Check out the new Colibri Garden Blog!

Don't miss the Colibri Garden blog at:
www.colibrigarden.blogspot.com
You'll find information about the healthiest most delicious food you'll find Lakeside or anywhere else.!

The Art of the Picnic

“A loaf of bread, a jug of wine and thou”, . . . Memories of a tablecloth spread over the grass,  delicious food, beautiful scenery near a lake, in a park, in the company of loved ones – bring to mind  the reverie of a picnic in our  past. Why not create the experience in Ajijic?  How long has it been since you went on a picnic?  No need to labor over preparing food for the picnic.  Let Secret Garden do the work.  All you have to do is arrive at Secret Garden,  order your dishes, to your liking, for takeout, with drinks – and soon you will be ready to picnic, enjoy the afternoon, the scenery, the perfect climate of Magical Ajijic as well as the company of treasured family and friends.  Easy, isn’t it? You can call ahead or just arrive, perhaps order a drink and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere while we prepare a fantastic picnic for you – we’ll do everything possible so that the picnic selections make your picnic a delicious success.  It’s a short walk from Secret Garden to the Ajijic park and malecon.

Don’t be long now!  Carpe deum.

Secret Garden awaits you. . . .

The Importance of Fresh Ingredients

At Secret Garden all of our dishes are made from scratch. We use the most basic, the freshest ingredients.  If, for example,  a dish has tomato, we begin with a fresh tomato – not with a mix from a can or a package.  When you ask for an order of guacamole, you can be sure that it is made at the moment of your order.  It is not made from avocado powder, and it does not come from a purchased refrigerated mix with preservatives.  The ingredients are totally natural and completely fresh – with all of its nutrients intact – vitamins, minerals, enzymes, etc.  Why is this so important?  When your body has all the necessary nutrients, it has all that is necessary for maintaining your health, your wellbeing, and your protection from disease.  Food that is made with fresh ingredients (and with love)  is good food, food that is delicious, easy to digest, and healthy.  Try to make sure that at least a portion of your meal comes from raw vegetables and fruit.  For example, begin with a salad, fresh fruit, or, perhaps, order a green smoothie to accompany your main dish.  Regarding vegetables -- that which is green, fresh and raw has more life force, it has just finished absorbing sunlight, the energy of the sun, and if you eat this food, you will also absorb this energy of the sun, of life. 

At Secret Garden there is a wide selection of food that is fresh, delicious, and healthy.  It is the very best that you can do for yourself, your family, and your friends. The next time you think of eating out, visit us for an exquisite gastronomic experience – an experience that is also good for your health.

Secret Garden awaits you. . . .

New Friday Market!

Finally another artisan market!  Now you don’t have to wait until Tuesday to enjoy the delicious gastronomical creations from Secret Garden! Today (Friday) is the debut of the new artisan market – and Secret Garden is participating in this new market! Secret Garden has many new products – new dishes that are perfect as takeout items, new bakery goods -- in other words, a new selection of delicious offerings.  Just another reason why Magical Ajijic is soooo fabulous! Hope to see you at the Friday Market!

What’s it called? : Lakeside Artisan’s Association’s Friday Market

Where is it? : Rio Bravo #10 – A, Plaza de la Rivera , Ajijic  (formerly Sol y Luna)

When? : Fridays,  10AM – 2PM

And don’t forget to visit us at the restaurant (Hidalgo #8, just off Plaza Ajijic) to enjoy delicious food in a tranquil ambience!

SALADS, SALADS, AND MORE SALADS!

The next time you come to Secret Garden, why not try one of the salads from our wide selection of salads on our menu? There are Greek salads sprinkled with Kalamata olives, regal Oaxacan salads crowned with black beans and rice, green salads, fruit salads, and many more! We choose the freshest tomatoes for your salad, slices of the juiciest cucumbers.  We mix fresh ingredients for a tasty and healthy salad dressing.  We offer a selection of freshly made juices and smoothies prepared to your liking! And, if by some chance, you don’t see on the menu exactly what you’re looking for, just ask one of our servers and we will prepare it according to your liking.

What's All This Fuss About Green Smoothies?

What's all the fuss about green smoothies? In English these drinks are called green smoothies, but whether you call them "licuados verdes" in Spanish, or "smoothies verts" in French, one thing is for certain, they are conquering the world with their fabulous flavors.  But it is not just the flavor that interests us.  The whole world is talking about the beneficial health effects of drinking smoothies every day.   The process of blenderizing a combination of fruits and vegetables (especially the green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, cilantro, parsley, and the darker green lettuces) the nutrients are freed from the cellulose cell walls, and are absorbed more readily into the bloodstream.  Easy! This way you don't have to chew... and chew... and chew all those vegetables. . . .  And, you can get all your daily requirements of fruits and vegetables in your smoothie! It is said that drinking smoothies will prevent cravings for junk food. There are people who say that they have cured serious health problems such as arthritis, diabetes, etc.  just by drinking green smoothies every day.   The Boutenko family affirms that in their own family the son was cured of diabetes, the daughter was cured of asthma, the husband was cured of arthritis and the wife, Victoria Boutenko stopped having cardiac arrythmia.  They were so motivated by their improvements in health that they wrote several books on the health benefits of drinking green smoothies daily.    (See: www.rawfamily.com and “The Miracle of Greens –Sergei Boutenko at Pilgrim’s Market”, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqHRxr4a2-o )

So, when you come to Secret Garden Restaurant, don't forget to order a green smoothie.  You'll find a wide variety of green smoothies, juices, and other healthful drinks for you and your family.  What a gift from Nature -- so many health benefits in a delicious drink!

Getting Your Just Desserts and Other Delicious Temptations!

One of the delights of Secret Garden Restaurant is the variety of delicious desserts that are available (thanks to Georgina, Secret Garden pastry chef). The most recent dessert designed by pastry chef Georgina is the blueberry “pocket pie”. Each one is an individual portion, a dessert with a delicious filling of blueberries, made with the finest natural and healthy ingredients. Just looking at this dessert makes the mouth water! It's a perfect ending to one of the delicious meals served at Secret Garden Restaurant, or it can simply be a delicious complement to a Secret Garden  gourmet coffee -- an espresso or a  latte with regular milk or, if you like, with soy milk.  Secret Garden awaits you.  It’s all in the garden... naturally!

Catering

Having a party? Let us make it easy for you. Secret Garden offers a wide variety of catered selections for every occasion! Ask about our delicious desserts to make that special celebration a fabulous success. We have many entree selections for your guests' dining pleasure, as well as many tasty side dishes to choose from. Let us know your special catering needs, and we can quickly adapt to make your event truly unique. You can relax. We'll be happy to do all the hard work behind the scenes to make your event a celebration your guests will remember!

Have You Seen What's Cooking (Baking) at Secret Garden?

Have you seen all the baked goods now available at Secret Garden? On any given day you may find: Brownies, Blondies, Carrot Cake, Pan au Chocolat, Danish, Napoleons, Almond Biscotti, different kinds of cheesecake, many kinds of muffins and more!

Also, stop by SuperLake on Monday mornings and Georgina will have a supply of baked goods as well as granola, and much more! Don't be late -- her products are fresh and popular -- and they sell out fast!

Thursday (July 15, 2010) Specials at Secret Garden

In addition to our regular menu items, Secret Garden offers the following Specials of the Day:

Mushroom Penne (Pasta with Salad + Garlic Bread)

Portobello Hamburger and Fries

Greek Salad (Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese, Tomato, Cucumber, Onions, Greens)

Cottage Cheese + Cantaloupe with Fruit Over Greens

Soups: Gazpacho, Tortilla, Vegetable, Black Bean

Cool Refreshing Beverages

It's spring! As the weather becomes warmer, consider stopping by and ordering one of our cool, refreshing beverages from our menu. We have fresh juice combinations, fruit smoothies, iced coffee, iced tea, iced chai, lemonade, soda, beer, bottled water, wine, margaritas, and many more delicious beverage choices. See you soon at Secret Garden Restaurant.

Breakfast at Secret Garden!

Stop in for a flavorful breakfast at Secret Garden Restaurant. Whether it's pancakes, eggs and chorizo, omelets, French toast, muffins, Cuban eggs, molletas, granola, or oatmeal, Secret Garden Restaurant is your place for a wonderful selection of breakfast items. Our coffee is fresh-brewed, our fresh juices are made upon order, and we have a table waiting for you. See you soon at Secret Garden Restaurant and Bakery!

Indian Dinner Every Saturday at Secret Garden Restaurant!

Indian cuisine is famous for its sophisticated and subtle use of spices and herbs and a wide assortment of dishes and flavors. Staples in Indian cuisine are rice, whole wheat flour, and “pulses” (lentils, peas, mung beans, etc.) Spices used in Indian cuisine include cardamom, chili pepper, clove, black mustard, cumin, turmeric, fenugreek, asafoetida, ginger, coriander, garlic, and many more.

For a real taste treat, why not try an Indian Dinner at Secret Garden Restaurant. It will thrill the senses. The exquisite flavors, aromas, sights and sounds are truly a culinary adventure! Buy your tickets in advance to ensure your reservation for this event. (Tickets available at Secret Garden Restaurant and Bakery or at LCS Café.)

Aromatic, tempting, and irresistable!

Don’t be tortured by the luscious taste of those aromatic, chewy, little mini-muffins baked especially for you at Secret Garden Bakery and Restaurant. Go ahead, give in, don’t resist, try our complimentary mini-muffins (available for a limited time), in a variety of flavors. Then, take some muffins home with you for tomorrow’s breakfast. They are irresistible and a perfect complement to coffee, tea, or juice.

Crisp, Cool, Colorful (and Healthy!) Salads at Secret Garden Restaurant and Bakery

The Japanese have a saying that, "not dressing up the meal with color is like going out without clothes." There are five colors of fruits and vegetables – white, red, yellow/orange, blue/purple, and green. Each color offers different nutrients, so for complete nutrition, try to include fruits and vegetables of all the different colors. Come to Secret Garden and try one of our crisp, fresh, colorful salads. They’re not only delicious, but they include a rainbow of colors and nutrients that are also good for you.

A Satisfying Meal

Have you ever noticed how filling Indian food is? After a delicious Indian repast, you feel satisfied, fuller longer. In ayurveda it is recommended to include all six of the basic tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent – to make it a nourishing and satisfying meal. For a real taste treat, try Secret Garden’s Saturday Indian Dinners, prepared according to authentic ancient Indian culinary principles. These dinners are perfectly balanced, delicious, and satisfying. Tickets are available at Secret Garden Bakery and Restaurant or at the LCS Café. See you soon, at Secret Garden Restaurant and Bakery!

Soup's On!

“Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.” -- Ludwig van Beethoven

What Beethoven didn't include in that quote about soup is that a good soup, made by the pure in heart, will nourish the body and the soul. Have you tried our Secret Garden soups? If you haven’t, you don’t know what you’re missing. They are delicious and healthy. Secret Garden has a wide variety of soups every day, all of them lovingly prepared for you.

Did you know that eating soup is a great way to lose weight? Eating soup, particularly a broth-based vegetable soup, eaten before your main dish, will fill you up, causing you to eat less total calories during the meal. It's also to a great way to make sure that you get your daily servings of vegetables. A two-year French study of 2,188 men and 2,849 women, concluded that those who consumed soup five to six times a week were more likely to have a BMI (Body Mass Index) score below 23 (lean) compared to non-soup-eaters who were more likely to have a score around 27.

Check our Specials Board for our daily specials at Secret Garden Restaurant and Bakery, . . . and for a wide choice of delectable soups, . . . all of it good, . . . and good for you!

Heart-Healthy, and Delicious, Too!

If you’re looking for a “heart-healthy,” delicious meal – one that tastes great, and is very good for you, come and check out the variety of scrumptious menu items served at Secret Garden. And, if you want to eat a dessert, make it a delectable, and a healthy one, from the wide choice of desserts baked just for you at Secret Garden. You deserve it. Take good care of yourself. Secret Garden awaits you.

Indian Dinner, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009

The aroma of Indian food is so powerful. It fills the air whenever Indian food is being cooked. Try to guess the spices that waft past your nose as you enjoy one of our famous authentic Indian Dinners. How can food this good, also be so good for you? No need to ask; just enjoy!

Indian Dinner, Saturday, February 21, 2009

Don't miss the Indian Dinner on Saturday, February 21st, at Secret Garden. We're expecting a full house for this sumptuous repast that is sure to please the palate. Get your tickets before they run out!