A few thoughts lost from yesterday's El Arrayan ... first, part of the draw was a free embroidered apron! Of course, no one wanted to get their sullied in the kitchen, but it sure is a nice remembrance. And the massive bread pudding we helped to create will actually be a special-of-the-week at the restaurant!
As we enjoyed our tours and lunch, I kept noticing the various wristbands on members of our group and others. Each resort has its style and colorations, we're all banded like birds. Made me wonder if the tourist board has spotters deployed around town to count -- Yo Jose! Count three for the Mayan!
We had purchased a small meal plan, two breakfasts and two dinners for each of us; we used one dinner the first night, and will save the second breakfast for our departure day Monday. When to use the other breakfast? How about the morning after a really great, late lunch?
We got ourselves into the general area of the restaurant, but needed some direction to actually find it. The route that was recommended was very beautiful, ending on a long boardwalk at the edge of a waterfall wall. Water moved quietly from right to left, falling into a large lake below. With foliage and flowers all along the banks, the scene was idyllic.
Coming to our senses, we continued up the stairs and got our table. The burning question was ... WHERE'S THE BACON? But we were better than we might have been, we tucked into a generous fruit plate that Linda assembled before we took off for the serious eats.
The buffet here just about defies description; I suppose the REAL plan is to eat there every day and just plan out your stations. Omelets, fresh tacos, freshly-fried empanadas, freshly-baked waffles or crepes ... and that's just the made-to-order assortment. Easily 2 dozen hot dishes, several hand-carving stations, bottomless juice glass and/or coffee cup. Pastries to die for (cunning mini elephant ears just DEMAND to be eaten in quantity). More reasonable options like fresh fruit, oatmeal; the obligatory lox-with-trimmings bar. An Asian station for folks with heavy jet lag -- tempura vegetables, some sushi, a couple stir-fry and/or curry options. Quite the task to come in at a SOMEWHAT reasonable ingestion level.
As for the bacon ... turns out it was well-protected at the end of the line for custom-made omelets. Either you ordered up an omelet or you'd have to cut into the end of the line and dive for the bacon. In the end, we did neither for the first couple of passes, though Claudette fell for eggs and bacon at the end.
By now it's high noon, and a good time to amble back to the room. We pursued our respective pastimes, and at dinner pretended to be hungry enough for a small bowl of reheated tinga. And so to bed!
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