Zasshi and Japanese for this weeks ladies lunch.

 Yesterday was a new restaurant to all of us and it was Japanese.  I'd made a reservation of 10 for 1pm which is when they opened.  Just a short distance north of the Fresh Market Mall in the Golden Zone and a short bus ride. 

When we arrived Susie was leaning on a post waiting as the door wasn't open yet. 

I'm not sure how long the restaurant has been open but it all looks relatively new.  

About half of us here and we're seated.  There were only 3 English Menus so some of us used the Spanish ones.  The wait staff seemed a little confused by our large group of ladies but we got it sorted out as we went along.  

I think Ruth is using a translator for the menu.  It is varied menu with something for everyone.  

Liz, Cathy, Sandi, Susie and Marion. 

Helene came in a bit late in a fluster as Google maps had her getting off quite far from the restaurant and she had to walk quite a way.  

Helene doesn't get to see as much of us as she'd like as she and Hal are renting down in old town so she likes to circle the table saying hi.  Here she's talking to Sandi. As I mentioned before lots of us were RVers and neighbors in Las Jaibas.  

After we ordered bebidas or drinks the waiter asked if we'd all like a complimentary soup...absolutely!  A miso like broth with noodles and it bit of tofu with green onions and chilies on the side.  Very tasty.  I asked for chop sticks as it's easier to eat the noodles.  Just two or three of us using chop sticks yesterday. 

Soup for all and lots of Topo Chico for drinks.  Topo Chico is a local carbonated mineral water. 

Most of us shared dishes so we could taste more than one thing.  Ruth and I shared this shrimp and vegetable tempura. It was really good. 

Marion and Susie shared and this is a vegetable tempura with a sweet chili sauce.

Sandi ordered rock shrimp in a sauce.  She had a lovely jumpsuit on yesterday which we all said looked really nice on her.  She said her sister bought one and she really liked it so she bought one too!

That looks tasty and even has spiralized beets for a garnish. 

The waiter arrived with Helene's lunch carefully balancing it on a board.  You can see the steam rising from her vegetable Udon soup.  

Next for Ruth and I was a Dragon roll which had shrimp, roe, tuna, cucumber and avocado.  Very good and no cream cheese like the California rolls. 

Liz and Cathy shared a California roll and I see avocado on top. 

All very artfully presented and tasty as well. 

Tuna sashimi for Ruth and I as well.  We managed to eat all of the three dishes except for two small pieces of the Red Dragon roll.  The tuna was delicious. 

Ruth looks like she's not supposed to be eating because I was taking a picture and she didn't want to mess up the plate!

Diane had Mongolian beef and she gave me a piece to try.  Very tasty and tender.  She had to take half home.

Another different roll Marion and Susie to go along with the Tempura. 

Half gone so it must be good. 

Last to get her lunch was Mary and she ordered Kung Pao chicken.  Good as well and she took half home. 

Lots of different dishes and choices and everyone enjoyed their lunch and as always ..." the chat!"  Most of us have been friends for many years and we always enjoy having lunch together. 

Helene said her soup was very good and she also told me about Toyo foods in Mazatlan where you can buy Japanese and Chinese ingredients such as the Udon noodles in her soup.  Good to know and someone always has a helpful hint to share.  

Lunch was done for another week and another success!  Good food, very good prices and decent service.  As always, a thoroughly enjoyable lunch with good friends.  

Our last concert of the season and the "Ventura Quartet!"

 Sunday was our last concert of the Camerata Campbell season at the Angela Peralta theater.  I'd only bought tickets for four performances and this was the last one,  I didn't do a post for the previous Sunday as...we didn't actually get to see the concert.  We'd taken the bus downtown and when we went to go in ....." I had the wrong tickets!"  Disaster as ...no tickets, no entry.  I apologized, Eric said nothing and we headed home.  I felt just awful.  As we got to the Golden Zone Eric suggested we stop for a burger at Mary's which is Manny's favorite place for a hamburger.  The burger was a bit flat as I don't think they'd added salt to the meat and there was no spicy sauce of any kind.  Part two....the next day Eric had Montezuma's revenge and I'd have to blame the burger I guess.  Sigh...he was indisposed for a couple of days.  

So...this Sunday and we were off to the concert ....again.  This time I couldn't make a mistake as there were only two tickets left.  We were waiting in line to go in and a lady turned around and said " I know you" and I said well " I don't know you!"  She reads my blog and recognized me but couldn't remember my first name so I said " Kathy" and she said "Tycho"  She really likes the lunch blogs.  I didn't catch ask her name and some friends of her's showed up and her group was hugging everyone.  A guy turned to Eric so....Eric hugged him and patted him on the back and then stepped around him and got ahead in line.  I didn't notice or I would have taken a photo...BTW...Eric is not a hugger.  Too funny. 

This was the very long line waiting walking to the performance.

The square. 

Only half full at the beginning but....

....almost totally full by the time the performance started. 

Gordon welcomed us and had a little bit to say about a very good friend of his who had passed away.  Mr. Kruger had retired in Teacapan about 90 miles south of Mazatlan and was a retired builder and trumpet player.  Although he spoke no English he started teaching the local kids the trumpet.  Over the years he met Gordon and they continued to develop the music program in Teacapan and Mazatlan as well.  Gordon helped him bring used instruments in from the United States as well.  Just a nice man who wanted to give back to the young musicians of Teacapan and Mazatlan.  Mr. Kruger's wife was in the audience and Gordon had her stand.  A heart warming story. 

We have seen the Ventura quartet many times and they are always put on a wonderful performance.  The two on the right are Bernal brothers and they are all part of the huge music community of Culiacan.  As far as I know they are also part of the Rondalla in Culiacan.  Teachers and music teachers as well.  They are not well know in Culiacan but very well know here in Mazatlan and have also traveled the world. In years past we always got a printed program explaining the names of the musicians, their history and the music but that stopped a few years ago.  I'm sorry I didn't keep some of the old programs but I guess it costs to much to print them.

They did " Around the world in 20 songs." 

Second from the right is lead guitar virtuoso and director of the group Leoncio Bernal.  He announced in Spanish and the musician on the far left translated.  They kept teasing the translator and telling him to keep it brief.  Lots of laughs between them all. 

Songs that were in a different language were sung in that language and before each number he would ask if anyone from the nationality was in the audience.  Then he'd apologize for the poor French or Russian or whatever language it was.  Sometimes he said " Don't listen!"  Lots of laughter from the audience.  All the lyrics were displayed up above. 

The translator on the left.  Everyone played and everyone did vocals.  Each musician had a lead in a song as well.  Hugely talented musicians and such fun to watch. 

At end there was a huge applause and a standing ovation.  The quartet even took a selfie of themselves!  An encore was in order and it was " Cielito Lindo!"  

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we'll be back next season.  

The crowd was on it's feet!

Cielito Lindo!

Off down the street to our usual restaurant "Chon's"

It hasn't been as busy as usual lately.  Pamela our waitress came to take our order and grinned when he said his usual " Marlin Burritos" ....I had shrimp tacos and all was good. 

Revolution squarte and the pigeons. 

We'd just missed the green bus that takes us home so we sat in the square for a bit.  A really nice afternoon and we were home around 4pm.  

Dinner ....our usual fruit cake, cheese and fresh fruit.  A really good day!

Manē for Ladies lunch.

 Manē is a restaurant that our lunch group has visited once before and it was well worth a return visit.  Located at the beginning of the Golden Zone so, a quick bus ride.  It is open for breakfast but it changes over from breakfast to lunch between 12 and 1pm so we didn't arrive until 1pm.  Only 7 of us today so a small group which is nice.  

This is a newer restaurant with a really nice look on the street as well as inside. 

To start with we were the only customers as the breakfast crowd ( if there was one) had already left.  Sometimes we wonder how some of the restaurants stay open with so few customers but I guess it just depends on the time of the day.  By the time we finished lunch there were a few more tables filled. 

Liz, Mary, Diane and Ruth.  

I ordered a fruity drink that I can't remember the name of.  It was blueberry based with a lemonade as well.  Very good!

Me and my drink.  Most of the table opted for Topo Chico which is a popular sparking water here in Mazatlan.  

The bar area and everything is tasteful and spotlessly clean. 

Another cute young waitress who spoke excellent English took our orders.  

She's explaining something to Diane.  So many sweet fresh faces in the restaurant wait staff. 

                                Perusing the menu.

This pleasant young man must be the maitre d or head waiter.  He stopped to chat and Liz spotted his pink socks.  He said he got them from Canada.  He'd been to Canada and wanted to know where we were all from.  Me, Northern B.C., Cathy, Vancouver Island, Marion, Saskatchewan, Liz and Mary, Alberta and Diane and Ruth from the United States.  One of the Mexican suppliers was standing next to him and joked that we Canadians would soon be part of the U.S....not!!  

Pink Canadian socks with runners...very hip.  A really pleasant young man who took our picture as well. 

Pretty fine looking bunch of ladies for an over 70 group. 

We look happy and we were. 

I ordered a Tostada Tropical which had all sorts of seafood, salad and fruit.  Very ceviche like and a bit too many chilies in it for me.  Very spicy. I had no idea it would be so large and I'd ordered a tortilla soup as well.  Only just over 100 pesos for the tostada and more than enough for lunch.  

Cathy and Marion each ordered two tacos and then shared. These are shrimp tacos with in house made blue tortillas.  Very, very good. 

Marion ordered the beef arachara ones and they both had one of each.  They said they were very good. 

Ruth's tuna tostada.  Again ceviche like or cooked in like juice. 

Diane opted for a burger and fries. Good.

Shrimp fettucine for Mary with lots of shrimp and she had to take half home. 

Liz ordered the Mane salad and she was very pleased with it.  Shrimp, grilled goat cheese and very delicious.  The goat cheese sparked a discussion when I said I didn't care for it even though I raised milk goats for 30 years.  The taste reminds me of the smell of a buck goat...yuck!  However, I like Feta which is also goat cheese but a totally different taste.  Liz said the grilled goat cheese was delicious!

My tortilla soup was very good and I asked the waiter not to pour in too much broth as I had the tostada to eat as well.  Very tasty with a thicker broth . 

The ladies happily eating and you can see that Liz is adding the dressing which is always a good idea because then it isn't drowned in dressing. 

Cathy with her tacos.  

A very young, efficient friendly staff.

We'd started with tortilla chips and a really nice dip that was sesame seed based and had chilies in it.  Not to0 spicy, made in house and very good.  So...the service was excellent, the venue was lovely and the food was delicious.  The prices were reasonable and everyone was happy.  We were asked a couple of times how the food was and they were very eager to know what we thought.  I did mention that there were a few too many chilies in my tostada and I smiled and said " Gringo" which of course means someone who likes the food a little less spicy than the local Mexican people although I do enjoy moderate heat.   She said I should have said something but I mentioned it wasn't so spicy that I didn't enjoy it.  I wouldn't have thought what I'd ordered was spicy at all and she said she'd mention it to the Chef.  All in all no complaints and a happy group of ladies.  Another good restaurant to visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner.