What’s happening up there, anyway?!

This month, I thought I’d take you on a virtual tour north and hopefully acquaint you with a few places you may not have heard of before.

We’ll begin at a place most of you do know about and that’s the thriving Plaza Punta Cerritos. In this strip mall of shops and restaurants, you can purchase everything from a loaf of bread to souvenir T-shirts! The restaurants are well attended and each has ‘Specials’ throughout the week. As the slow summer months approach, the restaurants are adjusting their hours. The Last Drop will close after May 5 until the end of September. Looney Bean shuts down between the end of May and Oct. 15. Roy’s summer hours are 11am to 8pm and Karma Kitchen will be open from noon until 9pm; closed Mondays. Jeff has expanded his menu to include tempura, crab cakes, Thai fried rice, swordfish kebabs and Karma Kitchen Kamarones. He’s also giving Thai “Kooking Klasses” weekly from 9am to noon, by reservation for groups of five or more. Cost is $150 pesos/person. Call 669-101-8686 for more info.)

The idea for Al Forno Pizza/Calzone Restaurant was conceived in Italy. While there, Mazatlecan Rosy Pineda and her Italian-born husband, Gianluca Testi, thought that bringing a part of Italy to Mazatlán would be a good business move. Rosy knew the pizza delivery business was a good concept, but also wanted a restaurant. So Al Forno’s outside patio has tables and everything is available to-go as well. Rosy is confident the Marina area and north will continue to grow with more businesses and people.

There’s a big selection of delicious wood-fired pizzas to choose from, and prices start at $89 pesos. The House Special is loaded with ham, salami, peppers, mushrooms and black olives. Rosy plans on adding salads to the menu in the near future. Is it lunchtime yet? Info: 669-913-5050. Delivery in the area is free.

Cerritos & the Marina offer new and familiar places to enjoy

Family, friends and clients were invited to the ribbon cutting at the new La Tramoya Restaurant in the marina in early December. Owners Helena Tirado and Marcela Gonzalez de Rico decided to take the success of the original restaurant on the Plaza Machado and branch out to a more modern setting. The new place is romantic and if you’ve been to La Tramoya on the Plazuela, you know the culinary creations are wonderful. The decor is sleek and modern and there are two flat-screen TVs and wonderfully different local artwork. Currently, the menu is the same as in Centro. Hours are 1pm to11pm, for lunch and dinner. La Tramoya is on the marina side of Costa Veleros Condos on Av. Sabalo-Cerritos, a couple doors north of the Cantina Fufo.

Our new column opens the door to Nuevo Mazatlán

We live in what’s officially known as Nuevo Mazatlán, which encompasses the area near the Marina and to the east and north of it. It’s affectionately called ‘The Twilight Zone,’ given what’s happened in the last two or three years. Our once uncluttered beach is now home to a plethora of new high-rise condominiums and hotels in various stages of construction. However, this area is more than just a massive construction zone - it’s also developing into an exciting area diverse in services, amenities and eateries. I’d like to let you in on some of the news from my end of town.