Elvi's Kitchen is known for its unique setting, delicious food and incorporating local music and different Belizean cultures into their service.

In an effort to keep the Mayan cuisine and dishes alive, the management of EIvi's has devised a Grand Mayan Buffet, consisting of nurnerous traditional Mayan dishes, which will be available to the public every Friday.

Jenny Pinelo, head chef at Elvi's, participated in a week long course, Cocina Mayan II, which focused on the ancient Mayan people and their cuisine. The course was facilitated by the Mexican Embassy in Belize City and took place at the Instituto de Gastronomia in Cozumel, Mexico, late last year. According to Jenny, the course allowed her to share what she already knew about Mayan cooking and to learn more about the history of the people and their food. Jenny is using the knowledge she has acquired to prepare an amazing array of dishes. On Friday evening, February 27th, Elvi's Kitchen presented their first all you can eat Mayan Buffet. The arrangement was not only attractive but delicious. The dishes available were Pibil (pork), barzo de reina, mole, tamales, toro pinto, mechado, escabeche, chirmole, Mayan pepper, sauces and hand made corn tortillas, which were prepared at the buffet table. For dessert, bread pudding and dulce de pan were available.

As a child Jenny said that she grew up eating many of these Mayan dishes but now these dishes are no longer prepared on a daily basis, only on special occasions. "In the old days people in San Pedro use to make all these things, now it has changed," Jenny explained. "I enjoyed the course given by the Mexican Embassy most because of the background that I grew up with. These Mayan dishes are a part of my heritage. It was especially good because first we had to learn about the Mayans and their lifestyle before we learned about their food."

Jenny said that the participants of the course learned about the different spices used by the Mayans and the history of the dishes they use to make. Brazo de reina is a dish made from chaya - a green leafy vegetable like spinach, corn and meat and was prepared only for the elite Mayan class. The peasants were not allowed to eat this dish, but, prepared a similar one called brazo do Mestizo. Brazo de Mestizo is made from pepito seeds - pumpkin - seeds and eggs.

Another interesting dish is the mole. This dish was prepared trom scratch for the buffet. Jenny said that many people in San Pedro make mole but that the mole sauce is bought ready-made, is concentrated and must be diluted. Mole is made from chocolate, cinnamon, chipolte pepper, allspice, pepper corns, garlic and chicken. Toro de pinto is another interesting dish. People will probably know this food by its Creole name, ducunu. Toro de pinto is a ducunu which contains black beans. The Pibil pork is one of the most traditional of all Mayan dishes and is very popular. Pibil is a method of seasoning, burying and cooking meat under ground. The meat is seasoned, wrapped in banana leaves, and placed over scorching coals and rocks in a hole dug in the ground. According to Jenny, the Mayans only Pibiled pigs, even though today people Pibil chickens and other meat. "Mayans didn't eat chicken in the old days," she said. "Chickens were brought later by the Spanish." For sea food lovers the mechado is a dream come true. This delicious soup is made from shrimp, scallops, squid, conch, olives and onions. In the future Jenny hopes that they can make Atolé de Malz (a Mayan drink made from corn) and Mushula (a Mayan drink made from plantains).

Guests enjoying the Mayan feast were serenaded by Pablo Collado who played the flute and Luis Taylor who played the guitar. Invited guest present at the event included Dr. Victor Gonzalez, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and the Environment, Kevin Gonzalez, the Director of Tourism, and his wife, Mrs. Iraida Gonzalez, Mr. Mito Paz of Green Reef and wife Mrs. Catherine Paz. Other members of the community as well as numerous tourists were also present. Dr. Victor Gonzalez congratulated Elvi on behalf of the Ministry on her initiative and for being a part of the project offered by the Mexican Embassy on Mayan cuisine. "It is a pleasure to know that Jenny represented Elvi's and has made the effort to take part in the course and to share with the tourists the delicious dishes she has learned to make. Best of all though, is that Elvi's has made an effort to preserve Mayan culture. The Ministry especially likes the idea and that it compliments the Mexican project. My best compliments to Elvi's on their accomplishment."

If you would like to enjoy Elvi's Mayan feast call 2176.

Pescador Drive, San Pedro Town     Ambergris Caye, Belize     Phone: 501-26-2176     E-Mail- [email protected]