Restaurant of the Month: Chez Michelle in Progreso

Each month Yucatan Today visits a restaurant in order to describe what it has to offer. This is not a review; it is a summary of the menu, service, ambience, prices, and opening hours.

August 2009

If you are in Progreso , you must try breakfast at Chez Michelle. And if you are in Mérida, the drive is worth it!

Chez Michelle is a colorful, palapa-roofed restaurant located in the heavenly oasis of Hotel Yakunah in Progreso . Owners Gerben and Elke Hartskeerl, originally from Holland by way of Aruba and Bonaire, named it after their daughter Michelle, who occasionally treats the guests to the musical notes of her piano.

Gerben is the chef who prepares the meals from the simple but irresistible menu. Fruit salads are beautifully presented; and there are several egg dishes to choose from. If you are in the mood for pancakes or waffles, you won't be disappointed. But two of the most delicious options are the Huevos Motuleños (a classic Yucatecan dish) and the Spanish Omelette.

Huevos Motuleños consists of a layered stack of tortillas, eggs, refried beans, salsa, ham, cheese, and peas. It is uniquely Yucatecan (from Motul, of course) and Gerben prepares it perfectly. The Spanish Omelette is a classic, overflowing with tomato, onion, and green pepper. Both dishes are accompanied by a lovely assortment of fresh tropical fruits, and crispy, spiced pan-fried potatoes. Breakfast is served every day from 8 to 11 am.

The lunch menu has equally tempting choices: Quesadillas with Surimi, Papaya Soup, Fish Filet Creole, Chicken Sateh, Spare Ribs, and Arabian Spicy Chicken. In the summertime, the restaurant doesn't serve dinner, but catering can be arranged. Restaurant dinners begin again in the fall. In the summer, lunch is served Thursday to Sunday from 1-6 pm.

Three and a half years ago, the Hartskeerl family moved to Progreso looking for a business opportunity, after owning a restaurant on the Caribbean island of Bonaire. They bought the hotel and named it Yakunah...which means "falling in love", as in falling in love with: Mexico...the Mayan culture...the ocean...and the relaxed atmosphere. Several blocks away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Progreso , Yakunah is an oasis of peace and quiet one block from the beach. The couple did an extensive renovation to the lovely hacienda-style building, and the result is relaxing, colorful, and full of pretty, elegant touches. The hotel has eight deluxe rooms in the main building, with a choice of 2 double beds or a king-size bed, and a two-bedroom apartment in the garden. The pool is inviting, with lounge chairs to relax in, and the garden also has hammocks in the shade if you feel like a siesta. And you won't be able to resist having a drink in the open-air bar, also under the palapa roof.

There is something special about visiting a restaurant or hotel where the owners live and personally attend to their guests. The Hartskeerl family are wonderful hosts who take pride in excellence in every detail. Whether you come for breakfast (which you should), a weekend away, or stay for several weeks, you will feel pampered, relaxed, and supremely content.

Chez Michelle, Hotel Yakunah, Calle 21 #64 x 48 y 50, Progreso . Tel. (969) 935 5600. www.hotelyakunah.com.mx