ZACH FORESTER WILLIAMS

A weekend guide to Puerto Vallarta for the Foodie!

1/15/2021

Amidst the boat memes, and contreversial activities highlighting Mexico during the holidays I made the choice to travel for the New Year on a solo trip. Let it be known I rang in the new year in bed by 11:30pm after tacos, fresh baked goods, and binging The Queens Gambit. Honestly, the trip was very much needed, and the locals were so kind and welcoming. The weather also permits to spend most time outside, with plenty of vitamin D and UV rays. If your spirit needs to get away there is a safe way to do it. I recommend solo traveling, or planning something with your small quarantine group. However, I respect and understand the concerns, so for now let’s call this a future guide in the era after Covid. A weekend guide to Puerto Vallarta for the foodie!

Tortilla Soup for the adult soul... and carbs.

Upon my arrival I headed to the local grocery store down the street, and grabbed plenty Topo Chico for the week. I had an old grocery bag that broke soaked in grapefruit juice, of course this happened while I was leaving, and the weather was gearing up to pour. The kind lady at the mercantile gave me a new bag, and I picked up my stuff and headed to my airbnb. On the way home I was craving soup and came upon “Souper Sopa” by La Fonda. The Tortilla Soup became my new obsession so rich in flavor! I also passed by a bakery off the main street in Zona Romantica called “Yarita Panaderia and Pasteleria” which had the most delicious morning pastries, breads, and empanadas.

Casa Nicole

My absolute favorite breakfast was at “Casa Nicole.” I had a delicious almond croissant, fruit bowl, and once again the restaurant’s named dish the “Nicole.” Two Eggs scrambled with chorizo over a corn tortilla topped with green salsa and melted panela cheese.

Tacos Revolución

For New Years I ended up at Taco Revolución grabbing food to go. Upon further discussion I found out where the famous taco places in the area were, and unfortunately when I tried to go it was the day they weren’t open. If you get a chance though apparently Pancho’s Takos and Pepe’s (my taxi drivers recommendation) are the moment. But if you wind up at Taco Revolución the menu item, “Taco Revolución is mind blowing. it’s one taco (corn or flour) with roast beef, marinated meat, chorizo, cheese crust and pork rinds DROWNED in a three-chili sauce. That and their guac paired with Netflix in my own little airbnb cocoon was pure heaven.

Il Pesce

My good friend @michaellucasnyc, who lives locally (and Airbnb’s 5 rooms!), gave me all the recommendations midway through my visit, and I was on a quest. I took his advice and had a wonderful dinner at a new Italian restaurant that opened two weeks prior to my arrival, “Il Pesce.” This should be at the top of everyones list. The eggplant salad served with warm bread for the table was mind blowing. And that was just the beginning. Salmon Carpaccio, Capresé, and Octopus Ragu. From the food, to the service you could feel such a welcoming bright energy. Truly some of the best Italian I’ve ever had!
@ilpesce285b

The Secret Garden at Cafe des Artistes

Finally, for the final night in paradise I booked a table at Cafe des Artistes by Thierry Blouet. This happens to be THE spot for honeymooners and guest celebrating romantic special events. Funny enough, I often wind up solo dining at these restaurants on my vacations. I started off with “Cream of Prawn and Pumpkin Soup.” artfully presented and poured our of a carved pumpkin while a harpist was playing Marc Anthony to literally just me. The kitchen presented a delicious small bite between courses, and a bread basket with savory creme puffs that I could not get enough of. I had the Lobster for my main course with coconut foam, and for desert the seasonal fruit sorbet. The Ambiance was magical. The garden seating is half the reason to book a table here. Lush green foliage covers the outskirts, with local artist sculptures, and hanging lights from the ceiling. It feels like a fairly tale land complete with divine service, and live music. @cafedeartistes

Incanto Vallarta

After dinner I ran to see my friend Seth in his cabaret show singing Judy Garland. It was incredible witnessing live theater with some of my favorite songs. The establishment also insured proper social distancing and health measures. To wrap up an incredible week I even ended up singing a couple show-tunes at the piano bar afterwards. So there you have it. In addition to beautiful beaches, rooftop infinity pools, and so much rich culture there is plenty foodie adventures to be had. If you find it difficult to hang in there during winter, and need to get away I totally understand. Again there is a safe way to enjoy time and reset. Solo travel while following safety guidelines is doable. Of course if traveling isn’t comfortable for you now put this in your back pocket for your next great adventure!

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Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Olive (You) Oil Cake"

12/4/2020

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Mabel Gray

Is anyone else feeling super nostalgic lately? I feel like this is pretty typical during the holidays, but even more in a year where our whole lives were turned upside down. I think we all miss traveling and exploring, and on tour that was my favorite thing in the world. Today I wanted to share a very special dinner I had with some wonderful people. It was my first tasting menu back when Aladdin was in Detroit during the holidays in the beginning of 2019. My sis Erik Hernandez is local to Detroit, Michigan and planned a meal at "Mabel Gray" with Cornelius and Adrienne (fellow cast-mates) and I. A little back story on the man behind this very upbeat, trendy restaurant. When I researched this history I was very inspired btw. I think we all work incredibly hard to get to certain points of our life, and Chef James Rigato is no stranger to that mentality. Rigato joined the restaurant biz as a dishwasher. He went to school, worked for some of the finest restaurants in Michigan, and then started to take off with National acclaim after opening “The Root” Restaurant and Bar with Ed Mamou . He then competed on Top Chef Season 2013, and won Food and WIne’s “Best New Chef, Great Lakes” in 2015. “Mabel Grey” opened shortly after to rave reviews from Eater, and a nomination from James Beard (semi finalist best new restaurant). So yeah, Chef Rigato is honestly a role model for hard work and dedication to building dreams. He approaches his dishes with bold refined flavors that are full of excitement. And of course, like any of the top chef’s he cultivates his menu based on the local produce. Everything is done in rotation to the seasons, what’s fresh, and “ethical.” I think the food will speak for itself in the below slide show, but I will say the standout for the table that evening was this Olive Oil cake (Course 7). If you happen to be in the Detroit area I highly recommend planning an evening out at this incredible establishment. What I love the most about food is how it creates memories. Even in the toughest of times we can look back, and remember the smells, taste, laughs, and love where we can find a moment of happiness to draw from. @mabelgraykitchen

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Tall, Dark and Hungry "The Cronut"

11/22/2020

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Dominque Ansel Bakery

Well it’s still 2020, and we’re all coping with covid, politics, seasonal depression, unemployment, and now trying to enjoy the holidays. Truly it’s all so overwhelming. Monday was my birthday. 29 years old. I won’t go down the rabbit hole of what I thought I would be doing right now, but rather find the bright side, a ray of hope layered with European Butter. My mother asked me what I wanted her to bake for my birthday. Well I have been dying to try my hand at a New York Delicacy, THE CRONUT. Created by Dominque Ansel in 2013, this hybrid of the donut and croissant went viral, with lines wrapped around the building every morning, and has become a world wide beloved pastry. When I am in New York I will literally plan a day to visit this bakery. Each month a new flavor is released. I have had the privilege to try three in my lifetime so far including: Pumpkin and Rice Pudding (September 2020), Strawberry Honey Walnut (February 2020), and my first the July 2019 Lemon Wildflower Honey!

The effortless beauty this pastry exudes is not as easy to accomplish, so rather than diving into the 3 day complex recipe we started with the DIY “Homemade Cronuts” by Brett Moore on Spruce Eats. The first step is to make the filling, fairly simple. The difficulty really lies in the dough. If you’re a bread baker the first part will be pretty easy. But if you are not, keep in mind you want the yeast to react. Baking is a lot of fun, but very scientific. Measurements, temperatures, and timing must be exact to get the formations you want. After we created and proved the dough then came the lamination process. This involves several repeated steps with a butter block, folding, rolling, proving, etc. In the end you'll cut and fry the donuts, fill with cream, roll in cinnamon sugar and glaze. We did a maple glaze with maple syrup I brought back from the Berkshires, and it was delicious! So there you have it. When New York reopens you must travel to experience THE CRONUT! Locals who live within range can even have them delivered to your door now. SO JEALLY! Till then, make them at home to cure any 2020 symptoms you might be having. After all butter is the secret to happiness.

https://www.dominiqueansel.com
@dominqueansel

Pumpkin and Rice Pudding (September 2020)

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Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Snap Out of It!"

11/19/2020

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Nonna Osteria

I don’t know if its seasonal depression or still being out of work as an actor, but this week has been a tidal wave of different emotions. Luckily food will never cease to bring me joy, and pasta will always be there for you. Today we are putting on that red lip, black fur, meeting Nicholas Cage at the opera and… ok maybe not that far, but we are exploring some incredible rich Italian food at “Nonna Osteria” in San Antonio, TX. Similar to the family dynamic in the movie “Moonstruck,” chef Luca Della Casa grew up in a big family and wanted to bring those memories to this restaurant. Here you will find large plates meant to be shared (personally I always order this way so I can try a bit of everything on the menu). I went out here with friends a few weekends ago, and we had an incredible time.

Papardelle al Cinghiale

For starters we enjoyed the Burrata and Polipo e Patate (Potato and Octopus Salad). I’m always here for a fancy vegetable plating, and the grilled asparagus and cauliflower was unreal. Also I’m a sucker for a well executed octopus dish. Whether its Mediterranean, Spanish, or Italian do not shy away from the octopus! I promise you will not be disappointed. We then had the Atomica pizza which was delicious. The pasta though is what will send you straight to Italy. We ordered the Granchio & Tartufo (Parmesian Tagliatelle, Brown Butter, Lump Crab, Truffle) and Papardelle al Cinghiale (Papardelle, Bell Pepper, Wild Boar). When our server came out with a giant parm wheel and tossed the pasta then shaved truffle on it I almost creamed myself (see Reel on IG). Finally, we wrapped up the night on the rooftop with Tiramisu. It was all truly delicious, rich, and a wonderful evening downtown. Now That’s Amore!

Atomica Pizza

Fairmont Rooftop Bar

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Tall, Dark, and Hungry "The Big Easy in Texas?!"

11/12/2020

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NOLA Brunch and Beignets

There’s nothing like the deep rich full flavors the big easy has to offer. And if you’ve ever been to New Orleans you know. Bourbon street, historic French architecture, art, culture, and BEIGNETS 24/7. There is truly nothing better than Beignets at 2am. Well these memories can be found in San Antonio, Texas on N St. Marys and Kings Court at “Nola Brunch and Beignets”. Husband and wife team, Pieter and Susan Sypesteyn started in a food truck called “Where Y’at” and like other establishments quickly became a fan favorite in San Antonio. They now have two New Orleans style restaurants “Cookhouse” and NOLA, with a new venture on the way… BUT today we relish in the magic that is NOLA!

I went out last weekend with my friend and we split… wait for it... A pecan pie, peanut butter and chocolate, and lemon filled BEIGNET! I’ve never had a stuffed or filled version of this delicacy. Let me tell you It was life changing. My advice, Pecan Pie is a solid choice for the indulgent foodies ready for Thanksgiving, and for the fruitier crowd I loved the light tart punch the lemon curd came with. For the main course I had the Blue Crab Omelette, and snagged a few bites of Mike’s Shrimp Creole that he topped his NOLA Brunch Plate with. I was in heaven. Brunch is my love language, and bonus points if you throw in a Cajun or Creole spin to the dish! Honestly, San Antonio is blowing up as a food scene giving Austin, Houston, and Dallas a run for its money. I highly recommend a weekend trip to explore what our city has to offer, and if you can’t make it to New Orleans you'll get every bit of it here at NOLA!!! Much love to the Sypesteyn's. @nola_brunchsa

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Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Farm to Table Gasm"

11/5/2020

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Odd Duck

Ok, ok I’m definitely having a Texas moment, but hey I’m spending 2020 living at home. Here in the lone star state our food scene is bomb, so what better way to calm down in these uncertain times than feed the soul! I spent Halloween weekend in Austin, Texas. My bestie and her roomies, who happen to be food industry alum, had a lot of great input on where to eat. We stumbled on “The Odd Duck” and it truly did not disappoint. Founded in 2009, Bryce and Dylan Gilmore started out in a Food Truck. The now brick and mortar became well known for locally sourcing ingredients to create their tasty cuisine. I learned that they are also role models for the Austin food industry. The restaurant not only serves loyal customers, but also goes above and beyond taking care of its employees.

So now the food. My friend Hannah and I came in for Sunday brunch. We started with fresh and smokey Bloody Mary's garnished with a pickled beet, and reusable metal straws (YAS environment). For food we ordered the Cajun BBQ pickled shrimp and grits, Pork belly in a coconut-black garlic rice bowl, and Bourbon pecan chicken and waffles with CARAMELIZED GRAPEFRUIT. Yes, that deserves all caps. The nuances of flavors in each of the dishes was astounding. The waffle was light and airy with crispy fried chicken, the pork belly tender and smokey, and grits creamy but not heavy. On top of that the servers and host accommodated us with outdoor seating, and were nothing but kind. I can’t really put into words what a gasm these flavor profiles combined create in your mouth, so you’ll just have to come down to Austin and find our for yourself! @oddduckaustin

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Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Potato, Kartoffel"

10/25/2020

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Altdorf Biergarten

Hi, Second installment on my food journey with you all. Just to bring you up to speed. I love carbs. I was also born in Bulverde, TX. The hill country is my stomping grounds, and one of the best kept secrets we pride in is the small German towns settled in the mid-1800's tucked all around between San Antonio and Austin. These include Fredricksburg, Boerne, New Braunfels, and Luckenbach. Today we're focusing on the Burg. I've been here many a time and now that I'm older the charm of this city just gets even better. Antiquing, Galleries, the National Pacific War museum and incredible food & wine. I would even call this the Texas NAPA after driving around with an abundance of new and old wineries that rival California. But lets focus on the food.
There is vast range of options, but if you're going to get into the local traditions go to a biergarten. "Altdorf Biergarten" serves all the faves that pair very well with the local drafts. Fried Pickle spears, mouth watering pretzels, and todays standout HOT GERMAN POTATO SALAD. Fellow food enthusiast will often salivate for that item on a menu that just explodes with flavor in your mouth. This is hands down the best potato salad I have ever had (however in its own league vs the cold American styles). It's salty and sweet with nuances of apple that couldn't pair better with the fall weather. Also potatoes. I mean we STAN the potato. In conclusion, if you need an escape during this pandemic support the local bed and breakfast owners, camp or airbnb in the Hill Country. Come enjoy what my neck of the woods has to offer! @altdorfbiergarten

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Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Pillows of Joy"

10/19/2020

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@nanxiangsoupdumpling

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao

Hands down the best soup dumplings I have had to date in the five boroughs of NY (Almost tied with "Joe's Shanghai"). On the corner of 60th and Main "Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao" has several options for fillings, and offers much more than just soup dumplings. Personally, I'm always here for the dumpling flight if available. Also, Fun fact, My mother was born in Flushing, Queens!
Now, about these little pillows of joy. The broth is rich and not too hot. The fillings are tender and full of flavor. My MVP's were definitely the Crab Meat & Pork and the Chinese Squash, Shrimp, and Pork. The Truffle is also pretty fierce if you're a die hard truffle fan. Overall a must try on your next trip, or if you live locally in New York.

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A weekend guide to Puerto Vallarta for the Foodie!

Tortilla Soup for the adult soul... and carbs.

Casa Nicole

Tacos Revolución

Il Pesce

The Secret Garden at Cafe des Artistes

Incanto Vallarta

Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Olive (You) Oil Cake"

Mabel Gray

Tall, Dark and Hungry "The Cronut"

Dominque Ansel Bakery

Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Snap Out of It!"

Nonna Osteria

Tall, Dark, and Hungry "The Big Easy in Texas?!"

NOLA Brunch and Beignets

Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Farm to Table Gasm"

Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Potato, Kartoffel"

Altdorf Biergarten

Tall, Dark, and Hungry "Pillows of Joy"

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao

Tall Dark and Hungry

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