March 30, 2008 Page 2 Jaltemba Features

Petra Huerta: Riviera Nayarit Jewel     

                                 By Tara Spears

While most visitors seek out this part of the Mexican coast for its physical beauty and relaxing lifestyle, they still want top quality dining. The Bavarian Garden restaurant, serving authentic German cuisine, is an excellent change of pace from spicy Mexican fare.  For the outgoing and vivacious owner, Petra Huerta, it is an opportunity to showcase her 20 plus years of professional cooking experience,  honor the family culinary traditions, and to have a good time.  “I enjoy talking with the customers,” she says, “So many have become good friends.”  Petra explained that her grandmother and mother, Eva, passed on their love of cooking to her.  “I chose family style meals and add a romantic, formal presentation to make dining a relaxed pleasure. “  Bavarian Garden’s exotic hillside location, lace tablecloths, and open air ambiance is reminiscent of European beer gardens.

Even more impressive than the restaurant is its dynamic proprietress. Petra is a true diamond among the many jewels in the community.  Independent, intelligent, and with a heart of gold, Petra gives her all to her business, family, friends and those in need.  She prefers to avoid the lime light yet is often first to take up a charitable cause- she works tirelessly to make the community a good place to live.

This astute, self-taught businesswoman is fluent in German, Spanish, English  “and I’m trying to learn French!”  Her genuine smile and twinkling eyes mirror the beautiful attitude within.  A talented singer and song writer, “I sing to my soups every day” she quips.  Her tiny stature and high energy level is impressive for a grandmother: “My daughter, Sabrina (24) is happily married and living in Greece with baby, Philipe,” Petra says proudly.   It is Petra’s love of music that prompted the scheduling of live entertainment three nights a week at Bavarian.  “I choose the local talent that offers romantic, danceable music.”  One popular local musician, Enrique Preciado, who plays exclusively at Bavarian on Wednesdays, is noted for his danceable repertoire of Spanish ballads and English oldies.  “Many customers like to celebrate weddings and anniversaries with dinner and slow dancing to Enrique,” said Petra.  Enrique plays six different musical instruments besides having a soulful singing voice.

Musician Enrique Preciado

From its initial opening in 2005, Bavarian Garden was a success and soon hailed as the area’s top restaurant.   In addition to appetizers and a variety of salads, Petra works magic with her hearty soups.  “I’m proud of the Rouladen, which is my mother’s recipe,” said Petra. This excellent entrée is tender beef stuffed with pickle, bacon, onions and cheese that is complimented by spatzel (German seasoned noodles) and cooked red cabbage. Delicious! When asked how she achieved such tender beef in a country known for its lean, tough cows, Petra laughingly explains, “I import it (and the sausages, pictured above) from out of the country!” 

Other very traditional Munich, Germany dishes that are available at Bavarian Garden feature pork loin and pork roast delicacies-the Jagerschnitzel and the Bavarian entrees, which are accompanied with dumplings or potato pancakes, applesauce, and sauerkraut.  A savory salmon in dill sauce is a favorite with fish lovers.  All items are made fresh daily by Petra and her staff at the restaurant. As a compliment to the fine dinners, Petra offers a selection of imported German and domestic beers, wine, and cocktails.

Three years ago Petra expanded her dining facilities by adding a lower patio to accommodate large groups.  Bavarian Garden also offers a fabulous breakfast menu only on Sundays, 8 am to 2 pm,  that features a traditional German Alpine breakfast of sausages, potato pancakes, omelets, juice and fruit.

Petra loves being the boss despite the long hours and unexpected snafus that occur in running a busy restaurant. “I demand quality from suppliers and staff,” said Petra.  “I want my customers to rely on getting top service and the best food when they come to Bavarian Garden.”  Noting that each day is exciting and challenging, some are more dramatic than others: “One evening, a bull had gotten out of its pen and came charging down the mountain into the restaurant full of diners.  The police came with lassos to capture it- but not before the frantic creature destroyed some of the table and chairs! It’s just part of the charm of living in a true Mexican village,” laughed Petra.

As one recent international customer at Bavarian Gardens, Joanne Clark, sums up, “It’s a little bit of German culture juxtaposed with Mexican flavor.  It’s a wonderful way to enjoy a warm Mexican evening with tasty German food and lovely dancing music.”  Many other customers appreciate the ambiance of the open air setting and natural beauty of the rocks and native plants, especially when looking down on the lights of the nearby town.  Several repeat customers exclaimed, “Petra always makes us feel welcome, and she adjusts items for our special dietary needs.” 

For so many reasons, the Riviera Nayarit community is proud to know Petra Huerta- excellent cook, excellent businesswoman, excellent friend.

Bavarian Garden is open October –May:  Saturday-Wednesdays: 3 -9 pm; Fridays: 6-10 pm; and Sundays 8 am-2 pm                                                         

To make reservations:  327-274-2136   or email: petrainmex@yahoo.com.de

  Bavarian Staff:

                                          Open air dining-Bavarian Garden views:

Petra hard at work but loving it

Email Tara: tara.sprs@hotmail.com

Ruben Jimenez: Tin Craftsman

                             By Tara Spears

Before its conquest by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, the native people of Mexico and Central America created objects of great beauty from their natural resources. In ancient Mexico, gold, silver, and copper were plentiful and accessible, and from those metals, the Aztec people created masterpieces of jewelry, masks, and sacred objects. However, as the Spaniards conquered the native people, they melted down the beautiful jewelry and sent it back to Europe, dug mines, made slaves of the Aztecs, and forbade them to use the precious metals. Of necessity, the Indians turned to tin.

With the Indio’s skill in metalwork, they soon created beautiful mirror frames, jewelry, ornaments, and candle holders with the shiny, malleable metal. A new form of art thus arose out of political and economic necessity. Presently, much tin work comes from the state of Oaxaca, home of the largest native Indian population in the western hemisphere. Mexican tin art embodies the Mexican reverence for nature in beautiful handmade sculpture that enlivens any home or patio.  One very talented craftsman is Ruben Jimenez, who offers original home décor items in the Riviera Nayarit mercandos.

Drawing on their heritage, Ruben and his two partners, cousin Roberto and friend Jose, are among those tinsmiths who have an exquisite talent for producing unique and varied pieces. To begin, they draw or etch the figure onto the thin sheet of tin using a pattern or template and, starting at the edges, begin to cut out the profile of the figure with long metal shears. They then use pliers and hammers to create patterns and shapes in the tin. Many designs include additional pieces of tin that are put together using lead solder and a soldering iron to create the complex, 3-D compositions. The cutout details (see photo) are done with a hand held torch. Afterwards, the piece takes on a life of its own as Ruben adds thin sheets of brass, copper and acid before the art-in-progress is heated to a high temperature in a special kiln to obtain the gorgeous metallic colors. Some pieces are also hand-painted in vibrant, vivid enamels to enhance the design. All of Ruben’s original artworks are then dipped into special lacquers to seal the metal that protect it from corroding, besides giving the sculpture a lovely gloss. A small fish, (left) takes five hours to create.

Rubin was born in the small Mexican puebla of Copalillo, in the southwestern state of Guerrero, which borders Oaxaca. Guerrero remains one of the poorest in the country, with no industry except agriculture, forest products, and mining.  Mineral resources there include gold, silver, lead, zinc, iron, coal, precious stones and sulfur.  A small antigovernment guerrilla group rebelled and fought the Mexican army in the 1990’s but was subdued by the government.  The main language spoken is Guerrero Nahuatl, with Spanish as a second language. The state, which is mostly forested, has the largest number of scorpion species in Mexico!

After his father relocated the family to Puerto Vallarta, Rubin attended school there. When he completed secondario, he began to work in sales. “But I always loved working with my hands,” he explains in English, “so I got a job carving wood with a furniture company.”  Restless, he traveled to the US to work for two years.  “I really learned English then!”  Homesick, Rubin returned to Puerto Vallarta and got married.  He and wife, Silvia, have two sons: Jose,10, and Ruben, 3.  “I have friends that liked my carvings and encouraged me to make stuff on my own.” Four years ago, Ruben and his two partners began creating the tin sculptures.  Their folkart was very popular, and Ruben enjoys the creative freedom of being self employed. “I listen to what the people say (about my art) and we make what they like,” said Ruben.  Besides having regular distributors in Puerto Vallarta, Ruben offers his art on Sunday in Saylito and at the Thursday tianguis in La Penita.  “I like talking to people at the market,” he says. “I also like working with the metal and creating something beautiful.” In his free time, Rubin likes to swim and listen to music with his family and friends.

Ruben will custom-make tin art to meet the customer’s preferences. 

To contact Ruben:   044-322-168-6786