Seeking culinary goodies in the Yucatan. Has anyone got any advice?

[NatashaH]

Hi,

We're off to the Yucatan next month, staying in Valladolid, Merida, Campeche and Tulum. We're only just beginning to catch on to good Mexican food here in the UK and I really want to explore the culinary opportunities to the full while I'm out there.

Has anyone got any great recommendations?

Thanks - in advance,

Natasha

[rancho_gordo]

You can try saving the seeds of the chiles and growing them yourself. I think the unusual chile there is called Xcatic. (Someone will correct me, I'm sure.)

Also you could try and bring back the recados- pastes ground from annato seeds and seasonings and other good things. There's a classic red, a black for stuffed turkey and even one for beef.

Chaya leaved would be great but I don't you'd get them through customs.

[Hassouni]

the courtyard restaurant of the Meson de Marques hotel in Valladolid serves fantastic local cuisine. Actually that's probably the best place to stay in the city, too. Next door there's also an open air food-court kind of market, which has many tasty goodies.

Not much of note that I recall in Tulum, but an hour up the road in Playa is Yaxche, which serves only pre-Hispanic Mayan recipes, which are quite delicious.

It also goes without saying that the street food everywhere is pretty good

Edited October 5, 2012 by Hassouni (log)

[rancho_gordo]

Sorry! I misunderstood and thought you were looking for culinary souvenirs to take home. Where I got that idea, who knows??? Sorry.

[rancho_gordo]

This place was incredible. I think we just ordered two of everything.

In Merida

[weedy]

Just back from a week in Playa Del Carmen and the culinary standout by far was Yaxche

can't say enough great things about the place

[gulfporter]

In Merida look for menus serving native deer.  Only Mayans are allowed to hunt deer in the Yucatan.  We had some excellent deer entrees in Merida, but I cannot remember the restaurant names.  Thankfully, most restaurants in Mexico will post their menu outside their restaurant.