Riviera Nayarit News

THE XV FESTIVAL GOURMET INTERNATIONAL RETURNS NOVEMBER 12TH - 22ND, 2009

THE XV FESTIVAL GOURMET INTERNATIONAL RETURNS NOVEMBER 12TH - 22ND, 2009

Mexico's newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, and its neighbor Puerto Vallarta will host the annual Festival Gourmet International from November 12th to 22nd, 2009. Featuring the region's most acclaimed restaurants (26 in total this year); guests will have the opportunity to sample special menus celebrating the Festival Gourmet International, available at these establishments daily. For more information on the Festival Gourmet International please visit www.FestivalGourmet.com

Celebrating its 15th year this year, the Festival Gourmet International will also offer access to exclusive chef's tables at participating restaurants, wine and cheese events, food demonstrations, tequila tastings and gala dinners featuring the best of the Pacific Coast's gourmet cuisine. Guest chefs from all over the world are also invited to participate and share their signature dishes at participating restaurants during the ten days of the Festival.

This year's participating restaurants in Riviera Nayarit include, but are not limited to: Frascatti in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle; Nuevo Vallarta; Gong at the Grand Mayan Resort, Nuevo Vallarta; Bellavista at the Marival Resorts & Suites; and, the newest additions, Café de Artistes del Mar at the Hotel des Artistes; La Casona at the Hotel Villa La Estancia;
Festival Gourmet International's event highlights include the following:

• Gran Gala Lounge Party, November 12th at 8:30 p.m. - The opening ceremony for the Festival Gourmet International takes place this year at Casa Velas Hotel Boutique Puerto Vallarta.
• Gourmet Cooking Demonstration, November 16th - 14th, 9:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m. - Thierry Blouet's Cocina de Autor at Café des Artistes del Mar demonstrates classic French cuisine
• Cheeses of the World Tasting, November 20th, 1:00 p.m. - Taking place at the Casa Velas Hotel Boutique in Marina Vallarta, the tasting will feature delightful cheeses like Quesos Caprina of Atotonilco paired with the exquisite wines of Monte Xanic
• Winemaker's Night, November 21st 8:00p.m - Discover signature dishes of several participating restaurants for an extraordinary fixed price.

The Festival was founded by chefs Thierry Blouet of Café des Artistes, Heinz Reize of Hotel Krystal and Silvan Müller of Nestlé Mexico. The ten day festival was conceived to enrich the profile of Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta's gastronomic scene locally and internationally. In the past the Festival has attracted over 250 chefs and top names such as chef Gerald Dupont, chef president of the Academie Culinaire de France; three-star Michelin chef Anton Mosimann from London, Thomas Salamunovich, chef and owner of Larkspur in Vail; Patricia Quintana, the "first lady" of Mexican cuisine.

The Festival Gourmet International has attracted thousands of visitors from Mexico and around the world who wish to experience the world's finest cuisine while enjoying the beaches and resort activities. This year's events promise to be bigger, with new culinary options to sample while continuing to uphold the tradition of showcasing the cuisine of this burgeoning culinary destination.