La Petite Crêpe
by John Lamkin
Guidebooks warn against eating at roadside stands.
In Mexico, not far from the Belize border, a sign grabs my attention, "La Petite Crêpe, comida francés", begs me to stop.
Tables and chairs neatly set up under a vine-covered arbor, only a few yards off the highway. A small shed with a bar serves as an efficient kitchen. There, the French owner/chef works his magic. The smell of gourmet cooking, the laughter of children playing in the freestanding swimming pool nearby, the flapping of international flags overhead transports me to another time and place.
I order one "crêpe de pollo" (chicken) and one "de camarones" (shrimp). Served with a gourmet presentation, on real plates, with real silverware. This is a roadside stand?
I'm in heaven-or at least in Paris!
The crêpe de pollo, c'est magnifique! The shrimp, c'est regular. Chicken is usually my preference.
My taste buds and stomach satisfied, I must still research further and order dessert. Crêpe abundance, shaped like a horn of plenty--a cornucopia of taste. Ice cream, whipped cream, fruit, a cream sauce, a gastronomical orgasm!
Satisfy your French craving while in Mexico. La Petite Crêpe is on Mexico highway 307 (the road from Cancún to the state capitol, Chetumal) between kilometer markers 5 and 6 (between the towns of Bacalar and Xul Ha). They are open on weekends and holidays, normal business hours-depending on business.
C'est vrai, ces't magnifique!
Photographs by John Lamkin
From TripConnect.com