Casa del Café - Panini de Churrasco

 

The Casa del Café coffee shop, a popular chain of restaurants in Nicaragua, has a recent creation called Panini de Churrasco.  Churrasco is the famous cut of steak, arguably the most popular in Nicaragua, that generally is garnished with chimichurri, a popular South American sauce that is widely used in Nicaragua as well.  A basic version uses fresh parsley, oregano, garlic, oil and vinegar and maybe a little bit of chili pepper.  Click here for a good recipe for chimichurri.  They nailed the flavor on the head with this steak sandwich.  It costs $6.00 and is served with either cream of broccoli, cream of tomato or a lettuce salad (and that little dish of delicious coleslaw).  I hope it becomes a regular on their menu cause it's a winner!  BTW, the other panini is turkey, pretty tasty as well.

Casa del Café has restaurants in the following locations in Managua: Altamira, Metrocentro (kiosk and restaurant), Galerías Santo Domingo (kiosk and restaurant), Multicentro Las Ámericas (kiosk)), La Unión Altamira (kiosk), Cobirsa (kiosk), Airport Augusto César Sandino (kiosk), Hiper La Colonia (kiosk), Centro Pellas (kiosk), León (kiosk), Plaza Mayor de Las Colinas (restaurant) y Plaza Occident Chinandega (kiosk).

You can see how much a meal of these new Panini cost here.

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Posted by Editorial Team on 9:03 p.m. in Nicaraguan Food/Comida Nicaragüense, Restaurants/Restaurantes

Puerto Salvador Allende on Lake Managua (Xolatlán)

The Nicaraguan government has made admirable efforts to promote tourism in Managua.  The Salvador Allende Port is a good example.  In a newly renovated downtown area, you can board one of several boats for some quick trips out on the lake.

The "Isla del Amor" trip costs C$70 for adults and C$30 for children (10 years or under) for general seating.  If you want the preferential seating (outside, upper deck) it costs C$100 for adults and C$50 for children (10 years or under).  The quick trip lasts 50 minutes.

Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. y 5:00 p.m.

There is a night trip that I am dying to take.  It also runs Tuesday to Sunday at 6:30 p.m.  Prices are C$100 for adults and C$50 for children (10 years or under).  Note: The boat only leaves with a minimum of 18 passengers.

Check it out!

Posted by Editorial Team on 8:34 p.m. in Lake Nicaragua, Managua, Nature/Naturaleza, Tourism/Turismo, Transportation/Transporte

Kathy's Waffle House - Granada

Address/Dirección:
Frente al Convento San Francisco. Granada

We had an excellent breakfast in Kathy's Waffle House. The eggs rancheros were snappy and spicy. The home fries were peppery and delicious. The bread was out of this world with the strawberry jam. The bottomless cup of coffee was good - and included with the purchase of breakfast ($C80 or about $4).

Check it out when you are in Granada!!! Tell Sandy you heard about his place at www.nicatourism.com!!

Posted by Editorial Team on 10:24 a.m. in American/Americana, Granada, Restaurants/Restaurantes

Bamboo

I was walking down a narrow road in La Reforma, Masaya in Nicaragua and heard an unusual noise. I looked around and saw this bamboo patch, moving in the wind and making it's typical and unusual noise. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth - it can grow 24 inches in 24 hours!! No kidding!! They are some of the largest members of the grass family.

Posted by Editorial Team on 7:58 p.m. in Curiosities/Curiosidades, Nature/Naturaleza

Huge ceiba tree

Check out this little girl in Nicaragua at the base of a huge ceiba tree.  This tree is 150+ years old according to the locals.  It can be found, majestically standing, in Pacaya near El Valle de la Laguna, Masaya Nicaragua.

Posted by Editorial Team on 9:12 p.m. in Curiosities/Curiosidades, Nature/Naturaleza

Intermezzo del Bosque...going downhill at a steady rate

I have been to Intermezzo del Bosque 5 times in the last few years.  We were very disappointed last Sunday when we went to celebrate our anniversary.  Our waiter was very aloof and not responsive at all.  He wasn't in bad mood, just not with the game.

The food was the most dissapointing part of the visit...and I must admit that the last two visits had aroused fears that this was going to happen: a shocking descent in food quality.  My wife's shrimp were watery (underneath the batter they were fried in).  I had steak medallions with three sauces (one of the sauces was stone cold).  The steak was good.  However, the waiter didn't even ask how I wanted it prepared.  Huh?  Bread was hard/stale.  No salad served.

What a shame that this has happened.  The view and climate at Intermezzo del Bosque is unmatched in the Managua, Nicaragua dining experience.  It used to be our favorite place to go for a special dinner.  They need to get a top notch chef in there fast cause the food was really below standards for what was once considered a fine dining experience.  The head waiter needs to get his game on too.  Until I hear better, this place is off our list.

Enjoy the pictures...they are the highlights of this visit.

You can see prices at Intermezzo del Bosque here.

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More traffic light entertainment in Managua

What to do on a rainy night in Managua?  Does the onset of the rainy season in Nicaragua give you the blues?  Fear not my friend...many a traffic light in Managua will still be the setting for really good entertainment, as this clown, near ENEL Central in Managua, gives proof of.

Posted by Editorial Team on 7:36 a.m. in Curiosities/Curiosidades, Managua