of Governance Instances in the Interstate Metropolitan Area of Puerto Vallarta – Banderas Bay’, which will be signed by both municipalities, state governments of Jalisco and Nayarit, and the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), to officially give way to the creation of the country’s first interstate area.
Mayor Arturo Dávalos proclaimed that projects that are already being promoted from this metropolitan area, such as the construction of the Federation bridge that will link Vallarta with Banderas Bay, will begin to become a reality after its approval last Tuesday in the national competition that was carried out among the 72 zones throughout country, speaking of the joint work that is already carried out for both communities.
He said that December the agreement will be carried out. Davalos thanked all the councilors for their support in order to make this metropolitan area possible, “that will help us to knock on doors, to pull resources, to participate in national projects”.
He indicated that other projects in which both municipalities have already agreed on is the issue of water supply, which seeks to guarantee through a new radial well or a dam in the Mascota river canyons, as well as the construction of three bridges in the Guayabo pass, to connect from San José to Ixtapa. “Then, there are many projects that we will have to be competing at the national level with other metropolitan areas and to be lowering expenses precisely through the federal government and the states,” said the mayor.
Another of the points approved in this session of the City Council, is the finalization of a collaboration agreement with the Office of Conventions and Visitors of Puerto Vallarta AC so that the municipality receives resources for 2 million 850 thousand 145 pesos for the integral maintenance of the Los Muertos Pier, which was applauded by the municipal president, because after a long wait, this investment will finally allow the office of conventions to intervene, and service the pier, a tourist icon of the municipality.
In this regard, the Director of Public Works, Óscar Castellón Rodríguez, explained that in this first stage protection works will be done, because after a physical analysis of the substructure it was determined that most important, was the placement of new cathodic protection that prevents the Corrosion and rust of the metal structures. They will be cleaned of shells and mollusks embedded in the 38 columns and anodes with a 5-year shelf life will be installed, in addition 40 of the 140 lamps placed at the base will be replaced. He added that in recent days personnel from the Maintenance team put into operation the lighting of the sail.
The signing of the collaboration agreement with the Coordination, Command, Control, Communications and Computing Center of the State of Jalisco was also authorized by a simple majority, with the purpose of implementing an Emergency Call Center (CALLE) in the municipality , where monitoring will be maintained through video cameras by municipal, state, Army, National Guard, Marine, State and Municipal Civil Protection authorities. For this purpose, the first 66 cameras of the nearly 120 that will be placed in the main roads of the port are already installed.
The creation of the Municipal System for the Integral Protection of the Rights of Girls, Children and Adolescents was also approved, and therefore the building commission of Regulations and Constitutional Points was taken, the creation of the respective regulation for its integration, operation and operation.
I have a link to that article in the shownotes.
So glad to see someone taking responsibility for the maintenance of the pier, and very happy to see cooperation between the states of Jalisco and Nayarit as to the solutions for water. I’ll be following this and maybe, if I have any luck, I’ll have the Mayor on the show to talk about that and more early next year.
La Sirena Reina Celebrates 13 Years in Puerto Vallarta
Our friend Robina Oliver from La Sirena Reina bathing suit shop the mermaid queen is celebrating season
13, lucky 13! So, congratulations Robina. I stopped in to see her while I was down, and I took pictures of
some of her new styles and even some sale items, so go to the website and check out the pics, but better
yet got to Juarez 174, across from the Banco Azteca, right off of Calle Libertad and see Robina, the mermaid queen. 13 years!
Contact Information for La Serina Reina in Puerto Vallarta
La Sirena Reina Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaSirenaReinaPuertoVallartaQualitySwimwearforWomen
El Banquito Dos Expands
I stopped by the smallest taco stand in Vallarta, Tino Perez’s place El Banquito on Libertad just off of Juarez, around the corner from Robina’s place, and as I reported earlier, he also moved into the
restaurant next door to his closet of a taco stand, and now he has a real sit-down restaurant, so no more fighting about his one stool out front, he has a bunch of tables, and as well as his tacos de birria dorados, 4
for 45 pesos, he also makes delicious tortas, sandwiches too. I have pictures of his new set-up. Ana a map of course. He still has the taco stand, closet next door. He has both running. The closet for fast standing tacos and take out, and the restaurant where you can sit and relax. Way to go Tino!
Mi Café Reopening This weekend
I caught up with Adalberto at Mi Café on I Madero and Aguacate, and he tells me that he expects to be reopening this weekend. He did a big expansion and remodel. He even has a new logo. Go to my post and see it there. Also, I’m waiting for some new pictures, and I’ll add them to my Facebook page when he gets them to me. So, Fingers crossed for Adalberto and Mi Café. Can’t wait for that French toast.
Hillary Wants to Interview Me
A couple weeks back I told you about listener Hillary who wanted to interview me for an episode of the podcast.
As you may or may not remember, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it, but I left it to you to make the decision, and it seems a bunch of you do, want Hillary to interview me, and not a single one of you, except for me of course, who doesn’t want me to be interviewed. So, I’m sending a microphone to her, against my better judgement, and we’ll see when we can slip that episode in to the rotation in the coming weeks. So here comes the microphone Hillary. Here it comes!
Brewmaster Festival Puerto Vallarta November 16 – 17th 2019 Cuale Island
It seems every time I come to Puerto Vallarta, my friend Edgar Rivas has something planned. A surprise up his sleeve. A festival for civiche, grilling
Brewmasters 2019
meat, raicilla, beer. Well, it’s beer time again. It’s the Brewmaster Festival on The Rio Cuale coming up soon, so let’s hear what Edgar has in store for us this time. Let’s go to Vallarta Factory where I met up with Edgar, and have a cool beverage and see what’s brewing……
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Okay Edgar, thanks for filling us in, and I’ll remind you next week, just in case you forget between now and then, but if you are in town, make sure you get to the event, Saturday November 16th and 17th. Starting at 2 in the afternoon. Drink up!
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If You Sent me an Email, And I Didn’t Hear Back From me, try again.
I checked my spam catcher the other day, and noticed I had lost of your emails sitting there. So of you’ve sent me emails over the months, and never heard back, please try it again. My spam box empties automatically every 30 days, so if you sent me emails, they’ve disappeared, so please try again.
The whales are Back in The Bahia de Banderas
The whales have returned to the bay to give birth, to mate, and to give all of us a great show.
The season lasts till the end of March, so make sure to be looking for them, and catch a tour to get a closer look if you can.
Hike in Tortilla Prices might be coming….
I found this article in Mexico News Daily, your Mexican tortillas might be going up…way up in price.
Big hike in tortilla prices predicted as native corn debate continues
Law intended to protect native corn could threaten hybrid varieties
Published on Tuesday, November 5, 2019
The price of tortillas could quadruple if Congress passes a law to protect native maize because it would pose a threat to the production of hybrid corn, farmers and lawmakers warn.
The Senate has already passed a draft version of the Federal Law for the Promotion and Protection of Native Corn but debate is continuing in the lower house.
Federal agriculture undersecretary Víctor Suárez Carrera said in September that the law won’t affect the production of corn using hybrid seeds, stating that the only prohibition will be on genetically modified corn.
However, the rural development coordinator at the Secretariat of Agriculture (Sader) acknowledged this week that the law could threaten production of hybrid corn and said that modifications are needed.
“The main mandate we have is to guarantee food supply for all Mexicans. It’s impossible to say that we’ll be able to produce 44 million tonnes of native corn,” Salvador Fernández said.
National Action Party lawmaker Absalón García, who is also a hybrid corn producer, said the native corn law could threaten 70% of national production. A reduction in corn production would logically cause prices of basic foodstuffs to go up, he added.
The National Agriculture Council (CNA) and some lawmakers warned that tortilla prices could increase from 15 pesos a kilo to 60 pesos if the law is approved.
CNA president Bosco de la Vega claimed that the legislation goes against the government’s own plans to support the achievement of food self-sufficiency.
We’re working on the most important program that the president has approved, Maíz Para México, and it makes use of hybrid corn. This law places [the program] at risk because it’s ambiguous,” he said.
De la Vega said that Mexico currently produces 59% of all corn that is consumed domestically but explained that the figure falls short of the recommendation of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, which says that the country should aim to meet at least 75% of demand.
He said that Mexico should take advantage of scientific advances in corn production.
Ana Lilia Rivera, a senator with the ruling Morena party and part of the collective Sin Maíz No Hay País (Without Corn There Is No Country), denied that the law will affect hybrid corn production and push up tortilla prices as a result.
“People can continue producing hybrids, we’ve never been against that,” she said.
“Science can continue advancing but under the principle of precaution, you’ll have to prove that your seeds don’t do damage,” Rivera added.
The senator, one of two main proponents of the native corn law, said that hybrid seeds are often accompanied by the use of glyphosate, a controversial herbicide whose effect on human health is hotly contested.
So, we will keep our eyes on this issue, this would quadruple the price for what is a staple of the Mexican diet. No Bueno! Stuff like this starts revolutions.
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/big-hike-in-tortilla-prices-predicted/
Okay, let’s get to the Ocean Grill.
The Ocean Grill Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
There are several things one must do when they come to Puerto Vallarta. One of them is to get on a public bus, and travel with the people. And if you do take just one bus ride, it should be either a ride to Mismaloya or Boca de Tomatlan and see the beautiful beaches south of Vallarta. We’ve talked about that.
Another thing we’ve talked about with many of my guests, is you need to get on the water. In a panga.
Well, this place we are going to today, is what you would call a destination restaurant. It’s not the place you go to on the spur of the moment. You need to plan this one. You need to make time for the entire experience.
You will first need to make a reservation, online. Then you have to get yourself to the pier at Boca de Tomatlan at a prescribed time to be picked up by the Ocean Grill Panga. And you need to be prepared to
slow down, relax, and enjoy great food and drink, and the view of one of the prettiest beached in Mexico.
I was contacted by my buddy Bob Price who asked me if I had ever interviewed Ernesto at the Ocean Grill. I said no, but if you would do me a favor and introduce me to him, I wouldn’t mind one bit. This was
an interview I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. And what I found out about Ernesto is, this guy is a very interesting and talented man. A multifaceted, creative, and imaginative individual who I’m sure you are going to like. I know I did.
So, how do you get to the Ocean Grill? You can take either the bus that takes you to El Tuito and the Botanical Garden from the corner of Aguacate and Carranza, or the Mismaloya Bus at the corner of
Basillio Badillo and Constitution. Either bus will take you to Boca de Tomatlan for about 10 pesos or about 50 cents US.
From the bus stop at Boca, you walk down a steep road, keep right to the pier, and that’s where you will
find the Ocean Grill Panga, waiting for you at your prescribed time. The ride is only 5 minutes, so hold on
tight, as the boat glides out of the Boca, around the point, and into the cove that’s Colomitos Beach.
There, to the left of the beach, you will see The Ocean Grill. The panga will drive right up to the private
pier, where you will step off, and enter this beautiful restaurant. So now that we’ve just done all that, let’s go right now, to a table in the middle of this beautiful restaurant overlooking the prettiest little beach in
Mexico, and let’s meet the owner and creator of this cool establishment, Ernesto Paulsen, of The Ocean Grill, Puerto Vallarta.
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Contact Information for Ocean Grill Puerto Vallarta Cabo Corrientes
- Ocean Grill Website: https://oceanlivelovegrill.com/
- Ocean Grill Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OceanGrillPVR/
- Ocean Grill Open Table: https://www.opentable.com/r/ocean-grill-vallarta-puerto-vallarta
- Reserve From The Website: https://oceanlivelovegrill.com/reservaciones
Suggestions From Ernesto Paulsen
Favorite Breakfast
- Amadeos in Marina Vallarta--Likes the Coffee
Lunch or Dinner
- Asian in The Marina Vallarta
- Joe Jacks Fish Shack
Day Trip
San Sebastian del Oste
- Likes Montebellos
Three Day Weekend
Advice For a First Time Visitor
- Walk Around the Town
- Sayulita
Thank you Ernesto. This man is a busy guy. I have pictures of the restaurant, of Ernesto, of his art, and of his performance in Mama Mia.
I have all those in the shownotes, and make sure that when you do go to the Ocean Grill, leave yourself plenty of time to get there, leave some time to hang out in Boca, maybe have a drink at one of the
restaurants on the beach in Boca, maybe get there really early and have breakfast at one of those restaurants first. Get primed for the boat ride and lunch or dinner at the Ocean Grill.
But most of all, leave lots of time before, and after your experience, so you aren’t rushed, and so you can enjoy, and savor this experience. This is a restaurant destination experience. It costs a little more, but it checks off so many boxes, it’s worth it. So check out the Ocean Grill.
Okay that should do it for this week.
Next week, 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.
Thanks to Edgar Rivas from the Brewmaster Festival. Make sure you get out there on the 16th and 17th of this month. I’ll remind you to get to Cuale Island next week too. And Thank you so much Ernesto Paulson from Ocean Grill. Make a reservation and make the time to experience this restaurant the way it was
designed to be enjoyed. Please make a point of going there the next time you are in town..Bring pesos, remember, no credit cards here. 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!
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