| | |  Entertainment | Restaurants & Dining | September 2008 
Contemporary Mexican Cuisine in Vallarta
 Gary R. Beck - PVNN
| | La Destileria serves Contemporary Mexican cuisine and over 100 kinds of Tequila in a casual and relaxed atmosphere overlooking the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta. | | |
Some friends and I recently visited La Destileria, an authentic Mexican restaurant and bar that serves Contemporary Mexican cuisine and over 100 kinds of Tequila in a casual and relaxed atmosphere overlooking the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta.
Upon sitting down before sunset, we viewed the swinging Los Voladores de Papantla, always a crowd-pleaser. Sitting atop a large pole on the Malecón, four young men gradually swing down in circles slowly nearing the ground, clothed authentic to their indigenous people. Their history blended with the menu offerings of authentic native cuisine.
The restaurant's second floor location features wrap-around balcony seating facing the Malecón. Great indoor comfort is furnished with many overhead fans and cool bay breezes even on the hottest of days. Mariachi music starts around 8:30 pm, right after the Marigalante Pirate ship's nightly fireworks show over Banderas Bay.
La Destileria also features a Tequila Museum-Gallery that is dedicated to educating the public about the growth and distillation of Tequila from blue agave plants. You may arrange a tour and tasting.
We ordered a wide range of items from the many menu choices. Light, creamy Cheese Tuna Mousse was appropriate while we perused the menu, followed by a Spicy Shrimp Broth complete with good-sized pieces of seafood. The flavor was forward but not overwhelming.
Shredded Beef Chalupas Poblano with Salsa Verde proved to be very substantial and fine for sharing. Main course choices were Mahi Mahi with creamy corn, cilantro and mushrooms topped with crinkle-cut fried potatoes, moist and delicate flavored flesh accented by crunchiness and corn kernels and finally a rich and a flavorful arrechera big-bodied Molcajete.
The manager told us that no canned or prepared foods are used; only the freshest ingredients available. The executive chef from Mexico City visits each location monthly to ensure proper execution and introduce new recipes. This care shows in the level of cuisine. We felt we had stepped back in time a bit - even though we were in the heart of Puerto Vallarta.
La Destileria Cocina Mexicana is located on the 2nd floor of Galeana 104 at Paseo Díaz Ordáz in downtown Puerto Vallarta. For more information, call (322) 223-9709 or email vallarta(at)ladestileria.com.mx.
 After 20 years in the San Francisco restaurant business, Gary R. Beck turned his attentions to cooking, dining out, creating recipes and exploring Puerto Vallarta's rich array of eateries. Famous for his restaurant guide, available online at CafePress.com or Lulu.com, Gary also writes restaurant reviews for Puerto Vallarta newspapers, Bay Area magazines, and now, a feature column for BanderasNews.com. Contact Gary at garyrbeck1(at)yahoo.com.
Click HERE for more articles by Gary R. Beck. |
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