CANCUN, Q. Roo — Food and wine lovers from across the globe are licking their lips in anticipation of the 5th annual Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival.
Among the largest culinary festivals in the Caribbean, the tasteful event slated for April 27-May 1 presents an impressive roster of locations for sampling a virtual smorgasbord of dishes created by celebrity chefs.
The 2016 edition will shine the spotlight on the flavors of Spain and Mexico while paying homage to Chef Alejandro Ruiz, ambassador of Oaxacan cuisine, and Chef Albert Adria, who is lauded as one of the top pastry chefs in the world.
In tribute to the stellar culinary pair, the Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival will host two separate Tribute Dinners — one at Aqua Live Cancun and the other at Secrets The Vine Resort & Spa. The five-course affairs will find these renowned chefs joined by culinary colleagues and friends to celebrate the impact each has made on the world of gastronomy.
For your foodie clients familiar with grazing throughout Mexico and Barcelona, Spain, the support chefs’ names and restaurants might ring a bell. Highlighting Oaxacan cuisine, the Tribute Dinner honoring Chef Ruiz will be created by chefs Jose Manuel Banos (Pitiona in Oaxaca), Luis Arellano (Pujol in Mexico City), Carlos Galan (Guzina Oaxaca in Mexico City), Rodolfo Castellanos (Origen in Oaxaca), and Odilon Garcia and Rafael Villalobos (Casa Oaxaca in Oaxaca).
Nodding to his delectable influences in sweet realm of pastries, Chef Adria’s Tribute Dinner will be prepared by chefs Rafael Zafra (Tickets in Barcelona), Francisco Mendez (Hoja Santa in Barcelona), Arturo Fernandez (Raiz in Mexico City), Jonatan Gomez Luna (Le Chique in Puerto Morelos), Xavi Perez Stone (Axiote in Playa del Carmen) and Jorge Vallejo (Quintonil in Mexico City).
Chefs will also guide festival conference sessions and cooking classes at Anahuac Cancun University. Those attending can also sink their teeth into a Star Chefs Dinner featuring 20 of Mexico’s top chefs, and specialized tasting workshops that shed light on the universe of spirited and delicate drinks. The highly anticipated Gourmet Tasting Village will serve up an all-inclusive journey of gourmet food, liquor, wine and live music.
These and other food-centric festivities will roll out at a bevy of area resorts including Live Aqua Cancun, Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun, Hyatt Ziva Cancun, Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres, Secrets The Vine Resort & Spa, Hard Rock Cancun and Sandos Cancun.
The Wine & Food Festival schedule will keep those attending on the go so they can simultaneously consume and burn off calories.
Wednesday, April 27
Walk Around Cancun — 6 to 8 p.m. at Hotel Hyatt Ziva Cancun
Welcome Cocktail Cancun — 8 to 11 p.m. at Sandos Cancun Luxury Experience Resort
Thursday, April 28
Conferences at Anahuac Cancun University
The Future of Wine & Cuisine — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Spirits Tastings at Hyatt Ziva Cancun
Beer Tasting — 4 to 5 p.m.
Mezcal Tasting — 5 to 6 p.m.
Spirits Tasting at Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres
Rioja Wine Tasting — 6 to 7 p.m.
Tribute Dinner for Chef Alejandro Ruiz at Aqua Live Cancun — 8 p.m.
Friday, April 29
Cooking Classes & Lunch with Celebrity Chefs at Anahuac Cancun University — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tastings at Hyatt Ziva Cancun
Nespresso Tasting — 4 to 5 p.m.
Ridge Vineyards Tasting — 5 to 6 p.m.
Casa Madero Tasting — 6 to 7 p.m.
Tribute Dinner to Barcelona at Secret The Vine Resort & Spa — 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 30
Cooking Classes & Lunch with Celebrity Chefs at Anahuac Cancun University — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrities Catamaran Cruise & Lunch at Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isa Mujeres — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Star Chefs Dinner Cancun at Hard Rock Hotel — 8 to 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 1
Departures
For more details, visit wineandfoodfest.com.
Source: travelpulse.com
