We arrived via a bus into the small town of Mahahual, Mexico, which is just south of the cruise port Costa Maya. We were ready for a cold beer after the journey and headed to the first place we saw that had a sign out inviting us in. The sign happened to also say $1 beers-to-go and that was what we were looking for to quench our thirst. While we were getting our beers and the stand, we started talking with the owner, Fernando, of the property and asked where the best restaurant in town was for some great local food. He pointed across the street and simply answered – “mine.” But he continued and said he was closed for the holiday, but he recommended a place called Nohochkay, means Big Fish, at the end of the beach. We talked a bit more about tequila and such, and he invited us back for a Tequila 101 before we left town, we said we would take him up on it. With a few cold beers in our hands, we were off to Nohochkay for some great local food. We walked up to a cool thatch roof building directly on the sand in front of the beautiful Caribbean Sea and got a table. Fernando had recommended the ultimate tacos and we decided to check those out. There were four choices on the menu – fish (which was grouper that day), shrimp, squid and blue crab (unfortunately out due to season). I decided to start with a plate of their homemade guacamole and a fish and shrimp taco. The guacamole was creamy and delicious and was quickly devoured by the table. Before the tacos were brought over, a man came by and asked how everything was so far and introduced himself as the owner, Jaime. He also brought a couple of his homemade hot sauces, made several times a day, that he said made the tacos the best around. One was a habanero base with garlic and white wine added. It was hot but had a great flavor to it. The other was a red sauce made from chipotle and tamarind, that was one of the best sauces I have ever tasted. We pressed him for the recipe, but he politely refused with a few jokes. But he did offer to put some in our water bottles for us to take home, free of charge. This was already becoming an instant favorite. Then the tacos came.
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- Guacamole
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- Fresh Grouper
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- Squid
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- Shrimp
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- Special Conch taco
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- Nohochkay
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- The Don Fernando
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- Jaime, owner of Big Fish
These were hands down the best tacos I, and the rest of the table concurred, had ever tasted. The seafood was cooked perfectly and every flavor was pronounced. Everyone ordered a second round. I decided to try the squid so I could try all the ones available. It didn’t disappoint. Jaime stopped back by the table and let us rave about his food and the quality of the ingredients. He motioned for us to look at his neighbor’s building, which was the equivalent of a seafood-packing house. He told us that every morning the boats come in right off the beach and supply the seafood house, which he gets to pick out what he will be serving that day on the menu. Location, location, location. We started asking about his other entrees and this sent him back to the kitchen. Instead of explaining he later said, it would be better for us to try. Out came a round of conch tacos, on the house, that were unbelievable. With a full stomach, we gratefully thanked our host and decided to head back to Fernando’s for the Tequila 101 seminar. When we got back we told him about the experience and he said he was glad, everyone loves Jaime’s place. Then he left his beer stand and walked across the street and opened his restaurant for us. A couple of his buddies were in there eating, I believe dishes created by Fernando himself, and they smelled and looked delicious. They were eating a traditional Mole sauce over cheese enchiladas. Now for the tequila tasting. We sampled about 6, maybe 7, tequilas and learned a great deal about them, agave, mescal, the region known as Tequila, etc. The difference in some of the tequilas was amazing and not being the biggest fan of Tequila before this, I started to turn my story. All thanks to the friendliness of Fernando. I can’t wait to get back and visit my new friends in Mexico and eat their Great Food, it was a trip worth repeating several times over.
Tags: agave, beach, Big Fish, blue crab, Caribbean, chipotle, cold beer, conch, Costa Maya, enchiladas, fish tacos, fresh fish, garlic, guacamole, habanero, homemade hot sauces, Mahahual, mescal, Mexico, mole, Nohochkay, Restaurant, shrimp, squid, tacos, tamarind, Tequila
