Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Cafe Lavoe

Oaxaca, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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We love hanging around in Oaxaca, Mexico because it's such a picturesque city. We prefer El Centro, as it's rather quaint, hip, and less touristy.

It's also very walkable.

Lately, we have been making it a point to visit rooftop restaurants and bars, and what FUN that is!

By happenstance, we came upon Cafe Lavoe... Hey, who IS this guy, anyway?

Hector Lavoe was a Puerto Rican salsa singer, considered to possibly be the best and most important singer in the history of salsa music.

He was famous from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Hector Lavoe, Cafe Lavoe, Oaxaca, Mexico

Hector Lavoe was considered to be a "hick" by the New York salseros in the 1970s, but to the tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans who had emigrated to New York, Hector sounded like home.

Hector moved to NYC in 1963 at the age of 16.

He began singing with local bands, and Hector had chemistry. Oh yes. He had lots of chemistry and eventually became a superstar.

He died at the age of 46, but he was such a folk hero with the Latinos that in 2006, his  life was brought to the silver screen. The movie El Cantante starred Marc Anthony as Lavoe, and Jennifer Lopez as his wife, Puchi.

Menu at Cafe Lavoe

Here is one of the menus at Cafe Lavoe. It offers chicken wings, onion rings, French fries and nachos.

There are several sauces to choose from like mango habanero (hot and sweet) Chapuline habanero (cricket encrusted and hot) honey mustard and strawberry.

Indoor outdoor seating at this rooftop bar and restaurant

It was a youngish crowd who came to Cafe Lavoe, and really fine music was playing in the background.

On the far back wall is another photo of Hector Lavoe.

Another view of the rooftop

In the middle of the photo on the left is the edge of Church Santo Domingo. Cafe Lavoe is very centrally located.

Another menu

Here you see lentil hamburgers, soy hamburgers, classic burgers and more. The specials of the day are listed on the left.

The special board

Tonight's Special is 2 glasses of wine for $3.50USD.

Let me just say that the red wine was... less than good. I mean it was wine, I think... but... it was thin, sweet and sort of clear.

Better to avoid this special and order off the beverage menu!

Chicken Caesar Salad

This salad was pretty good. The chicken was tender and the dressing was flavorful.

Chapulines encrusted wings

We decided, that since we were in Oaxaca and it was traditional, that we'd order the chapulines encrusted wings.

Before you get too grossed out... we could barely notice the grasshoppers!

A closer look at our wings

Just so you believe us, here's a closer look at our wings.

Yes... there are wings and legs and other body parts. But again, the grasshoppers merely added a bit of crunch. No distinctive flavor with the sauced wings.

And, you know... insects are very nutritious!

The indigenous peoples and those humans living eons ago ate insects as a source of protein.

Crickets and grasshoppers are two insects that contain the highest nutrition value, giving protein, vitamins, minerals, prebiotic fiber, beneficial fats, and Vitamin B12. Did you know that 80% of the world's population today already eat insects on a daily basis?

Seriously.

Our bill at Cafe Lavoe

This is our bill and it totaled $20USD before tip.

If you get to Oaxaca City, stop by Cafe Lavoe. They have all sorts of choices for beverages and bar food. They offer indoor and outdoor seating as well as take out.

Would we return? Probably.

Cafe Lavoe

Address: A Gurrión 108, Ruta Independencia

Centro, Oaxaca, MX 68000

Phone: +52 951 510 5754

Open daily 1PM–10:30PM

For more stories and photos of Oaxaca, Click Here

For more stories and photos of Mexico Click Here

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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