{"id":8112,"date":"2022-01-27T10:21:11","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T17:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seafood-harvest.com\/?p=8112"},"modified":"2023-01-23T11:16:52","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T18:16:52","slug":"el-mercado-del-mar-in-la-cruz-nayarit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seafood-harvest.com\/index.php\/2022\/01\/27\/el-mercado-del-mar-in-la-cruz-nayarit\/","title":{"rendered":"El Mercado del Mar in La Cruz, Nayarit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contrary to popular belief\u2014mine included and proved wrong\u2014the seafood market at the town of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit<\/em><\/a> does not smell \u201cfishy.” Better known as La Cruz<\/em> only, this beautiful town sits in the north end of Bah\u00eda de Banderas<\/em>, one of the largest bays in Mexico and one of the deepest\u2014almost 3,000 ft\u2014in the world. This bay lies in the Pacific coast of Mexico in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, hosting Puerto Vallarta and it’s a natural winter refuge for humpback whales.<\/p>\n

\"mexican<\/p>\n

El Mercado del Mar<\/em> is located in what I would call a maritime complex composed of a marina, a yacht club and a Sunday arts, crafts and prepared food market.\u00a0 El Mercado del Mar<\/em> and the marina are the nucleus of the complex and they are some of the most attractive places in the area combining the ambiance of a somnolent town with the sophistication of a yacht club.<\/p>\n

\"Mercado<\/p>\n

Before 2008, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle<\/em> was a typical Mexican fishing village with several pretty beaches, a vibrant fishing local industry and deep waters. The Federal Government decided to develop and modernize the area to promote tourism. The strategy included building a world class marina to attract national and international affluent sailors. The marina can host up to 400 yachts from 30 to 400 ft and has a shipyard with the biggest crane in the Mexican Pacific. In an unprecedented design approach, a marina and a seafood market were \u201cmarried\u201d into the project and were built within the new development.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bah\u00eda de Banderas – Photo Credit: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This gave way to a yacht club with a restaurant\u2014open to the public\u2014and the result was a modern, airy space that invites people to stroll around, buy fresh seafood, or have a good meal or cocktails at the yacht club restaurant. Later a commercial venue for arts and crafts, and prepared food emerged on Sundays. Around 200 vendors attract a large crowd of locals and tourists alike every Sunday between November and April. You can see boats arriving from all over the world and enjoy a fancy meal or a cocktail at the yacht club restaurant and purchase local crafts. The Sunday market also offers live music and entertainment making every visit a memorable one. All this combined with the beautiful weather made this area the perfect spot for a Sunday outing.<\/p>\n

\"Mercado<\/p>\n

El Mercado del Mar<\/em> has around 30 fixed spaces for seafood vendors\u2014wholesale and retail\u2014with freezer and shipping facilities to supply mainly the Guadalajara and Mexico City markets. The vendors get their product from around 100 local fishermen who deliver fresh products daily. The commercial success is evident but in my view, the magic comes from the coexistence between local fishermen and affluent sailors. Success has its secrets! A project where everybody wins!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lonja de Huachinango<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The abundant species sold in El Mercado del Mar<\/em> include tuna, red snapper, Mahi-Mahi, Pacific sierra, swordfish, marlin, crappie, shrimp, lobster, oysters, clams and various other small shellfish species. The fishmongers let you choose the fish you like from the catch of the day and work it to your instructions. You can order filets, steaks or \u201clonja<\/em>\u201d, a fish length size cut as thick as the specimen allows it. This being my favorite cut, impresses my guests and assures there is plenty of fish for everyone summoned to the banquet.<\/p>\n

\"Mercado<\/p>\n

Given the setting described above, you can imagine what the local gastronomy offers. Dishes available in La Cruz<\/em> and surrounding towns range from the prehispanic like Tlaxtihuilli,<\/em> a shrimp soup thickened with masa de ma\u00edz<\/em> and seasoned with guajillo and pasilla chiles\u2014recipe below\u2014, the traditional Pescado Zarandeado<\/em><\/a>, Sopes de Osti\u00f3n<\/em>, and Chicharr\u00f3n de Pescado<\/em> plus the ubiquitous fish and shrimp tacos as well as fish steak or filet or prepared al gusto<\/em>. And if you search enough you will find the best Tacos de Pulpo a las Brasas<\/em> there are. My favorite version can be found at the beach restaurant of the Four Seasons hotel in Punta Mita not far from there.<\/p>\n

\"Fisherman
Fisherman at Mercado del Mar. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

El Mercado del Mar<\/em> is enough reason to visit La Cruz<\/em> but the sunday market, the marina, and a margarita cocktail at sunset in the yacht club can definitely make me go back anytime! Salud!<\/p>\n

Recipes for El Mercado del Mar<\/em><\/h2>\n

Tlaxtihuilli (<\/em>Shrimp Soup with Masa and Chiles)<\/h4>\n

A prehispanic dish from Nayarit that combines seafood, corn masa and chiles. Simple but delicious!<\/p>\n

\"Tlaxtihuilli\"<\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/h4>\n