[sha-moo-you]
verb.
Urban slang used in several countries of Latin America. Among the various shades of meaning, it commonly signifies speaking on a subject with a pretense of authority, when in reality the speaker is simply inventing, or “bullshitting.” It can also mean “sweet talk” such as when a guy is “talking trash” to a girl, saying nothing of substance, for the purpose of socializing.
Don Fulano was using the chamuyo on Josefina for over an hour last night.
But in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, it means the best night out you can imagine if you’re in the mood for red meat.
This place served ribs Fred Flintstone would have been proud of.
Interestingly, I don’t think I ate much standard Mexican fare during my fourth week in Mexico. We ate lots of fish, in sushi and otherwise, and had some great Italian at Alcaravea in Cabo San Lucas, which is one of my all time favorite Italian restaurants. It’s in Mexico. Go figure. But when I get a steak craving I just gotta have it, so I perused the travel magazines and on-line reviews for a recommendation. Sure, there’s a Ruth’s Chris, but I don’t go to Mexico to eat at a U.S. chain restaurant (Starbucks being the exception – but that’s a morning beverage, not dinner). So this place called Chamuyo kept popping up, and it looked funky and interesting, so we gave it a go.
The restaurant is open air, with tiny lights and a fabric swag over the bar. The pendant lights are made from green glass wine bottles, and the trees are festooned with little white lights as well. The décor is rustic; exposed brick, wrought iron, butcher paper on the tables and mini hibachis delivering your food table top from an open mesquite grill. It made for a really interesting vibe.
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The cocktail menu was interesting as well. Caprinhas made with cachaça! We know it as Portuguese moonshine, but it is the national adult beverage of Brazil and probably many other Latin American countries. And it’s commercially produced in Brazil, so you don’t need to worry about being poisoned by someone’s backyard still. But I digress. The bartender made me a fabulous bourbon Manhattan. And their wine list of mostly Argentinean wines was outstanding.
The menu was all about the beef. Sure, they had some interesting appetizers, pizzas and offered a chicken breast to top a salad, but this place served ribs Fred Flintstone would have been proud of, along with several cuts of steak, and Argentinean sausage. Their Grill Special for 2 included salad, a huge beef rib, a flank steak, sausage and grilled vegetables along with a bottle of excellent Argentinean Malbec for $71 US. We even had room for their special Chamuyo dessert of baked apple with rum, cinnamon and ice cream.
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The servers were so great we thought they were the owners, and while they were not, the owner was there, waiting on other tables. He graciously took a few minutes to chat and to pose with me in front of the grill. He even trusted me with a really big knife.
So if you’re ever in Cabo and need a great steak and a fun night out go to Chamuyo. And I’m not just using the chamuyo on you.
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