Asian flavors
Meet Julio Cesar Bautista Rosas, owner and head chef at The Wok Place in Melaque – a new restaurant inspired by Vietnamese and Thai cuisine that uses fresh, local ingredients.
After spending most of his life in Cihuatlan and Colima, Bautista travelled across Mexico and ended up in Playa del Carmen, where he found himself working at a hotel restaurant cooking Asian-inspired food. He quickly fell in love with the flavors, textures, colors and aromas of the food.
After a couple of years, he made his way back to the Pacific coast to assist in his mom’s loncheria in Melaque. He then opened a small taqueria of his own but felt something was missing, so he started making pho on Sundays – a bit at a time and selling out fast.
The requests continued and this season Bautista has opened his own restaurant across from the Melaque bus station, open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. You can also order pick up at 314-148-7112.
Bautista’s wonderful personality shines through in his customer service and attention to ingredients. His menu includes curries, green papaya salad, lettuce wraps, pad thai and Vietnamese rolls. There is plenty for vegetarians to rejoice about, as Bautista has fabulous options which include tofu and handmade dishes to order.
Hablas español?
Are you interested in learning Spanish? Here are a few options in our area.
Claudia Jimenez was born in Guadalajara but moved to the United States at age three. She moved to Barra de Navidad about 12 years ago and has been teaching English for six years and Spanish for four years. She currently teaches private classes for individuals and has one group English class for kids.
Jimenez can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and (315) 113-2374.
Dioce Rivera was born and raised in Barra de Navidad and has been tutoring in Spanish and English for about ten years. She studied at the Tec de Monterrey Colima campus and the University of Cambridge.
Rivera specializes in one-on-one lessons for all ages and levels and loves to help each student reach his/her goals. Contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Paco Barriente has been teaching Spanish for about 12 years and previously worked at Quick Learning in Guadalajara. He uses his own method to help his students attain proficiency. He teaches one-on-one and group lessons either in the student’s home or online. He was born and raised in Barra de Navidad. Barriente can be reached on Facebook @Paco Barriente or 315-119-4708.
Robin Ruldolph’s 50-year language teaching career started in Canada where she taught French and Spanish to middle and high school students. Over the past 13 years Ruldolph has spent most of her time in Barra and loves to provide a strong foundation of basics through a variety of methods. Her group class schedule runs Tuesday to Thursday. English starts 9 a.m., Beginners’ Spanish 10 a.m. and Intermediate Spanish 11 a.m. Additionally, Intermediate Spanish starts Fridays, 9 a.m.
Ruldolph also teaches private classes in English, Spanish and French. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or stop by the Cornerstone Language School at Calle Costa Occidental 15 in Barra.
Raise a toast to Doug
Let us take a moment to honor a man who promoted, organized and participated in a large portion of the area’s music scene over the last years – Doug Pettigrew.
Doug poured his heart, soul, passion, guitar and voice into our community and is greatly missed. Next time you are out enjoying the music take the time to sing along and raise a toast to Doug.
Follow the Music
Here is a list of bars and restaurants that have live music throughout the week. Contact them directly to confirm days and times.
Barra de Navidad
Barra Galeria de Arte & Restaurant, Av. Mazatlan 75, (315) 109-6239. Open Tuesdays & Thursdays.
Marlena’s Restaurant, Av. Veracruz 167, (315) 355-8645.
Sr. Froy’s La Casa Mia Restaurant, Calle Filipinas 66, (315) 109-4840. Live music with Hugo Becerra starts 7 p.m. Saturdays.
Simona’s Restaurant, Av. Veracruz 12, (315) 355-8344.
Time Out Bar, Av. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi 224.
Villa Obregon
La Oficina, Av. Revolution 41, (315) 355-5982. Open mic starts 8 p.m. Fridays. Live music with Lalo starts 8 p.m. Saturdays.
Melaque
Bistro Escondido, Las Palmitas 2, (315) 110-4978.
Esmeralda’s Restaurant, Av. Gomez Farlas 461, (315) 104-5647.
La Salamandra, Abel Salgado 382, (315) 355-5530. Live music with Salvador starts 7 p.m. Fridays.
Macondo Café, Melaque Jardin. Live jazz with Pibe Arcega Fridays and Saturdays.
Poeminimo, Melaque Jardin. Live music starts 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Tito’s Place Restaurant Bar, Las Palmas 27, (315) 109-9787. Live music with CHUY Saturdays, 4 to 7 p.m.
Viva Maria 1910, Palmas 7 (315) 107-1973. Live music Fridays, 7 to 10 p.m. December 1: Paco Renteria, 7 p.m., 150 pesos.
Are you a venue owner? Contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to add your location to this list.
Galeria Amiga
The Galeria Amiga, located in the Center for Art and Culture (CENAC) in Melaque, presents new exhibits each month. Opening Monday, December 3, 5 to 9 p.m., and running until December 28 are two new shows: Positively Paper Photography featuring Wave Dance by Jeanne McGee; and Faces of Mexico by Robert Hansen.
Gallery hours are Wednesdays, 4 to 7 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: Jeanne McGee at 360-647-8137 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Upcoming events
Noche Mexicana: Sunday, November 25 in the Melaque Jardin.
3K or 10K Trail & Beach Run: Sunday, December 2 in Melaque. Sign up at acorrerle.com.