San Miguel’s very best favorite restaurants.

San Miguel’s very best favorite restaurants.

No, I’m not going to tell you which restaurants they are. You’re, hopefully, going to tell me. For it’s time again for the SMART awards, the annual event where I ask Don Day in SMA readers to share with me their very best favorite places to eat. SMART stands for San...
City Market puts veal back on my menu.

City Market puts veal back on my menu.

It was the late seventies when I and a lot of other people dramatically reduced their consumption of veal. A portion of the change was for humane reasons. But it was mostly about dollars and sense. Veal had become more and more expensive and the consumption of veal...
Mesa Marrakesh. “Why did it take us so long to get here?”

Mesa Marrakesh. “Why did it take us so long to get here?”

Guilt. Extreme guilt. That was what we were feeling when we arrived at Mesa Marrakesh. It had been over four years since we had eaten any of Chef JJ Castañeda’s food. It had been five years since we had tasted his Mediterranean/North African/Middle Eastern cuisine. We...
A very affordable four course feast. On date night.

A very affordable four course feast. On date night.

“I was a little too tall, could’ve used a few pounds Tight pants, points, hardly renowned.” Along with owner, Danny Merkel, it was Bob Seger who greeted us when we arrived at Nudol last week. You see, you go to Nudol for two reasons. The vittles and the vinyl. And...
There’s another very talented new pizzaiolo in San Miguel.

There’s another very talented new pizzaiolo in San Miguel.

I have eaten a lot of very good pizzas over my very good years in San Miguel de Allende. Neopolitan, Centanni, Cien Fuegos, Bennu, Fari and Florios are San Miguel restaurants that are all still producing exceptional pies. Recently though, some rave recommendations led...
El Pato’s back! El Pato’s back!

El Pato’s back! El Pato’s back!

I’m a snowbird, a Canadian who flocks during those nastier of the northern months to San Miguel de Allende. This past November, when I returned, I felt a little ignored, perhaps neglected, even rejected. The phone calls, the emails, the words-of-mouth, the messages...
Casa Nostra. Keeps trying harder. Keeps getting better.

Casa Nostra. Keeps trying harder. Keeps getting better.

In each of the last few years, readers of this blog have voted for their favorite San Miguel de Allende restaurant. The overwhelming winner in all of the most recent years has been the very cherished Firenze. Sitting in second place but edging closer and closer in...
Heightening the pleasures of birria. On the roof of Hotel Amatte.

Heightening the pleasures of birria. On the roof of Hotel Amatte.

It’s a spectacular setting. With a view that’s quite different than most San Miguel rooftop restaurants. Plus it’s a less than ten minute taxi ride from prime Centro. Yet I’ve never once seen it busy. I think the prime reason is because the hotel just can’t seem to...