Enjoy Live Music, Great BBQ and Mexican and Canadian Favorites at Blakes Restaurant and Bar, at the Port in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Blakes Restaurant and Bar Serves Up Fun, Music and an Awesome View for Visitors to Puerto Magico, in Puerto Vallarta
A New Mail Service Opens Between Vallarta and Canada and the US called SHIP BY Mail
Listen to The Podcast
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 your toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends.
Contact Information For Blakes Restaurant and Bar in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Address: Puerto Mágico, Local K2, Área Militar de Vallarta, 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
- Phone: +52 322 221 2417
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blakesrestaurantandbar/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakesvallarta/?hl=en
This week we head over to Puerto Magico to meet one of the owners Megan Kravetsky of Blakes Restaurant, a Vallarta Favorite with new owners and a new location, overlooking the cruise ships, absolutely beautiful. Then we visit with Mitch Rehger at Cacao Magico. Also at Puerto Magico. Mitch is the son of our friend Dean Rehger who
we have had on the podcast before. Mitch will be talking about chocolate, their new gift shop at the port called Regions Mexican Handcrafts, and a new mailing service to the
Contact Information For Ship By Mail Puerto Vallarta
- Website: https://mx.shipbymail.com/
- Frequently Asked Questions: https://mx.shipbymail.com/faq
Contact Information for Cacao Magico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Address: Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio Km 4.5 Avenida Heroica, H. Escuela Naval Militar, Zona Hotelera, 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
- Phone: +52 322 182 9209
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cacaomagicopv/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cacaomagico/?hl=en
Contact Information for Regions Mexican Handcrafts
- Address: Puerto Magico, Puerto Vallarta
states and Canada called Ship By Mail. Lots to learn and talk about. We have Vallarta news, emails and more so before we get to Mitch and Megan, let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta, the 11th of February, 2023.
The 11 Annual Puerto Vallarta Chili Cook-off Coming to Puerto Magico February 18th
From Banderas News…
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – The Puerto Vallarta Chili Cook-Off will celebrate its 11th year, and second year at Puerto Mágico, on Saturday, February 18. This all-day (Noon to 7:00) family event features free chili tasting from more than 18 local restaurants and individuals. These Chili Chefs also compete for trophies in the “Popular” and “Professional” categories. In an unusual circumstance last year Blake’s Restaurant & Bar won both categories. They will be back to defend their titles.
In addition to the Chili tasting four of the area’s best bands will provide entertainment throughout the day. Add to that the Mariachi group that will open the day, the raffle prizes provided by the participating restaurants, a Silent Auction with many outstanding items to bid on, and the always exciting 50/50 draw, and the Chili Cook-Off has something for everyone.
If you happen to work up a thirst after tasting all that chili, you can head over to one of the four beverage stations on the Cook-Off grounds: the Murphy’s Irish Pub Beer Gardens, the Nacho Daddy Mixed Drink Station, Ofelia’s Wine Bar or the Americana Sports Bar Margarita and Bloody Mary Bar.
All proceeds from ticket and t-shirt sales, as well as a percentage of all food and beverage sales, go to fund the non-profit Jay Sadler Project A.C. and it’s work to improve various institutions in the Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay area. These institutions include day care centers, senior citizen homes and schools for the disabled, public schools in rural areas and other private charitable institutions.
Reserved, covered seating is available online at chilicookoff.ticpass.mx
Participating Restaurants include….
Nacho Daddy • Murphy’s Irish Pub • Andale’s Restaurant & Bar • Escondida Sports Bar • Blake’s Restaurant & Bar • Pinocho’s Bar • Americana Sports Bar • Langostinos • Mabel’s Cocina • Irma’s Restaurant & Bar • Salty Caesar • Mama Caguama’s Takos & Beer • D’Z Route 66 • Xtreme Performance.
I have a link to that Banderas News Article in the Show Notes.
Changing Lives PV 2023, Rockin for the Cause at El Rio BBQ.
Our friend Eddie Rodriguez from The American English Tree, the organization that takes the tuition you pay to take Spanish Classes to learn Spanish, at The American English Tree, and uses that money to teach a Mexican child how to speak English by giving them free English lessons, supported by you, the Spanish student. I’ve had Eddie on the show, and Eddie asked me to let you know about Changing Lives PV 2023, Rockin for the Cause at El Rio BBQ.
The event takes place February 20th at El Rio BBQ in Paso Ancho. The party begins at 1 and lasts till 6.
Two bands, The Lovers and The Tres Cuartos will be playing. There will be raffles, a 50/50, Mariachi, Folkloric Dancers, special guest appearances, lots of surprises, a silent auction, it’s going to be a great event. Tickets are 500 pesos or approximately $25 US. And the money all goes to a great cause.
A part of your admission ticket will provide scholarships to learn English for children through American English Tree and will also provide necessary support thanks to the Fundación Andrea 3.21 AC for low-income children and young people with Downs syndrome, Intellectual Disability and Neuromotor Disorders have access to multidisciplinary care at the Centro de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje Activo A.C. and the Specialized Child Rehabilitation Clinic, which allows them to have a dignified life, as well as full social, educational and labor inclusion.
Bring extra pesos for food and drinks, that is not included in the entrance tickets, that money goes to charity. It will be a great event so if you are in town, consider making the effort to get there. You’ll meet some great people too.
Will The New Tobacco Laws in Mexico Be Enforced?
Last week I spent a lot of time telling you about the new anti-tobacco, anti-smoking laws that came into effect last month in all of Mexico. It’s basically an all out ban on smoking in public spaces. The laws apply Especially when it comes to food and drink tobacco products, they don’t mix.
I got a lot of emails asking me, WTF Barry! I’m a smoker, what do I do?
Well, last week I said the Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro was against the plan.
As of the moment, they are still trying to figure out how exactly they are going to implement the law, and I hear there is still smoking going on. But I’ve also heard where local cops have been harassing smokers…but here’s an article from yesterday from the Vallarta Reporter….
Jalisco Makes it Official, The New Anti Tobacco Law Will Not Be Enforced
I have a link to that article from Vallarta Reporter Online in the show notes.
So, this is very interesting. Look for more smoking sections and areas, hopefully clearly marked and delineated for hotels, resorts, restaurants and other places where people congregate. Looks like they need time to adjust to all the changes. We’ll see but smokers, don’t despair. I’m bringing on Fernando from Pacific Vape in a week or two.
In the meantime, being the sacrificing soul that I am, I’ll buy a pack of cigarettes una caja de Marlboro rojo when I get to Vallarta and do some experimenting around town and report back. I leave for Vallarta the 27th of February, so I’ll report back on my experiences. I’ll be your Guinea Pig.
Mail Bag…
I received an email from listener Troy…troy writes…
Hi Barry
Your podcasts are absolutely great. The first time I was in PV was 1997. I had to quit going after 2001 because of my late wife’s health and the money issues it caused.
I have been spending a month each year starting in 2016. I know a lot of the places and some of the people you interviewed. Your podcasts are great for a first time visitor as well as somebody who’s been there more. On your restaurant interview with Gary Beck, I have comments about Rhythms of the night. It is more than warriors shouting around. The show is more like a Cirque du Soleil show. I can send pics and videos. The buffet dinner is quite good. The boat ride to the island is really nice also. And again, Barry thank you for all the helpful information.
Troy F. Molko
Well thank you Troy for the email…I totally agree with you that Gary did a poor job describing the Rhythms of The Night tour way back when I had him on the show about 5 years ago.
I actually wrote back to Troy to thank him for the offer to send some pictures and video, which he did, and I have them in the show notes. And Troy, I had planned to have JR
back on the show after a long hiatus, to talk about the individual tours he offers including the Rhythms of the Night which is by far his most popular tour. I’ll be hanging with him and recording his musings about his tours you will find at
Thanks again Troy. I really appreciate you.
Lisa and Jason write….
Hi Barry-
I found your podcast a few months back and have been addicted to listening to all of your shows. My husband and I have been traveling to PV since 2017 and even got married there in 2022. We absolutely love it there and we typically go there at least twice a year. This year we are traveling over Valentines weekend and possibly again over Dia de los Muertos.
I have learned so much about this wonderful city and have took you up on a few of your restaurant suggestions. I just want to let you know how much I enjoy this show and I really appreciate all of the effort you put into this.
Cheers from WI!
Lisa & Jason
Well thank you Lisa and Jason. What a wonderful place to have a wedding! You’ll have to tell us where you had the ceremony and give us the whole run down. That would be fun!
How many of you have been hitched in Puerto Vallarta? Maybe we can make a show out to that.
Thanks for listening to the show and all the kind words.
Marty, my friend and friend of the show wrote and asked…
Do you know if the FMM forms have been eliminated throughout Mexican airports? I realize it’s early, but I’m getting my eyeglass mission team ready for our September trip and would like to know if we still have to do the online FMM forms. I saw in Vallarta Magazine that new E-gates are being adopted in the PV airport, but the magazine didn’t mention any other airports.
Well Marty, thanks for the email.
As you know I’ve been traveling the last 2 years or so to Vallarta Via Cross Border Express, flying out of Tijuana, and although they have eliminated the FMM for travelers flying into Puerto Vallarta from the US and Canada, I was still required to fill one out flying out of Tijuana, which I found odd.
According to a recent article in Mexsperiance dated February 5th, it explains that the phasing out of the FMM began in the summer of 2022, they began to phase out the paper version of the FMM and now, many ports in Mexico, including Vallarta no longer use them. But…because not all ports of entry are caught up to date, here’s what they suggest…
How to navigate the transition period
We are still learning about the changes taking place are updating this article as additional information becomes available. Meanwhile:
If you arrive in Mexico as a visitor…
- Continue to complete a paper FMM form if it’s available at the port of entry.
- If you apply online for a FMM, continue to follow the procedures stated on the online system.
- If a paper version of the FMM is stamped and given back to you at the port of entry, keep this safe—you’ll need it to exit Mexico when you leave.
- If you don’t get a paper version of the FMM, the immigration official will place a stamp in your passport instead, in lieu of the paper FMM. This will also be marked to show how many days you have been granted to stay as a visitor. You’ll need to show this page when you leave Mexico.
As far as the new E-gates that you read about, yes, they are installing them in Vallarta. The first ones were installed in Cancun earlier this month, it was so successful that they are expanding the e-gates to Los Cabos, the gateway to Baja California Sur, and Puerto Vallarta, in Jalisco These are the biometric machines that detect your facial features. Scan your passport, you smile into the camera and the stupid thing knows who you are, what you are worth and what you are having for dinner and what you are thinking about before letting you into the country….
This article in traveloffpath.com says…
Self-service kiosks will ensure border disruption is kept to a minimum and that agents are not overwhelmed by the rising influx of passengers. Officials have not agreed on an official date for the start of the Los Cabos-Puerto Vallarta trial, but it should take place in the coming weeks or the next few months at the latest.
I have links to both the Mexperience article about the phasing out of the FMM as well as the article from www.traveloffpath.com talking about the biometric Kiosks, in the show notes.
Whiskey Kitchen Moved From Ampas to Colonia La Vena on Francisco Villa
I got a message from a listener who was upset because they went to Hot Mama’s Whiskey Kitchen in Ampas, and found it closed. And, yes, Gina couldn’t get her lease renewed at the Ampas location, but when I interviewed her last year, she was on the verge of opening her newest location on Francisco Villa 694, Near Costco. It’s in Colonia La Vena. So, I apologize for missing that one. Make sure you check out Gina’s newest location on Francisco Villa. I’m going to stop in and have a chat with Gina when I’m in town the end of the month and we will do some catching up.
Blakes Restaurant and Bar in Puerto Magico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
This week we head to Puerto Magico to catch up with Mitch Regehr of Cacao Magico, and Meghan Kravetsky from Blakes Restaurant and Bar which is newly opened in Puerto Magico.
Now the port was very busy this 2022 season with over 450,000 passengers on 186 ships, as opposed to 2021, where there were just a little more than 108,000 passengers.
The 2023 cruising season is already off to a big start with 30 ships arriving already last month, with a total of more than 190 ships expected throughout the year. It’s safe to say that the port is a busy place. And almost every month I’m announcing an event taking
place at Puerto Magico, what with the Taco Festival, the aguachili festival, the beer festivals, Puerto Magico is making waves and quickly becoming a part the Vallarta food and entertainment scene. The Port is not just for cruisers anymore, it’s becoming a destination for locals and visitors who didn’t arrive on a big ship.
So first I want to have a talk with Mitch Regehr from Cacao Magico. Their chocolate is so good you have to buy some. Really. They are not only delicious, but they are truly works of art. Mitch has a couple of announcements for us.
Now we’ve met his dad, Dean Regehr, but it’s about time you met the younger generation. So let’s go right now, to one of my favorite places in Vallarta, to a chocolate shop in Puerto Magico. Let’s meet Mitch Regehr, Cacao Magico, located in Puerto Magico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico….
Listen to The Podcast
Contact Information For Ship By Mail Puerto Vallarta
- Website: https://mx.shipbymail.com/
- Frequently Asked Questions: https://mx.shipbymail.com/faq
Contact Information for Cacao Magico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Address: Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio Km 4.5 Avenida Heroica, H. Escuela Naval Militar, Zona Hotelera, 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
- Phone: +52 322 182 9209
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cacaomagicopv/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cacaomagico/?hl=en
Contact Information for Regions Mexican Handcrafts
- Address: Puerto Magico, Puerto Vallarta
Okay, Thank you Mitch. Great news and great information. I have links to Ship by Mail. You will find them in the show notes. I also have information for Regions Mexican Handcrafts in the show notes as well.
Now, let’s stay in Puerto Magico, and check out the newest addition to the port, a restaurant with a familiar name to Vallarta regulars, and that’s Blake’s Restaurant and Bar.
The restaurant is lovely. Has indoor and outdoor areas as well as a beautiful view of the cruise ships, docked in the harbor. It’s really pretty. We even saw the Margalante, the pirate ship preparing for her nightly tour. I’m telling you, the ships soaring above, with the blue water backdrop, it’s a very stunning sight.
Blakes has newer owners and obviously, a new location. So, I wanted to introduce the new owners to you.
I had the pleasure of meeting one of the new owners, Megan, and now I have the pleasure of introducing her to you. Let’s stay in Puerto Magico and let’s meet a lovely Canadian lady, Megan Kravetsky, owner at Blakes Restaurant and Bar, at Puerto Magico, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Listen to The Podcast
Contact Information For Blakes Restaurant and Bar in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Address: Puerto Mágico, Local K2, Área Militar de Vallarta, 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
- Phone: +52 322 221 2417
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blakesrestaurantandbar/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakesvallarta/?hl=en
Okay Meghan, thank you for talking with us. Thanks for bringing booze, food and live
music to Puerto Magico. Oh, and fresh baked goods and coffee too at Sweet Temptations Bakery Boutique. And best of luck to you and your family in your new endeavor as business owners, in the Port, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
I have links and pictures in the show notes, as well as links to the places that Megan and Mitch talked about, in the show notes at www.puertovallartaravelshow.com .
Okay, that should do it for today…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 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 follow share with a lover of Puerto Vallarta or give me a good review wherever or however
you happen to be listening. 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 so much Mitch Regehr from Cacao Magico, and now Ship By Mail, a new mail service between Mexico, Canada and the US, and also Regions Mexican Handcrafts in Puerto Magico. Check out the show notes for photos, links and information. Take a chocolate making class. You will have a blast and a sweet time.
And thank you to Megan Kravetsky from Blakes Restaurant and Bar in Puerto Magico. Visit them for good food, live music, great drinks and an amazing view, one of the best in Vallarta. I have links to their Facebook page, contact information and a google map that will take you to the entrance of Puerto Magico in the shownotes.
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.
