DINNER AT YAXCHE RESTAURANT
My family recently flew in from the States to spend time together in Playa del Carmen. Dinner with my family and my Yucatecan in-laws is always a fun yet challenging experience, trying to enjoy a meal while translating between both sets of parents to keep the conversation flowing. Our large bicultural group walked along 5th Avenue one evening in search of a restaurant that would please everybody. The modern style and chic lighting of Yaxche caught our eye, and as we perused the menu and saw an intriguing list of Mayan fusion cuisine, my husband Jorge and I decided this was what we'd been searching for!
With the outdoor patio filled with couples, our large group of 10 people was taken inside, where we were greeted by friendly waiters and a beautiful combination of modern interior design and ancient Mayan details. As I looked over the menu, I spotted several dishes with my favorite Mexican ingredient: xcatic chile. Quickly deciding on an xcatic and potato soup followed by classic Yucatan panuchos, I was free to spend the remainder of my evening chatting with my parents and in-laws. Having grown up in a small fishing village on the Yucatan Peninsula, my mother-in-law is an expert in Mayan cuisine. My parents asked her numerous questions about the dishes we all tried, and she answered that the ingredients and flavors were much the same as traditional Yucatan food, but with a more modern presentation. This was Mayan fusion cuisine at its finest!
The Mexican and American families chatted over their delicious dinners for the next two hours, stumbling over both languages but still sharing lots of laughter. Jorge and I decided that Yaxche was one restaurant we'd have to try on our own someday!
Price: Approximately $300 - $400 pesos per person, with drinks, a main course and 15% tip
Location: Corner of Calle 22 and 5th Avenue