Tuesday 23th, May
Jumiles Mérida is a really nice find in a trendy plaza for restaurants called The Harbor, and has quickly turned into one of our top recommendations for breakfast, lunch and dinner and one of our favorite restaurants in the north end of Merida, Yucatan. The concept was developed by accomplished Chef Mario Espinosa Torres and he’s created a contemporary Mexican menu with dishes from all over Mexico. The flavors are outstanding and the menu is quite varied. It is fine dining in Merida, yet the vibe is casual chic. You an go for date night or to eat with the fam.
What are jumiles?
Jumiles are tree bugs from Guerrero and in Taxco they are seen as sacred. They are healthy little critters grown under the leaf litter of the Huixteco hill in Taxco, where you find the sanctuary of this insect that few know about: the Temple of Jumil.
Thousands of inhabitants come to it to venerate and collect the insects because since pre-Hispanic times, when Tlahuicas and Chontales roamed this hill, the jumiles are considered souls of the deceased who returned from the underworld to live with their loved ones. When people come down from the hill loaded with bags full of these insects, the people ask them: “have you brought the family?”
Although the bug is revered in these parts of Mexico, they are also valued for a healthy source of protein. On the first Monday in November, hundreds of taxqueños go up to collect this six-legged creatures, rich in iodine, protein and, they even say, possessing aphrodisiac powers. They use them in their gastronomy and you can find them in their markets and in dishes.
How’s the food?
The cuisine at Jumiles is excellent. The menu is creative and unique, the flavors are outstanding and bringing together gourmet and traditional Mexican is a cohesive and clever way.
Our favorites on the lunch menu:
- Mussels in a dark beer sauce with longaniza …served with freshly baked sourdough bread.
- Fried short rib flautas with mole & berries
- Grilled Shrimp with salsa morita and bacon
- Rib eye a la parrilla con tres tipos de mole y vegetales a la brasa
For dessert
- banana cream
- queso de bola ice cream with strawberries and a crumble. Excellent!
You will have to put it on our list for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Entertainment
They have a violinist and saxophone player Thursdays 8pm, Fridays 8pm and Sunday 9-11am for brunch.
Open:
Sunday 8 AM – 8 PM
Monday & Tuesday 8 AM – 12 AM
Wednesday 8 AM – 1 AM
Thursday -Sat 8 AM – 2 AM
Kitchen open until 12pm but they stay open later Wed-Sat for the bar.
For full menu: https://linktr.ee/jumiles?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
