Fieri Redux
Guy Fieri, star of television’s Food Network and New York Times best-selling author, returned to La Manzanilla and put on a show.
For the third year in a row, Guy was celebrity chef at Palapa Joe’s restaurant. His January 26 happening featured a set meal of Asian cuisine that sated and delighted diners lucky enough to get a reservation.
Guy’s cooking adventures in paradise have become so popular, two seatings were required to feed everyone this year. After 80 reservations, the restaurant had to turn hopefuls away days before the scheduled event. Testament to La Manzanilla’s grapevine, the dinner was not advertised; news spread by word of mouth.
Over 30 kilos of meat – a tall order for a small-town restaurant – went into the making of main course Mongolian beef and ginger-marinated chicken, served with Hong Kong noodles and barbecued-pork fried rice. And it’s not like one can just hop over to our local Safeway for rice-paper wraps for almost 200 spring rolls in peanut sauce. Fieri creates an event!
And he makes it a family affair. Son Hunter and dad Jim Ferry were pressed into galley duty for the day, and mom Penny worked the tables selling raffle tickets for a copy of Guy’s latest best seller, More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and an autographed chef’s knife. After slaving over hot woks all day, Guy still managed to schmooze with patrons, pose for pictures and sign autographs, never losing his million-dollar smile.
Guy donates his time and talent each year to Celebrity Chef night, and proceeds from ticket sales always go to a good local cause. This year’s beneficiary was the kindergarden. They received a substantial donation toward building a kitchen, so all the children are guaranteed at least one nutritious meal each day.
The Fieri family has been visiting La Manzanilla each winter for years and is planning to construct a home here. Parents Jim and Penny Ferry donate a major portion of their time working with an orphanage in Colima. They all reside in Santa Rosa, California, where Guy has Johnny Garlic’s and Tex Wasabi’s restaurants.
Celtic music
In a community where most of us grew up with the Beatles and the Stones, another musical genre from the British Isles hit just the right note recently in La Manzanilla. The Triskele Celtic Duo have delighted audiences with their lively blend of traditional Irish-Scottish-Welsh music at a number of area venues, including Boca de Iguanas, Palapa Joe’s, and the plaza during Friday tianguis.
The two who make all this foot-tapping, spoon-slapping music are Myranda O’Byrne alternating between dulcimer and percussion, and husband Michael Price on acoustic bass guitar and harmonica. Both do vocals, as well. Residents of Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, they have been playing Celtic music for over 20 years. Rounding out the reels and jigs locally was guest fiddler Sylvia Fox, Arroyo Seco resident and La Manzanilla habitué.
The Triskele Celtic Duo have appeared for free in the area ‘just for the sheer joy of playing and sharing the music.’ They do appreciate donations while they’re here, however, to buy guitars for aspiring musicians in Arroyo Seco. In Canada, this dynamic duo has aired on CBC radio and TV, played for Randy Bachman’s (of BTO) 60th birthday party, and continue to perform at numerous festivals, private clubs, and celebrations.
Art Walk
Artists are still recovering from Sunday’s 2nd Annual La Manzanilla Art Walk. Spokesperson Rennie Holley reported that participating locations were jamming from the get-go and that a lot of people came from out of town.
Business was brisk, apparently, and several artists sold their work, with jewelry being the hottest item. Close to two dozen artists participated in the Art Walk, and the array of creative endeavors available was outstanding.
Each venue had a donation basket to continue funding for Abel Brambila’s Student Art Program. Abel is a La Manzanilla-local artist who helps children channel their creativity into works of art available for sale. Rennie says they “seemed to do well for donations, although the finally tally isn’t in yet.” Money will go toward supplies and furniture.
Singin’ in the Rain
Whether it’s El Nino, or Tlaloc the Aztec rain god making up for last summer’s deficit, most of us in La Manzanilla are ecstatic about our recent winter showers. We’re so inured to feeling nary a drop twixt October and June that a chilly, gray day in February (or December and January) is a welcome respite from our usual “clear, blue and 82” weather. The majority of squalls have come through at night - perfect timing to keep the foliage lush and the dust down, and not rain on our visitors’ parade. The sun has always come out “tomorrow”. Tuesday’s overcast skies and precipitation, however, continued throughout the day, sending seasonal sun worshippers in search of alternative pursuits.
It’s not like there’s nothing else to do in La Manzanilla right now. Manos Ayudandos is brimming with low-cost used books, and the Galeria has walls and shelves full of art to brighten the dreariest day. Shops and salons beckon with souvenirs and personal indulgences. Dozens of restaurants are open all over town. A stroll through the village without an umbrella in tropical rain is quite refreshing, although occasional doses of “medicine” to ward off a chill are recommended.
Full calendar
La Manzanilla’s calendar is as filled as it gets for the rest of the month. Fiesta de Toros runs through February 7. The 2nd Annual Sail Boat Regatta is rumored for the 9th. Ernesto de la Pena Folch will be featured at the Galeria’s Meet the Artist reception on February 12. A meet-and-greet with our new mayor, police chief and assistant chief is scheduled for the 15th. Cisco’s Amigos Bingo and Silent Auction fundraiser for the pet spay and neuter clinic will happen at Palapa Joe’s on February 21.
If you want your visit to coincide with something more than a picturesque village with possibly the best beach on the Costalegre, check our message board at www.lamanzanilla.info for event updates.
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