Enjoy Los Cabos Life

01/24/2025

01/24/2025

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT EL GRILL IN SAN JOSE DEL CABO. Located on the frontage road going south on the highway before the light before Walmart, El Grill is our favorite Mediterranean restaurant in Los Cabos. Waleed, the chef and owner is from Northern Iraq and was a chef in Cyprus, Greece, and London before moving to Los Cabos with his soon to be Mexican wife, Blanca. The menu at El Grill is regularly refreshed and includes lots of standard Greek dishes. It offers appetizers like Hummus, Domades, Spinakopita, Tatziki, Tapenade, and more. There are salads, soups and pita pizza. For the main courses, El Grill offers pasta, chicken, beef, lamb, and steaks and seafood.

Six of us were there for dinner to celebrate our friend's birthday. It was a very early dinner as Ethan did not want to drive back to Shipwrecks on the East Cape in the dark. To start, we ordered several appetizers to share for the table including a Greek potato salad, and tapenade and tabouli with warm pita bread. The Greek potato salad is made with olive oil rather than mayonnaise and includes tomatoes, onions and greens. It is delicious. The dips are always great. In fact, I order them to pick up whenever we are going to a neighbor's for dinner.

For main courses the choices ranged across the menu. I selected the Manitari pasta with white wine and mushrooms. Beth chose the Prasino - a shrimp with pesto and pasta. Ethan, the birthday boy selected the chicken parmegiana with eggplant. Larry ordered the curry chicken and Carol had the vegetarian falafel, served with a small Greek salad. The table was silent for as everyone dug into their main courses. We did a little sharing to try the dishes chosen by others. The food was excellent and the wine and mezcalitas flowed. Everyone was too full to consider dessert.

The food, service and atmosphere at El Grill are always great and the prices are very reasonable.

For more information about El Grill visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elgrillrestaurant

01/23/2025

CAR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR RAFFI'S SOLUTIONS. With an older Toyota Tundra truck, there is always some work to be done. Recently, the horn started to blast when we weren't even near the car. The pulled the wire out from the horn itself, which stopped the noise but also made the horn non-operable. Several weeks later when the truck had been sitting for 10 days, the battery was completely dead. I assumed that the short in the horn was draining the battery and as long as I was driving everyday it was not a problem.

I needed a quick, fix but I knew that the battery was probably too dead to just jump. I contacted Rafael at Raffi's Solutions, who works at the Campestre Golf Course. He came over, we tried to jump the battery but as I suspected it didn't work. He offered to take the battery, charge it overnight at home and return. I asked him if he would also do some other work on the truck - replace the door pull inside on the driver's side, which had broken; re-glue the upholstery on the same door, which had come loose; find and fix the short in the horn and adjust the back window on the top of the truck bed.

When he returned with the battery, he replaced it and took the truck to fix the other items. Raffi has been working on cars with his father since he was very young and races on weekends. When he returned the car all of the repairs were done, and the engine had been thoroughly cleaned.

Raffi also has a team of people who work with him to do home maintenance at very reasonable prices. The most impressive thing is his attitude. I asked how he prices his projects. He said, "Many Mexicans when they see blue eyes, substantially increase the price. I want to be fair to everyone - local or expat." He also says that if you need to buy a Razer, or a car, he will get it or sell your car, your house, furniture, land, everything you need to sell that will help you.

You can contact him on WhatsApp at +52 1 624 145 5410 or contact his wife Diana of Om Spa on WhatsApp +52 1 624 237 4231 to get an estimate of your maintenance needs.

01/22/2025

STOP LIGHT COMIDA MEXICANA. Located on Adolfo Lopez Mateos Street (behind the Office Depot) off the Highway 19 bypass of Cabos San Lucas in Stop Light Comida Mexicana. I was at Loud Sound down the street having work done on the stereo system on my Toyota Tundra and needed someplace to wait and have breakfast. I walked down the street and found Stop Light Comida Mexicana, a very pleasant and comfortable restaurant. I chose a table for two and the server provided me with a menu that had a wide range of breakfast items at very reasonable prices (most under $150 mx). The menu offered omelets, 11 different egg dishes, nine Chilaquiles, hot cakes, French toast, five different special breakfasts and a fruit plate.

I ordered a fresh squeezed orange juice to start and asked for Huevos a la Mexican. The served asked me if I would like flour or corn tortillas or a mixture. The orange juice was great. My Huevos a la Mexicana came and there were the scrambled eggs with tomatoes, onions and peppers, refried beans, roasted potatoes and some grilled peppers and onions. The portion was large and the flavors excellent. I took out a very hot flour tortilla and made myself a burrito with eggs and refried beans. I sat and enjoyed the breakfast and two more glasses of orange juice for over an hour. It was terrific.

For more information about Stop Light Comida Mexicana visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StopLightCabo/. Google reviews also give them a 4.6 out of 5.

01/21/2025

MAKING OUR KITCHEN MORE USABLE. When we purchased our townhouse in Pueblo Campestre Phase 2 we made three major changes to the design - the upper cabinets were taken to the ceiling; a small pantry was added beside the refrigerator and we chose white upper and green lower cabinets. We also added a small island to match the lower cabinets. After two years, it was clear that some of the storage was not working well. Especially, the small pantry where it required digging everything out to find out what was in the back. Also, one of the big lower cabinets where small appliances were stored was not function.

We contacted Sergio Almazan of Home Maintenance and Improvement by Eduardo who came over to measure the lower half of the pantry to convert the shelves into pull out shelves and to add an additional shelf. When he returned with the necessary parts and the new shelf, we provided him with the left-over paint from the lower cabinets. He installed the shelves with the lip facing up, added the new shelf and added a shelf in the large open lower cabinet as well.

After letting the paint dry, the pantry and appliance cabinet were refilled and became fully functional. We were able to organize the pantry and view everything easily on each of the four shelves. It is a wonderful addition. Thank you, Sergio, for the great and prompt solution to our problem.

For more information about Home Maintenance and Improvement by Eduardo, they can be reached by WhatsApp at +52 1 613 111 7238 or by email at [email protected]

01/20/2025

SABOR A CABO. For the second year, Sabor a Cabo will be staged at the driving range at Club Campestre Golf Course in San Jose del Cabo. The event, held on Feburary 22nd at 4:00 pm will feature over 40 restaurants and chefs as well as the best wines and beverages for attendees to taste. The gastronomic portion of the event will end at 9:00 pm at which time Yuri, a Mexican singer, actress and television presenter will take the stage. Yuri has released more than 30 studio albums with sales of approximately 40 million records sold worldwide, making Yuri one of the most successful Hispanic singers in history. Guests will get a commemorative wine glass with which to taste the wines, tequilas and other spirits available at the event.

Tickets are available at a number of physical selling locations including Niksan Palmilla Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; BarrAzul Restaurant in Cabo San Lucas Tuesday to Sunday for 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and; La Vaca Tinta in Cabo San Lucas from Tuesday to Sunday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Tickets are also available online at www.saboracaboofficial.com

Tickets are $5,700 mx plus IVA for General Admission: $7,800 mx plus IVA for Gold with a special seating area; and $98,000 mx plus IVA for a Platinum VIP table for 10 in front of the stage.

01/18/2025

CHRIS PAULSON IF I NEEDED YOU WOULD YOU COME TO ME. We were lucky enough to have Chris Paulson join us at the pool in Pueblo Campestre Phase 2 to perform after our homeowner's meeting. Chris has been a wandering minstrel for over 35 years playing in plazas and parks around the world. He spends his summers at his home in France and visiting his son and grandchild in Germany and his winters at his home in Todos Santos. Chris performs Monday nights at La Morena and often joins other great musicians at Bezos de Mezcal in Pescadero, Poke Loko and Landi's in Las Tunas. Chris also offers sunset concerts on the roof of his home, Casa Barbara with special guests. His repertoire of folk, rock, blues, and R & B always guarantees a great evening of entertainment.

Here is his version of Townes Van Sandt, If I needed you would you come to me. Enjoy!
For more information about Chris Paulson visit him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555319252137

01/17/2025

RUMI GARDEN IN TODOS SANTOS. Located at the top of the main road into Todos Santos from Cabo San Lucas, Rumi Garden is an organic restaurant with a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options. The owner, Nina Chun first visited Todos Santos 17 years ago and fell in love with the town. While on a walk, she saw a lot where the building had burnt down. It intrigued her, and a man passing by told her the lot was for sale. Coming back to visit it again, she decided to buy the lot and build the restaurant of her dreams. For the first 14 yeas, it was a Chinese restaurant. Three years ago, it was reimagined as a special space guided by the poetry and philosophy of Rumi, a 13th century poet, theologian and Islamic scholar from Iran. Nina described how she wanted people to find her restaurant because of its feeling and philosophy. In fact, Rumi Garden is much more than a restaurant – a gathering space for the people of Todos Santos with a large library, a stage, and its philosophy written on the walls.
Nina brags that she has an open kitchen and that it is cleanest in town. Her ingredients are all organic and sourced locally. The menu offers appetizers, salads, soups, entrées and desserts based on dishes from Mexico, Thailand, Italy, Turkey, Lebanon, Japan, Peru, Greece, France, Haiti, and China. It is truly unique and all organic.
It was our daughter’s first night in Todos Santos and being vegan, she chose the restaurants. To start we ordered guacamole. I ordered the Haitian Joumou Cream Soup made with butter nut squash and pumpkin. For main courses, our daughter chose the Chinese Dumplings stuffed with sh*take mushrooms, onions, garlic, carrots, and ginger. My wife selected the Japanese Tempura Vegetables, and I ordered the French Coquettes stuffed with mashed potatoes and poblano peppers. We all tasted each other’s choices and we shared the brownie for dessert.
The flavors were all amazing. Nina was an incredible host and the atmosphere is unique. Virtually everything on the menu is under $200 mx. You don’t need to be vegan to love the food served at Rumi Garden. Open Friday to Tuesday from 12:30 to 8:30 pm.
For more information about Rumi Garden visit the website at https://www.rumigarden.com/site/ or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rumigarden

01/13/2025

CELEBRATE AUSTRALIA DAY AT TODOS SANTOS BREWING. Australia Day is Australia's national day, marking the anniversary of Captain Arthur Phillip's First Fleet raising the British Union Jack at Sydney Cove in 1788 on January 26th. In honor of this day, on Saturday, January 25th (which is the 26th in Australia), Todos Santos Brewing is having and all-day party (1:00 - 8:00 pm). Hosted by Liz and Ted Mitchell, the Australian owners of TSB, there will be food, drink, and entertainment featuring Australia. The menu includes Australia dishes including Vegemite Sandwiches, Bacon & Eggs Roll, Meat Pies, Sausage Rolls, Chicken Parmies, Fish & Chips, Aussie Works Burgers, and Lamingtons. TSB will release a new beer - Sketchy Koala, a Xtra Pale Ale. Along with other entertainment, Daniel Medina, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, Ted Mitchell will perform. So join Liz and Ted for a celebration of Australia and a fun day at Todos Santos Brewing.

For more information about Todos Santos Brewing visit their website at https://www.todossantosbrewing.mx/ or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TodosSantosBrewing

01/11/2025

CHRIS PAULSON OOH LA LA (I WISH I KNEW WHAT I KNOW NOW). We were lucky enough to have Chris Paulson join us at the pool in Pueblo Campestre Phase 2 to perform after our homeowner's meeting. Chris has been a wandering minstrel for over 35 years playing in plazas and parks around the world. He spends his summers at his home in France and visiting his son and grandchild in Germany and his winters at his home in Todos Santos. Chris performs Monday nights at La Morena and often joins other great musicians at Bezos de Mezcal in Pescadero, Poke Loko and Landi's in Las Tunas. Chris also offers sunset concerts on the roof of his home, Casa Barbara with special guests. His repertoire of folk, rock, blues, and R & B always guarantees a great evening of entertainment.

Here is his version of The Faces song, Ooh La La (I Wish I Knew What I Know Now). Enjoy!

For more information about Chris Paulson visit him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555319252137

01/08/2025

EARTHQUAKES IN LOS CABOS. Since September 2024 there have been a surprising number of earthquakes in Baja California Sur, with most of them centered near San Jose del Cabo. The average number of earthquakes in Los Cabos per year is 122. However, in the past seven days there have been 80 earthquakes. Most of them are not very strong - the strongest during this period being 2.7, with 24 quakes over 2.0 on the Richter scale. So, it is common to hear and feel a rumbling several times a day in this region of recent. While there is almost no reported damage, we have hairline cracks in the plaster in our walls and had one picture fall from a shelf.

For more detail information on the Earthquake activity in the Los Cabos Region visit the Volcano Discovery website at https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/place/153309/earthquakes/cabo-san-lucas.html

01/07/2025

THE CHANGING FACE OF ZACATITOS. The East Cape of Los Cabos has changed a great deal over the past five years. Hotel Vidanta is on the verge of opening. Beachfront properties in Shipwrecks and La Fortuna have been built by the dozens. Buzzard’s Bar and Grill in La Laguna has closed and is being replaced by condominiums on the land beside and behind the former restaurant. But little has changed as much as Zacatitos. When the development was original launched by Laura McGregor over 30 years ago, the lots, even beachfront were relatively inexpensive, and as it was off-the-grid (solar or generators for electricity, water and propane delivered) many of the buyers chose Zacatitos for privacy. Lots of the initial structures were palapas and trailers, or very small homes. Today it is not unusual to see very large properties being constructed, some at costs of up to $10 million US.
Leaving the East Cape paved highway and taking the dirt road about a mile and a quarter down leaves you at the security guards at the entrance to the neighborhood. Right, there is Zac’s Bar and Grill owned by Angel and Paul Rini. The restaurant has been expanded twice in the past five years and offers and extensive menu for lunch and dinner with specials like Pizza Mondays and Taco Tuesdays. This is the commercial crossroads of Zacatitos. Currently the lots across the street and fenced offed and Plaza Zacatitos is under construction. This purportedly will have stores, offices and a boutique hotel when it is completed. Beside it is a real estate office. Costal Properties of Cabo. Beside Zac’s to the west are two commercial spaces with equipment for grading the roads and supporting planting large palm trees and more.
Driving west from Zac’s Bar and Grill, is a brand-new container convenience store, Central Station Zacatitos, with some food and beverage items, some clothing, mail, and supplies for the residents of the neighborhood. A little farther down this main road is a palapa where on Wednesday nights, Amber Thorpe of East Cape Critters shows first run movies to support caring for the animals (donkeys, cats, dogs) on the East Cape. Beside it is a small coffee shop, Coco Loco. On Wednesdays, there is also an Organic Market in Zacatitos.
There are two main gates in Zacatitos – one straight ahead from Zac’s for Santa Cruz de los Zacatitos and the other just below Punta Gorda and the other end of the development for Los Zacatitos. Streets are marked off with concrete pillars that provide the manzana of the area.
Beyond the beginnings of a commercial area, the real changes are in the ongoing construction in Zacatitos. Our house on beach between the two arroyos is being expanded and rebuilt by the new owners (it had been completely renovated in 2017 and had seven bedrooms and a one-bedroom casita. The lots beside our house, a small arroyo was never supposed to be built on and it now holds a large house open on the bottom with a path for water to rush during storms. The small round house at the other end the cul-de-sac has been torn down, and a multistory home is being built. Driving the neighborhood, much of the new construction is contemporary in style and much larger than the average home built in the early days of Zacatitos.
The beauty of Zacatitos is the Sea of Cortez. During the seasons, whales are abundant in the water in front of the beaches. Several areas have great swimmable beaches (except during summer) and there is lots of marine life for snorkeling near the rocks and spear fishing. The photos and descriptions provide a sample of the lifestyle available in this East Cape community.

And as Jill Diamond, a resident and real estate agent for BajaSmart comments, " The community is also about the people and the comradeship and support throughout." Every holiday is celebrated together at Zac's and there are some great neighborhood events.

For more information about the neighborhood visit the Facebook Group, Los Zacatitos at https://www.facebook.com/groups/155311221626

01/06/2025

COME A CASA. Italian restaurants are probably second to Mexican restaurants in number in Los Cabos. Ranging from pizza places to fine dining restaurants, San Jose del Cabo has over a dozen from which to choose. One of our favorites that we discovered this year is the family-run restaurant Come a Casa. Located on Calle Zaragoza (the down street), a block uphill from Jazmin's, the restaurant has been open for almost two years in this location. Entering the front door, the open kitchen is on the left with seating at a bar. There are two dining spaces - one in front and one in the back half of the restaurant. The back of the restaurant features the bar and a large wood-fired pizza oven. The menu offers a full range of Italian pastas, pizza and main courses.

The father, Mauricio is the Executive Chef and his son is the chef and his daughter manages the reservations and seating of the guests. The restaurant is always full and so reservations are required (and only by phone). Beth and I try to get our fix about once a month. The flavors are amazing and it is one of the only places where there is no there is no acidic aftertaste to the tomato sauce.

Beth ordered the Caesar Salad to start, with the parmesan cheese on the side and I asked for the small loaf of pizza bread. As usual, I stole some of the Caesar Salad. The dressing is perfect and it comes with a piece of crispy baked cheese. The pizza bread is an amazing alternative to rolls with great seasonings from the pizza oven. For a main course, Beth chose the pasta with oil and garlic and a few cherry tomatoes on top. I order the Pasta Amatriciana, which is served with some burrata cheese on top. Both are excellent. The pasta is always cooked perfectly.

For dessert we selected the Lemon Tart to share. It lives up to its name and is truly tart. Amazing.

The food is great and the service from Laura was excellent in a very pleasant contemporary atmosphere.

Reservations for dinner need to be made by phone as there is no online process at 624 177 1536. For more information about Come a Casa, Google Come a Casa San Jose del Cabo as there is another in Cabo San Lucas. Their Google page has 172 reviews and directions to the restaurant.

01/04/2025

GUILLERMO PROAL VOLARE AT CASA MARTIN SAN JOSE DEL CABO. The entertainment at Casa Martin San Jose del Cabo matched the style of the restaurant perfectly. Guillermo Proal, who had just recently arrived from Mexico City has a great repertoire of standards from singers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and others. Guillermo performs with a wireless microphone while walking through the restaurant. The choice of songs and the level of the music was perfect for the location. Guillermo also is multilingual and so, offers the guests songs in English, Spanish, and some Italian.

Here is Guillermo's rendition of the Italian classic by Dean Martin, Volare. Enjoy!

For more information about Guillermo Proal visit him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/guillermoproal/

01/03/2025

DINNER AT CASA MARTIN IN SAN JOSE DEL CABO. We were so happy to see that Casa Martin had decided to open a restaurant in San Jose del Cabo. Casa Martin San Jose del Cabo is located next to the Mission in the small plaza across from La Dolce’s parking lot in the Art District. As you enter, you will encounter all the amazing sculptures made of scrap metal by Juan Sotomayor.
We love the food and service at the Cabo San Lucas unique location. We were equally pleased with the experience at the new location in San Jose del Cabo. A group of seven of went for dinner. Even before ordering, we were brought the first pizza prepared in their special oven. It was delicious. The table was also served rolls and butter. We asked for two orders of tuna tartar for the table to share. The tuna was very fresh and the flavors excellent. Kevin and Tracey shared a Country Salad with grilled romaine lettuce and vegetables, and Beth had the Butternut Squash soup, which was poured at the table. The traditional amuse of a five-cheese ravioli was served to everyone before our main courses. The choice was main courses was diverse - a lamb shank with the lamb falling off the bone, two orders of chicken piccata served with a green pasta, the catch-of-the day Totoaba, a white fish served with organic vegetables and sunflower hummus, the lobster risotto, the linguine habanero, and the braised short rib with pappardelle pasta. The conclusion was thumbs up from around the table. We all did a little sharing as well, to taste the other's choices. The quality and presentation of the food met the highest standard and the standard set by Chef Roger Martin.

During the meal, we were entertained by Guillermo on vocals, who performed a range of standards from singers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others. He added in a few Christmas carols to celebrate the season. The chef, Karla Tejeda came out to see how we liked our dinner, and we all clapped.
To end the meal, we shared an order of warm churros that were served with caramel, chocolate and strawberry sauces. Delicious. Overall, it was an excellent experience. We will be back soon.
For more information about Casa Martin visit their website at https://www.casamartin.com.mx/ or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CasaMartinRestaurante

01/02/2025

DINNER AT SPINALIS STEAKHOUSE IN PLAZA NOVVA. We met our friends Christa and Keith Maurer at Spinalis Steakhouse in Plaza Novva behind Costco for dinner. We have been there a few times before when it was Steakhouse da Pietro. We arrived early and so I asked our amazing server Martin the reason and meaning of the name. He explained that Pietro was no longer involved in the steakhouse and was focusing on Trattoria da Pietro, also in Plaza Novva. Spinalis come from the Latin Spinalis Dorsi, which is the cap on the end of the rib eye and has a very special fat that makes it the best cut of steak available.

Spinalis Steakhouse is one of those restaurants in Los Cabos that has very large portions and so it is best to plan your meal with friends to share. The restaurant is designed like a New York Steakhouse, including a large photograph of the Rat Pack on one wall. The back of the restaurant from end-to-end is a long bar with an excellent selection of beer and spirits. There is a table tent that describes their special cocktails. The restaurant has created its own wine app on a tablet that allows you to choose the varietal and region from which you would like to select your favorite wine to complement your meal.

The menu has baked onion soup, two salads, and several different appetizers to share. For main courses, there are several cuts of beef, lamb chops, shrimp, fried chicken, and a few burgers. In addition, there is an Italian corner with several different pastas and chicken parmigiana. Like all great steakhouses, there a several sides to share - vegetables, loaded baked potatoes, fries, and onion rings.

We had decided that we would share our appetizers and main courses and so we collaborated on a order with a range of flavors. Beth wanted the French Onion Soup, we also ordered Tuna Tartar and an Old Fashioned Wedge Salad to start, which was cut in half and served to Keith and me. The flavors were amazing, and the Wedge was piled high with blue cheese and bacon and a blue cheese dressing. As Christa is allergic to avocado, the Tuna Tartar separated the avocado and tuna, and it was served with crispy chips. The table was offered focaccia bread and smoke-infused butter as well.

When it came to ordering steak, Martin came over with a chart that showed were each cut came from on the cow and on the other side the color of each temperature as prepared at the restaurant. Beth was going to choose the Filet, but Keith suggested that we try the Spinalis and have it served sliced to share. He said the special fat in the cap makes it the juiciest steak cut possible. He was right. I ordered the chicken parmigiana; Christa the fried chicken; and Keith chose the Gnocchi with mushrooms (for us to have as a shared side). Beth also selected the loaded baked potato without the cheese that it usually has.

The meal was amazing with great presentations of the food. The fried chicken was three large pieces that were thick and juicy, with a salad and honey mustard sauce on the side. The Spinalis steak was served with grilled peppers and onions and was cooked just right. There were two sauces to enhance the flavor if you wanted. The chicken parmigiana was breaded, covered with cheese, and was moist (rather than so often overcooked) and served with spaghetti in a tomato sauce with a little spice. The gnocchi were excellent with the creamy mushroom sauce. Even shared, there was still lots left over to take home for lunch the next day.

Even though we had devoured so much. Christa ordered the Apple cake and the Chocolate Mousse cake for us to share for dessert. Both were served with a scoop of ice cream and fresh fruit. Excellent!

If you want a restaurant with great food, excellent service, and still reasonably priced, Spinalis Steakhouse should be at the top of your list.

For more information about Spinalis Steakhouse visit their website at https://spinalissteakhouse.com/ or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569392963560

01/01/2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025. We wish all our family, friends and neighbors around the world a prosperous and happy new year. Our hopes are for your health and happiness in 2025 and beyond.

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12/31/2024

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!

Euclides Marquez, Eliazer Cerda, Laly Mendoza, Daniel Gomes, Elias Daniel Meraz Lozano, Rosa Chavez, Guillermo Garcia Proal, Jorge Aguayo Cabrero, Linda Floyd, Pete Haerdi, Melanie Porter