by Eva van Loon

And you thought reasonable dining out was a lost art in Powell River? Try the warm hospitality of tiny La Casita, served by Richard Lefebvre and Leonor Sanchez, while seated on homemade cushions and surrounded by beautiful stained glass by Dolores de la Torre. You’ll be back every paycheque!

I love ceviche, the seafood appetiser drowned in cilantro, clever peppers and lime juice. Nowadays, however, in view of the emptying oceans, I dine on seafood very sparingly. Imagine my delight to find a vegetarian version in La Casita’s cactus salad (no spines, I promise)! Generously served up in a soda-fountain glass, it’s a great deal that’s almost a meal in itself.

If you’re a cheese freak, try the relleno, green peppers stuffed with cheese. Very creamy, and you won’t take any home in a doggy bag because you can’t stop eating it.

Order the Tlacoya, however, and your plate is so full you might just need that doggy bag. If you admire Immanence’ style, it might have something to do with this dish--Mr. Matsumoto’s fave.”

I tried to snitch his yummy black beans, creamy smooth with a white cheese sprinkled like chunks of snow on top, but not surprisingly, he wanted them for himself.

You can get your fix of Yucatecan food here with cochinita pibil, too. Even little ones give their tummies a good time here—the food’s not too spicy hot, although the initial chips and salsa put down free on your table will heat up your mouth a little.

Wine and beer, although not a broad selection, are drinkable and affordable. Dinner for two with a drink each will leave you pleasantly stuffed and your wallet only about $30 to $40 lighter (unless you’re a good tipper, which we expect of all our readers, of course). You’d have to fly to Ecuador to do better than that!