Every Monday at Coconuts!

SABOR CRIOLLO

Enjoy the flavors of our local culture as we tease you with...

Pernil, Guineos en Escabeche, Arroz con Gandules

Pechuga de Pollo a Caballo con Huevos Fritos

Camarones al Ajilo

Bacalaitos con Ajili Mojili

Flan de Coco, Limbers y mucho mucho mas!

...CADA LUNES!

Coconuts Saturday Night

PRIME RIB SATURDAY NIGHT
served "Au Jus" with Horseradish Sauce and a Loaded Baked Potato!
We look forward to cooking for YOU this week!
COCONUTS VIEQUES
OPEN for DINNER
Friday-Tuesday, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
RESERVATIONS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED
787.741.9325
Think: Sushi Pizza!

Halloween Party @ Mar Azul

Halloween at Duffy's!

Movie on Vieques

Earlier this year a movie called America's Dream was partially filmed here.  The movie is based on a novel by Esmeralda Santiago and features the story of a young woman from Vieques.  Edward James Olmos plays a role in this movie, although I don't believe he was here for the filming.  Or at least we never saw him.  He was here to protest the Navy a few years back and received twenty days jail time for his efforts.  The book recently surfaced here and is being passed around.  I would urge you all to get a copy.  The references to the island and some of the characters are very nostalgic and the book itself is quite thought provoking.

The snorkeling has been just great the past few days.  There are rumors of manatees in Sun Bay.  Last week a local couple rescued an osprey from a beach on the north side of island.  They saw him struggle out of the surf and sit on a rock, only to have the waves knock him back in again.  They were able to pick him up with a towel.  He was obviously exhausted because he just let them do it.  They rushed him to the Vieques Historical Society and Conservation Trust where Mark Martin gave him a safe place to rest and called in an expert.  The verdict was that he may have flown too far or may have hit the water incorrectly and was stunned.  He was undernourished.  He is doing just fine now.  Mark had him out on the Malecon for a bit of sunshine on Thursday.  Release date is unknown at this time.

The Vieques Humane Society is looking for anyone traveling by American Airlines to Hartford, CT in the next few weeks.  There are a few dogs that need to attached themselves to a ticket.  The process is quite simple; you don't do anything except check in as normal with a representative from the shelter with you.  Call the shelter at 787-741-0209 for more info.

Charlie is back at the Inn on the Blue Horizon.  They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days per week.  Bananas is opening the second floor this coming weekend. It will feature cocktails and views.  Food will be served downstairs.

More soon.

JC

$2 million Micro Lending Initiative to support business in Vieques

FYI,  this is the announcement of the $2 million Micro Lending Initiative by the PR Economic Development Bank and the PR Tourism Company to seed, or support business in Vieques and Culebra geared towards the Tourism Industry.

If you are on island this Thursday October 28, please try to attend.

Meetings start at 8:30 AM at the “W”. The actual Program Presentation begins at 10 AM.

Monday SABOR CRIOLLO

All of your Puerto Rican favorites including...
Pernil con Guineos en Escabeche y Arroz con Gandules
Pechuga de Pollo Empanada a Caballo con Huevos Fritos
and NEW this week - Churrasco Frito!
COCONUTS VIEQUES
OPEN for DINNER
Friday-Tuesday, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays
RESERVATIONS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED
787.741.9325

It's Pretty Nice Here

The island is just beautiful right now.  The recent rains have left everything very, very green.  The ocean is that perfect Caribbean blue green and clear as glass.  The snorkeling has been fabulous all over, but southside is a bit calmer.

Went to Sunday breakfast at the W.  They have quite an extensive menu selection including braised short rib hash with poached eggs...yum.  There is also a breakfast buffet for $28 which includes coffee and juice.  Sounds pricey, but if you are hungry it is a good value.  The other thing that is so cool is the view from the dining terrace.  Puerto Rico looks like you could walk to it.  The bright blue of the ocean against the white of the passenger ferry coming in was neat.  The north side breeze kept everything at a pleasant temperature.  Well worth it to stop by.

Coconuts opened Friday night.  The menu is a bit different, but still includes great shrimp and steak dishes, along with local preparations on Monday nights.  Of course, sushi pizza is still available and still really, really good.  The Mar Azul is back in action.  Dan has kept karaoke on Saturdays and features Al on his bar stool.  Stop in to say hey.  The Barefoot Bistro, across from BBH, is open for dinner.  The menu is eclectic and has a bit of a southern flair.

The bridge on the middle road is still out.  There is no word from anywhere about the repair.  We are all getting used to going around.  A few people have gone to look at it and have said that it can be driven over.  Perhaps, but I would not want to be the one to not make it.  That would be very embarrassing.  It is probably best to obey the road closed signs in this case. 

Shopping tip of the week.  If you have a craving for BBQ ribs and want to stay home to have them, go to Mambos.  They almost always have ribs in the freezer section. 

Later.

JC

“¡Sabor Criollo!” at Coconuts

FIRST OF THE SEASON, Monday October 18th!
“¡Sabor Criollo!”
A CELEBRATION OF LOCAL FLAVORS!
in addition to our regular Dinner menu

Dos Pastelillos de Picadillo, 2 Cuban-inspired Beef Turnovers  $6
Caracoles al Ajilo, Escargot, Garlic Butter, Spanish Sherry, Mushrooms  $10
Asopao de Pollo, Chicken and Rice Soup  $6
Ensalada de Pulpo con Arepa, Octopus Salad & Arepa  $10
Bacalaítos – salt cod fritters with Ajili Mójili  $8

*  *  *
Pernil, Guineos en Escabeche y Arroz con Gandules
Slow-roasted Pork, Pickled Green Bananas, Rice and Pigeon Peas  $16
Grilled Black Angus Churrasco, Argentinean Chimichurri, Arroz Mamposteao  $20
Pan-seared Snapper Fillet, Berenjena Guisada y Amarillos  $20
Pechuga de Pollo Empanada a Caballo con Huevos Fritos y Arroz Mamposteao...   Crispy Chicken Cutlet with Sunnyside Eggs $16
Pan-seared Mahi Fillet, Fresh Coconut Green Papaya Slaw  $20
Full-pound Grilled Boneless Angus Ribeye “Encebollado”, Sauteed Marinated Onions, Papas Majadas, Mashed Potatoes  $30
*  *  *
Flan de Coco $6
Limbers…     Frozen “Ices” Coconut, White Grape, Acerola or Vieques Mango $2
NEW!  Warm Chocolate Brownie Sundae, our Vanilla Ice Cream, Whipped Cream,
Chocolate Sauce, Chopped Walnuts  $6
NEW!  Chocolate “Bark” Trio:  Dried Fruits, Nuts, Spicy Bacon  $6
NEW!  Banana Nut Bread with our Banana Ice Cream  $6
NEW!  Warm Coconut Bread Pudding with Caribbean-spiced Crema Inglés  $6
Our fresh-made Ice Creams & Sorbets $6
Toasted Coconut Rum         Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip         Vanilla Bean
Oreo Cookie                Kiwi, Vieques Mango or Strawberry Sorbet

COCONUTS  VIEQUES
OPEN for DINNER
Friday-Tuesday, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays
RESERVATIONS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED
787.741.9325
Think:  Sushi Pizza!

Chef Michael's TOP TEN Reasons to go to Coconuts this week:

10.   Spend time with old friends... we long to get reacquainted, make some
new ones too!
9.   Saturday Night Prime Rib!
8.  Sabor Criollo Monday Night, all your favorite Puerto Rican Flavors!
7.   Juicy, seasoned Angus steaks with truffle fries!
6.   The best half-pound Angus chuck burgers!
5.  NEW Bistro Salad with bacon & eggs over frisee
5.   Malta BBQ Spare Ribs
4.   Hummus now in three flavors
3.   Our all natural fresh made Ice Creams
2.   Maine Diver Sea Scallops, Fresh Snapper Fillets, Shrimp Pinchos

...and the number one reason to go to Coconuts this week...
1.  SUSHI PIZZA!!!!!

No More Rain!!! Sort Of

Greetings from a soggy Vieques.  What became Hurricane Otto gave us quite a drenching this past week.  Southside storms are pretty interesting in that all the bars and restaurants along the Malecon face south.  For a few days, customers had to crawl into Duffy's underneath the shutters.  Good Times.

The weather straightened out for the weekend.  There were at least three wedding ceremonies on Sunday, so it was fortunate that the sun decided to make an appearance.  Additionally, there was a mad rush to do laundry since most of us have had something on the line, getting rinsed and rinsed again for the past few days.  This was not a good thing, however, as we had a couple of monsoons go by this morning.  The monsoons, of course, would not have happened had not every house had laundry on the line. 

Trade Winds reopened on Friday for dinner only.  Breakfast and lunch will follow closer to the high season.  It is nice to have a dinner spot open in Esperanza.  Coconuts is re-opening this coming Friday.  Al's is open!!!!  There was a great get-together on Wednesday, for opening day.  Happy Hour was well attended, with Al as the guest of honor.  New owner Dan, plans on getting the food going very soon.  Of course Karaoke is on the schedule for every Saturday night.

Lazy Jack's is hosting dinner by Beverly every Wednesday and Saturday.  You need to stop by to find out what's cooking.  Thursday nights there are to die for BBQ, with real smoked meats.  Great food at a great price.  Belly Buttons is doing dinner specials as well.  Every Sunday something is going on for football, and there is paella by Waldo every Tuesday.  Bananas has great happy hour food platters and drinks.  Margaret is serving up super delicious homemade soups at Duffy's.

Cantina La Reina has closed for a few weeks.  They wil reopen sometime in early November.  Chris and Beth at Buen Prochevo are on vacation.  There will several people going into cheese withdrawals while they are closed.  In the meantime, the Cash and Carry has started to stock some specialty cheeses in the wine cave.  Addtionally, you can sit in the wine cave, drink a bottle and have a cheese plate.  They are open 8am-8pm every day.  Next Course is open Friday thru Tuesday.

It appears that the cargo ferry did indeed have a short stay in the ferry hospital.  Things seem to be back to normal.  There was recently a large drug/corruption investigation by the FBI in Puerto Rico.  The result is that there are drug dogs at the airports and ferry terminals.  This has caused slight delays, but nothing to write home about.  I think I got a drug dog in training on one of my last visits to Puerto Rico.  He kept trying to play with my backpack.  Of course, there is the scent of seven dogs on that backpack, so he probably got confused.  I would like there to be the scent of six dogs, so if any of you are interested in a 25 pound female sato, my foster dog, Princesa, is looking for a forever home. 

The sun has just reappeared so it is time to wring that laundry out, again.  More later.

JC

The Barefoot Bistro

‎"To all my Vieques friends, my restaurant is open all off season! Send your
friends, guests, or come over for some great eats! The barefoot bistro is
open wednesday-saturday 8-11am for breakfast, and 5-9pm for dinner. Great
prices + excellent food = a good time!" ~Chef Nicole Ross
http://site.barefootbestro.com/
added jts

Vieques Cleanup News!

If you are interested in info on how the Environmental Cleanup is progressing on the former base, information PDFs may be downloaded here.

http://www.enchanted-isle.com/vieques/pdf/October Flyer 2010_final.pdf in English and

http://www.enchanted-isle.com/vieques/pdf/October Flyer 2010_final.spa.pdf in Spanish.

jts