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Ed Schwartz

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Ed Schwartz has written wine, food, travel and humor features for major magazines and newspapers north of the border. He and his wife, Bambi, are Mexicophiles from way back. They live in the Bay Area, Inverness to be exact, and purchased a house in Sayulita in 2007. For decades. he headed a wine public relations firm in San Francisco, but retired a few years ago. Now he does more thinking than drinking, with a little art on the side. Contact author here.

Stories from Ed Schwartz

Escaramuza Event and the Sayulita Team Won
Ed Schwartz
Friday, April 26th, 2013

Right away I have to tell you that escaramuza means "skirmish" and what it is, in horse parlance, is a group of women, beautifully costumed, showing off their excellent equestrian skills. And, from what I saw last Sunday at the riding circle, it was exciting for viewers and very difficult for the women doing the riding.

Toilarte Gallery - A One Night Stand is Part of Larger Art Picture for Sayulita
Ed Schwartz
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

This past Wednesday, April 17, Toilarte Gallery opened and closed on the same cool evening in the upstairs powder room at Casa Elisa in Sayulita. Many artists and art lovers attended the event. In the small, 50-square--foot square gallery, a large group of paintings was hung and several paintings were sold.

Bite This: A Special Chicken Dish at Calypso
Ed Schwartz
Friday, April 12th, 2013

There are lots of things I love about Calypso. One, the food is always good; the portions are generous, often share-able. The wait staff is really friendly. So, the other night, I climbed the stairs and asked one of the waiters if the kitchen could do a little variation on one of my favorite dishes, the panko-crusted friend chicken.
Bite This: The Coconut Shrimp at Pedrito`s (Hecho Con Amor)
Ed Schwartz
Friday, April 5th, 2013

I enjoyed this dish at lunch the other day at Pedrito`s (Hecho Con Amor). It was different from the other coconut shrimp dishes around town. Most of them are very encrusted with shredded coconut; very crunchy and a bit on the tough side. Some need a sharp knife to cut through the crust.

Painting a Wonderful Picture of Fine Art in Sayulita
Ed Schwartz
Friday, March 29th, 2013

There are a lot of surfers in Sayulita but I think art is also making waves here. And I have it from first-hand experience. Last year, I set out to do a story on art in Sayulita for Sayulita Magazine where I interviewed many artists and learned about their work. I was delighted with the range of talent.
Bite This: Pad Thai at Don Chow
Ed Schwartz
Friday, March 22nd, 2013

The chef at Don Chow didn't popularize Pad Thai. That honor goes to Luang Phibunsongkhram, the prime minister of Vietnam during the 1930s and 40s as part of a campaign to promote Thai nationalism and save on rice, which was the country's big export item. You see, this column isn't just all food opinion, we want to give you a taste of history, too.
Bite This: The Fajitas at Aaleyah's
Ed Schwartz
Thursday, March 14th, 2013

This cozy spot is noted for buffalo wings and nachos, but the menu at Aaleyah's has expanded to include really delicious specialties and this is one of them-beef fajitas. My only beef about this tempting plate is that is a huge amount of food! Approach this menu item with either a very good appetite or a friend who will share this bounty.

Bite This: The Seafood Soup at Leyza's
Ed Schwartz
Friday, March 1st, 2013

I love seafood soup and the one at Leyza's is outstanding. The soup was full of delicious shrimp, mussels, fish and other aqueous bits and pieces and the broth had some nice, spicy snap to it. On top of that, or I should say to the side, a large dish of chopped tomatoes, avocado, and onions, all freshly chopped and fun to add to the already rich bowl.

Arts and Ends
Ed Schwartz
Sunday, February 17th, 2013

If you have time to see something simply amazing, drop by Arte de Sayulita and prepare to drop your jaw. Dianne and Ron Neuman have a collection of art made by the inmates at the jail in Bucerias.
A Restaurant Critic's Manifesto
Ed Schwartz
Monday, February 11th, 2013

As you may gather, I love to eat and I love to write and so I have parlayed that combo into being a restaurant critic, and that's been going on for years. Now, happily, it has come to the point where Sayulitans come up to me a talk about this review or that restaurant and it makes me feel good to have readers eagar to share their thought.
Bite This: The Ribeye Steak at Don Juan's
Ed Schwartz
Friday, February 8th, 2013
A visit to Don Juan, or several, will give you the opportunity to dine in an excellent restaurant that is functioning at the very top of its game. This rib eye steak was savory and tender and well grilled to the exact done-ness I had asked for. The sauce was light and piquant, the vegetables were actually cooked and the mashed potatoes were fluffy and light. On top of the steak were crispy onion slivers as thin as can be.
Bite This: The Red Snapper with Achiote Sauce at Villa Amor's "O" Restaurant
Ed Schwartz
Wednesday, January 30th, 2013

This marvelous looking dish from Villa Amor's "O" Restaurant, red snapper with a mildly-spiced achiote sauce, would merit a fine review as an architectural study, a sculpture by an avant garde artist or a treat by a very creative chef. It not only was great fun to eat, it was a wonderful dish to deconstruct and a sure conversation starter.

Bite This: Chicken Teriyaki at Don Chow
Ed Schwartz
Thursday, January 24th, 2013

There are a lot of new items on the menu at Don Chow's, but this is my go to favorite. And it's been enhanced this year. Lots of tender chicken in teriyaki sauce with nice bits of cooked pineapple to give one's taste buds a nice surprise. Rice and a crisp salad make for a delicious plate all around.
Bite This: The Triple Pork Chop at Los Afortunados
Ed Schwartz
Friday, January 18th, 2013

Here is a hearty dish-I just polished it off and I can attest to the fact that I am full of good food, good company and good vibes. The triple pork chop will be on the menu for a while. Under the canopy of onions in a red wine sauce reduction are three thin, grilled and very savory pork chops.
The Tortilla Soup at Ruben's
Ed Schwartz
Friday, January 11th, 2013

We love tortilla soup and Ruben's delicious version will bowl you over. Everything is in this new house special--lots of rich broth, tomatoes, tortilla strips, really fresh cilantro, melted cheese and avocado as well as a stirring of chile oil just to let your mouth know it's time to wake up. This tasty soup is enough for a lunch, that is for sure.
Bite This: Blackberry Chicken at Tierra Viva
Ed Schwartz
Friday, January 4th, 2013

Good things do come in small packages-a ring from Tiffany, a fat check from Grandma and excellent food from a postage-stamp size restaurant, Tierra Viva. It's one block from the beach at Marlin and Manuel Navarete. The restaurant is also open air, so you catch gentle breezes (bring a sweater, just in case) and it also is a very romantic spot.
Sight This: The Works of Janine Kelleher
Ed Schwartz
Thursday, December 27th, 2012

Janine's beautiful artistic vision is an amalgamation of poetry, memories, collage, a unique style, daring and talent. Her artwork at JaLu Gallery is compelling. It asks you to take a very long look and let it register in your mind and heart. It may even say, "Take me home."
Steak is King at D'luscious Bistro
Ed Schwartz
Thursday, December 13th, 2012

D'luscious Bistro is the new spot in town right off the square and this is good news for steak lovers. Chef Darrell Taylor hails from the Midwest, so he goes to great effort to get really good steaks from Sonora for his bistro. He only picks meat that comes from lowland grazing cattle - more tender, he notes, and with the first bite you can enjoy how tender the steaks are.

Sip This: Yah Yah is Bueno Bueno
Ed Schwartz
Friday, December 7th, 2012

Yah Yah is a new place right next to the church on the plaza. We heard good things about this "newie" and so we went to see what was up. And up it is. An excellent coffee house where you can relax, enjoy the food and sip really terrific coffee-based drinks.

Bite This Column Gets High Honor
Ed Schwartz
Friday, November 30th, 2012

The British give honors like, O.B.E, V.C., and the Order of the Garter. Even writers occasionally get honors like the Pulitzer Price or book awards. But, never in a dozen years did I expect El Sayulero's "Bite This" column to receive an award. Oh, sure, I often get beautiful women who stop me on the street and ask for my autograph, and dogs licking my fingers for scent of food, but yesterday was several cuts above, bordering on fleeting fame.