January weather has a way of making me feel uninspired in the kitchen, and everywhere else in my life. To brighten things up, I'm sharing some great dishes I enjoyed in Puerto Vallarta, a small fishing town and huge Canadian tourist destination on the west coast of Mexico. Mexico is dear to my heart as I was married near Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta is no exception. It's a magical place filled with friendly people, exceptional food, beautiful art and breathtaking scenery. If you find yourself in Puerto Vallarta, or just need to dream a little, here are some places I recommend: The Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa This lovely spa hotel is on the northern part of town. Nothing says dinner like a fantastic serenade from a local mariachi band: [caption id="attachment_3278" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="A serenade at the Villa Premiere Hotel"] [/caption] Enjoy a bowl of tri-colour squash soup. Mexicans know a thing or two about turning the humble squash into a work of art: [caption id="attachment_3279" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Tricolour squash soup at the Villa Premiere"] [/caption] The El Dorado Restaurant & Bar, Los Muertos Beach Soak in the ocean air as you dine on dishes by acclaimed local food advocate and owner Chef Guillermo Wulff: Pulled pork meets local shrimp meets fresh avocado on mini baked tostadas. Everything is possible in Puerto Vallarta: [caption id="attachment_3282" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Beachside tastes better: Pulled pork, shrimp, avocado & tomato tostadas"] [/caption] Las Caletas Take a day trip out to Las Caletas, a small island full of unbelievable creatures: [caption id="attachment_3283" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="See the symbiotic wee fish on the left living in the folds of this jellyfish"] [/caption] And lunch on Mexican fare, including traditional Mexican hot chocolate served in a giant warm clay vessel after swimming around the ocean with the fishes. [caption id="attachment_3285" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Sip Mexican hot chocolate done the traditional way in a clay pot after a day of snorkling at Las Caletas"] [/caption] Le Kliff It's worth the short drive south to Le Kliff, a restaurant built into the side of a cliff that overlooks the rainforest and the ocean. Fun fact: Across the road is where they filmed the movie, Predator. (awesome!) [caption id="attachment_3287" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Peer into the lush rainforest from the edge of a cliff, at Le Kliff"] [/caption] [caption id="attachment_3293" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Watch the sunset from your perch at Le Kliff. "] [/caption] Ceviche caught that morning served in a coconut is my kind of appetizer: [caption id="attachment_3288" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Enjoy tropical ceviche from locally-caught seafood at Le Kliff"] [/caption] Tequila Corner Go for a tequila tasting at Tequila Corner, a small tequila shop in the heart of Puerto Vallarta's Art district. Here you'll find high-end tequilas not available anywhere else in the world, and great staff willing to teach you all you ever wanted to know. [caption id="attachment_3280" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="We discovered the difference between silver, gold and "white" tequilas. "] [/caption] El Arrayon You can't leave Puerto Vallarta without going to El Arrayan, a small restaurant working hard to retain and reintroduce traditional Mexican foods. Check out the menu here. Expand your horizons with a cricket taco, or 'Chapulines'! Crickets are closely related to shrimp. It was crunchy with smokey, almost shrimpy flavour. Tequila helped, I have to admit. [caption id="attachment_3290" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Expand your horizons with a traditional cricket taco at El Arrayan, post-tequila is recommended"] [/caption] And for dessert, baked squash so caramelized and gooey one would swear it was packed with dairy: [caption id="attachment_3291" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Polish it all off with a gooey traditional dessert: baked squash. "] [/caption] My hosts told me you would have to stay in Puerto Vallarta for over a month before you started repeating restaurants. It was a culinary dream and a delight to visit. What are some of your favourite Mexican foods? Would you eat a cricket taco?