These websites review Puerto Vallarta Restaurants. Many restaurant reviews are paid or compensated or biased (for reasons other than food) and report only fluff. Most of the reviewers here do not fall into this category. But take them all with a grain of salt as far as the reporting on “quality” is concerned.

• AllVallarta Restaurant Guide
• Beck’s Best: Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Guide
• Puerto Vallarta Restaurants & Dining Guide
• the Vallarta Insider’s Street Food Guide
• The Virtual Vallarta Restaurant Guide
• The PVScene On-the-Cheap Eating and Drinking Guide

The main virtues of restaurant reviews are in categorizing the restaurants and in general descriptions. Reading between the lines often helps.
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There has been a lot of chatter lately by tourists in Puerto Vallarta over the lack of “authenticity” in Mexican cuisine and culture in this rapidly developing resort town…

Los Ostiónes

by the PVScene Staff

One day in January, we went out to find “real” Méxican food in the middle of Los Muertos Beach in Puerto Vallarta. It was there, right in front of our eyes, as we crossed the Malécon bridge over the Cuale River. Vallarta has a way of dishing up surprises like this. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, another sense, idea or emotion is stimulated.

I’ve tried these oysters while drinking in a beach-front bar on Los Muertos. They are sold by wandering vendors for between 80 and 120 pesos a plate of 12 (depending on the season and your bargaining ability). They’re good. Freshest I’ve had. And sweet. And salty.

Fresh Oysters, with wet-suits and floats sitting next to the shuckers.

The shuckers each had his own bottle of Huichol Hot Sauce and almost every tenth oyster was eaten before it could make it on to the plates.

No more complaints about the lack of authentic Mexican food. OK?

Daiquiri Dick’s is sponsoring its first recipe contest to inspire – and entertain – our clients, local cooks and perhaps future cooking stars.

The deadlline for entries is October 4 at midnight.

COOKING CONTEST RULES:

• Contest is open to home, amateur and professional cooks, over the age of 16 (Employees of Daiquiri Dick’s are not permitted to participate)
• Contestants may submit up to three entries
• All entries must be submitted by midnight Oct. 4, 2010, and can be submitted by email through the website DDPV.com or delivered to the restaurant or The Deli.
• All entries must include a photo of the contestant and the finished dish
• All entries must include cook’s personal contact information (email address, telephone & mail address)

RECIPE REQUIREMENTS:

• All recipes must use fresh, seasonal, locally grown and/or readily available ingredients.
• All recipes must make 4 to 6 servings
• All recipes must be original and not already published in any public forum

Six Semifinalists will be selected from the submitted recipes. The semifinalist recipes will be prepared by the Daiquiri Dick’s kitchen staff and presented to a panel of judges and a selected group of Daiquiri Dick’s diners. The winners will be announced November 10, 2010.

PRIZES:

• The first place winner will receive dinner for 2 (or a gift certificate to Daiquiri Dick’s for a value of $100 US)
• Second place will receive a Daiquiri Dick’s gift certificate for $75 US
• Third Place will receive a Daiquiri Dick’s gift certificate for $50 US, and Runner-ups will receive a copy of the Daiquiri Dick’s Kitchen Workbook.

Winning recipe(s) will be featured on the Daiquiri Dick’s website and presented as menu specials during the season, with the cook’s name noted.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Old Town Farmers’ Market open in Puerto Vallarta every Saturday, from November to the end of July.

Select from agricultural, horticultural, artisanal foods and crafts.

by Charlotte Semple

All of the great cities of the world have a celebrated Farmers’ Market where locals and tourists can find the freshest of vegetables, hand-crafted artisanal foods and handicrafts: London has Covent Garden, Seattle has Pike Place Market, Vancouver has Granville Island, New Orleans has the French Market and now, Puerto Vallarta, has the Old Town Farmers’ Market.

From the first Saturday in November to the last Saturday of July, from 10 am to 1 pm, the new Paradise Community Center located at Pulpito #127 (across from Coco’s Restaurant) comes alive with the sites and smells of a good old-fashioned Farmers’ Market.

Only the freshest and finest fruits and vegetables, herbs and plants, preserves, coffee, organic products, baked goods (including diabetic and gluten free) and crafts will be available for sale.

Come browse the colorful tables showcasing unique homemade products all fresh from the oven or field. Just imagine the rich aromas from the lavish displays: warm baked goods, tangy fruit, freshly roasted coffees and fragrant herbs. Now you can experience this blend of fresh shopping and entertainment every Saturday in Old Town Puerto Vallarta.

If you have a product that you would like to sell and are interested in becoming a vendor, please e-mail oldtownfm@hotmail.com. Please include your contact information and details about your product.

Calling All Mixologists to Daiquiri Dick’s

Think you have what it takes? Then shake it up at restaurant Daiquiri Dick’s!

Treat your taste buds to something different. Daiquiri Dick’s is looking for the best daiquiri in Puerto Vallarta! Both professional bartenders and amateurs are welcome to sign up to compete in one of these two categories. There’s no fee to enter your best cocktail creation.

Everyone is welcome to join our celebrity judges as these two new, unique daiquiris are selected for the Daiquiri Dick’s Specialty Drink Menu. The “Daiquiri Dick’s Mix Off” takes place Wednesday, March 24th, from 5 until 7 pm. Guest tickets are only $100 pesos and include sampling the contender’s cocktails, as well as finger foods provided by Daiquiri Dick’s and The Deli. Tell your favorite bartender or at-home mixologist to enter and come to Daiquiri Dick’s to cheer them on!

Contestants must sign up in advance by e-mailing their name, age, recipe including required ingredients, phone number, professional level and place of employment, or notice of amateur status, to DaiquiriDicksPV@Gmail.com by 5 pm on March 22nd, 2010. Contestants must be present, and signed in, by 4:30 pm on March 24th, 2010 at Daiquiri Dick’s in order to qualify.

The winner in each category will have their daiquiri named after them on the Daiquiri Dick’s Specialty Drink Menu, and will be awarded with dinner for two at Daiquiri Dick’s Restaurant.

Keep yourself posted about all the great food and fun at Daiquiri Dick’s by joining their Facebook page and following them on Twitter.

Daiquiri Dick’s, winner of the “Best of” by Virtual Vallarta and Fodor’s Choice 2009, is located on Los Muertos Beach, Olas Altas 314. For reservations call (322) 222 0566 or visit DDPV.com. Open from 9:00 AM until 11:00 PM daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.