Many busy Lakesiders enjoy those special few days each year that are set aside for contemplation, rest and spending good times with family and friends. Great food is also part of the scene and several local restaurants are stepping up and stirring up delicious, exquisite meals just perfect to celebrate the season.
La Nueva Posada (Donato Guerra 9, Ajijic) will serve Christmas dinner on December 25. The meal will open with parsleyed imperial cheese star and champagne crackers and a Noche Buena salad with baby greens, mandarin, cranberries and pecans with raspberry balsamic vinaigrette. The menu also includes a croissant with sweet butter, oven roasted tom turkey, herbed savory dressing, whole cranberry sauce, butter whipped potatoes, giblet gravy, candied sweet potatoes, Danish red cabbage, English petite peas and plum pudding with candied hard sauce and liqueur with your coffee. The price is 280 pesos for adults and 190 pesos for children under 12 and includes tax and tip. There are three seatings, 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Call for reservations at 766-2049.
Bubba’s (Carretera in Riberas del Pilar next to S&S Auto) will serve up dinner on Monday, December 24, 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The feast includes smoked or baked turkey, ham, candied yams, mashed potatoes and giblet gravy, fresh green beans, corn bread stuffing, cranberry pineapple sauce, corn pudding, biscuits and pumpkin pie. The price is 215 pesos. Call (cel.) 331-287-6642 for reservations. Take out is available. Bubba’s is also selling 12-inch pumpkin, pecan and apples pies, great to take home.
Armando’s Hideaway (Privada Ocampo 18. between Ocampo and Zaragoza, Ajijic) will serve Christmas dinner on December 25. The menu will be turkey, shrimp dip with fresh veggies, hot croissant with butter, pear walnut salad with red wine dressing, southern style cornbread stuffing, smashed buttery potatoes with turkey gravy, bacon-seasoned green beans, and a choice of chocolate cherry trifle, bread pudding with brandy sauce, pumpkin pie, pecan pie or better than Robert Redford dessert and coffee for 220 pesos. Call 766-2229 for reservations.
Manix Restaurant (Ocampo 57, Ajijic) will set out their traditional Christmas dinner buffet on Tuesday, December 25. The buffet includes roast turkey, roast suckling pig and all the trimmings. The price is 240 pesos per person and includes appetizers and the dessert bar. There are two seatings: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call 766-0061. Take advantage of the off-street parking next door.
Number 4 (Donato Guerra 4, Ajijic) will serve Christmas dinner on December 24, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The traditional turkey dinner will cost 350 pesos, the prime rib dinner 400 pesos and a risotto dinner 300 pesos. Each meal has three courses and includes a glass of wine or cocktail. Live music begins at 4 p.m. Call 766-1630 for reservations.
Salvador’s Restaurant (Carretera Oriente 58, next to El Torito, Ajijic) will serve its traditional Christmas buffet on December 25, noon to 7 p.m. The buffet will include turkey and all the trimmings, baked ham, corn bread, various salads, mashed and sweet potatoes, pumpkin and pecan pies (and more desserts), a glass of house wine or soda and iced tea or coffee. Please call for reservations at 766-2301.
Roberto’s (Carretera Poniente 35) will serve choices from the regular menu on December 24, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. From 160 pesos there will be a choice of Roast Duck a l’orange, Giant garlic butter scampi, rack of lamb, lobster Thermidor or Roasted New York Strip. Dinner on December 25 will have choices from the regular menu or baked turkey or baked honey-glazed ham with all the trimmings and French onion soup or Roberto’s Holiday Green Salad. Call 766-1616 for reservations.
Hacienda del Lago (Privada Ocampo 1, corner of Calle Ocampo east of Seis Esquinas, Ajijic) will serve a Christmas Eve dinner on December 24. The five-course meal includes a welcome cocktail and coffee and tea service. Begin with foie gras served on homemade fruit cake with candied green apples, leek soup with caramelized leeks, potatoes and portabello mushrooms and winter salad with greens tossed with roasted black grapes, Gorgonzola cheese and walnuts with roasted garlic vinaigrette. The choice of entrees is Duck Confit with a Grand Marnier reduction infused with mandarin oranges served with sweet potato mash and sautéed baby veggies, or Grilled Wild Salmon with beets and garlic butter sauce, served with sautéed greens and special white mash or Classic Organic Roasted Cornish Game Hen served with baby root vegetable stuffing, wild mélange herbed mushroom glaze, creamy potato and garlic mash and grilled asparagus. Dessert will be Crème Brule with gingerbread pieces. The price is 1,000 pesos per person (gratuity not included). Call 766-0685 for reservations.
La Bodega (Calle 16 de Septiembre 124, Ajijic) will serve Christmas dinner on December 25 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. A limited menu of turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and cranberry sauce has a price of just 120 pesos. Add broccoli soup, green salad and pumpkin pie to the above menu for 185 pesos. Call 766-1002 for reservations.
The Secret Garden (Hidalgo 8, Ajijic) has a terrific selection of delicious fruit cakes. Stop by and get one or two for hostess gifts or a party in your home. Call 766-5213.