Chef Edwin creates shrimp and fish tacos and more; Kareli creates unique and tasty beverages; The music gets everyone dancing. La Ballena Blanca is fun for all!
It was exciting to watch the location that is now La Ballena Blanca [translated to The White Whale] transformed into a restaurant. I marvel at what can be done with a blank, semi-outside space in Mexico. Due to very little rain for months, during the high season, a ceiling or roof structure isn’t mandatory as proven with the sail shades hung decoratively yet serving a much-needed function. The delightful bar that is made from a speedboat gets much attention! The creativity only starts with the design; chef Edwin creates meals that are equally artful with the blue corn tortilla’s and red cabbage salad
The owners, managers, chef and bartender are Edwin and Kareli. They have the cutest little guy, Ian Gael, who runs around acting as if he owns the place, love him! Edwin’s dream of cooking and having his own restaurant has been made possible with help from his Uncle Francisco Robles and Aunt Maria Eloisa Robles. They are the other two owners of La Ballena Blanca. When asked what inspires him Edwin says, “My mother has always been a really big inspiration! I want a better life for the family I have with Kareli and Ian so that inspires me to make this restaurant a success. It’s a big thing in our lives right now.”
Edwin and Kareli honored Edwin’s grandfather, Rosendo Robles, by using the name La Ballena Blanca which was his restaurant’s name. White whale bones from a whale that was washed to shore and died back in the 1980s were in the old restaurant as they are in the new La Ballena Blanca.
Edwin was raised in La Cruz and Kareli was raised in Tepic and they’ve lived in Vallarta and Guadalajara. Edwin has only one sister who is 18 years old and she lives in San Francisco, CA. Kareli’s family lives in Tepic and she has a brother and a sister.
As in my story about Edwin’s cousin Katia; various members of the family run all the restaurants on that block. Owned by their grandmother, they all use the land. Eva, Edwin’s cousin, who also works at the bar, says “It is great to have everyone so close and we always know we will have the help we need since we are close.”
Katia and Edwin are first cousins; they are son and daughter of two sisters. Irvin, the dancing waiter, who we all adore, is also a first cousin as is Eva. When I told Eva that we all love Irvin she said “We love him sooo much!”
As their success has grown, so has the menu. Filling a much-requested desire for fish and shrimp tacos (which at the time wasn’t easily attained in our fishing village of La Cruz) they’ve expanded to an even greater menu. Serving a variety of really yummy burgers as my friend Maryjane declared, they even use homemade hamburger buns (by MY Cakes LaCruz) rounding out the menu with good french fries, delicious ribs, and Aztec soup (similar to tortilla soup made with a tomato base and lots of chicken and avocado). Fajitas are on the menu now, too. The tacos come with really good red-cabbage coleslaw on the side and a couple of sauces. Edwin, who studied cooking in school says “Honestly I love cooking and hearing all of the great comments coming from the customers. That is always great accompanied by great music like Ajim and Alassandra”.
I understand that some of the recipes for the dishes come from a family matriarch but Edwin loves cooking and creating; “My favorite thing to cook is everything! I enjoy making all kinds of plates along with learning something new everyday. Kareli helps me in the kitchen and has learned to cook because she is a great wife who helps me out in times of need. She just enjoys hearing that everything is going well. We have never had a problem with Ian Gael eating anything but one of his favorite snacks is jocoque cheese and cookies and he loves ceviche!! When it comes to eating he eats anything and he’s always hungry!”
Kareli is also in charge of the bar, always with a smile, often dancing and creating new and interesting concoctions. She makes a tasty, hand-shaken margarita, often delivered to the table by Irvin, dancing away!
As so many of our the restaurants in La Cruz La Ballena Blanac also supports live music.
- Wednesday; “The Trio” Ajim, Alesandra and Bill playing Rock and Roll covers.
- Friday; “The Breeze” made up of Ajim, Alesandra, Dave and Bill playing a mix of Rock and Roll, Swing Tunes, Beatles, R&B. Always great Dance tunes.
- Saturday; across the street at the square there is always live music and dancing. Get a front row seat while enjoying one of Kareli’s drinks accompanied by those great tacos.
- Sunday; “The Traveling Band” Ajim & Alessandra; the much loved Rock and Roll duo. Ajim sings most of the songs and plays amazing guitar. Alessandra replicates Stevie Nicks with passion and excellence and plays the djembe drum impressing all with her magnificent drum solos!
Occasionally other musicians come through town and do a special concert.
Edwin likes the changes to the marina “I believe we are getting great business due to all the events and gatherings. The marina is extremely pretty and to walk around La Cruz is great with nothing to worry about. The painting and changes at the Plaza are amazing. The businesses are showing improvement in all ways and upgrade as much as they can each year. It is lovely; we love the changes.”
Eva says that most of their clientele is tourists “We don’t get many Mexicans other than our close friends who come often to keep us company.”
Edwin says “If I could preserve something about the La Cruz I grew up in it would be the way that fish was sold back in the day and how La Cruz was known as a fisherman’s village. Our family is one of the first in this town. Something people might not know about me… “I’m quiet but I’m also a little rowdy and I love to have a good night out after working!”
Edwin’s hope for last Cruz five years from now and beyond ‘That La Cruz grows much bigger and with this growth I hope that the people from the town have a chance to grow along with the town. I recommend people vacation here and if they like the lifestyle to move here. It is a gorgeous town with a great community and everyone knows each other.”
When they get time off they enjoy swimming at the beach! May they create such success that this is something they can do often!
You can find them across from the main Plaza of La Cruz (by the marina entrance) and here.
Here is a video of a fun afternoon with friends at La Ballena Blanca.
