Entre Copas y Corchos
CRMWFA001
Taste of New World. A paradise full of aromas and flavor in Cancun.
The Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival started big: 30 of the best chefs in the Americas gathered at Universidad del Caribe, including Catalan legend Ferran Adrià, the Guest of Honor, to kick-start four days of gourmet pleasures with fellow chefs, winemakers, gourmands, scholars and journalists.
Over 3000 people attended 30+ gastronomic events that took place in Cancun from March 15 to 18, 2012, a destination that from now on will be considered a must for the discerning gourmet traveler.
Some of the most memorable moments:
•The Outdoor Auditorium at Universidad del Caribe overflowed with hundreds of VIPs, students and Food & Beverage professionals, eager to listen to Ferran Adrià speak about the plans for the elBulli Foundation.
•Ferran Adrià described what a man alone can do; his life story, humor, humility and wisdom allowed the audience to immediately connect with him, get inspired and, more than once, be moved to the point of tears.
•After Top Chefs Normand Laprise (Canada), Enrique Olvera (Mexico), Jacques Pépin (US) and Mara Salles (Brazil) joined him in a Panel, Ferran Adrià graciously signed every single one of the books, aprons and note-pads presented to him by an endless line of students and fans.
•In order to show its commitment to the local community, the Festival donated computers to the local charity Ciudad de la Alegría, as well as scholarships to Gastronomy students of two public universities in Cancun; UT and Universidad del Caribe.
•As the sun set, our 22 Star Chefs, gathered by country, presented their signature delicacies in the Tribute to Mexico Opening Dinner on the splendid pool terrace of the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa. Customers were able to move from Canada to the US, Mexico and South America, greet the chefs and have them sign the event’s “passport” thanks to a friendly and cordial atmosphere.
•The continental journey included 17 Top Wineries of Ibero-America, strategically placed by our team of sommeliers in order to achieve a perfect pairing and contribute to a star studded evening with great entertainment.
•At the end of the tribute, the Festival announced the creation of the Ricardo Muñoz Zurita Award, which consisted in a donation to build a Foundation in the name of the multi-awarded Mexican chef, dedicated to the Research and Preservation of Traditional Mexican Ingredients and Culinary Techniques.
•The evening continued late into the night at the super hip Rose Bar of the ME Hotel: music, dancing and cocktails by Mixologist Junior Merino helped top off the evening!
•The Cooking Demos program was an opportunity to meet the Star Chefs of the Americas in the most intimate environment: guests who attended any of the three mornings of the festival collected not only invaluable cooking insights but memories of honest, exclusive encounters.
•The Wine Program amazed even the most knowledgeable aficionados, with the presence of Top Winemakers from Ibero-America and our world-class sommeliers and mixologist: top wines, tequilas and mezcales were rediscovered through the generous and convivial approach of our Star Team.
•Our Tribute Dinner to Ferran Adrià, at Live Aqua Cancún, included some of the most moving moments of the festival, as six of Adrià’s Mexican disciples and chocolatier José Ramón Castillo set to surprise him with their own creations. The Festival presented him with a Tribute video, a personalized sculpture by local artist Sergio Romero and the first donation ever to the elBulli Foundation; a series of events that moved the master to tears.
•The American Express Gourmet Tasting Village blew everybody’s minds, including habitués of other top food festivals around the world. Not only was the setting superb, with a gigantic and yet cozy tent on the lawn of Iberostar Hotel, but the local restaurants outdid themselves with the delicacies they served to over 2000 visitors. These same restaurants received our guests in the Dine Around Program Saturday evening, an idea that showcased Cancun’s talent to chefs, journalists and gourmands from around the world.
•Another fantastic experience took place that evening at Zama Beach Club, on Isla Mujeres, where the Festival’s Executive Chef, Federico Lopez, served an unforgettable feast to guests who signed up to Junior Merino’s Sunset Spectacular Catamaran Cruise.
•The four days culminated with the most fantastic Closing Fiesta: gourmet grilled steaks, laughs, tears, tango, samba and fireworks sealed a community that is more than ready for the 2013 edition in Riviera Maya!
(With information from Cancun and Riviera Maya Wine and Food Festival website)
CRMWFA001
Taste of New World. A paradise full of aromas and flavor in Cancun.
The Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival started big: 30 of the best chefs in the Americas gathered at Universidad del Caribe, including Catalan legend Ferran Adrià, the Guest of Honor, to kick-start four days of gourmet pleasures with fellow chefs, winemakers, gourmands, scholars and journalists.
Over 3000 people attended 30+ gastronomic events that took place in Cancun from March 15 to 18, 2012, a destination that from now on will be considered a must for the discerning gourmet traveler.
Some of the most memorable moments:
•The Outdoor Auditorium at Universidad del Caribe overflowed with hundreds of VIPs, students and Food & Beverage professionals, eager to listen to Ferran Adrià speak about the plans for the elBulli Foundation.
•Ferran Adrià described what a man alone can do; his life story, humor, humility and wisdom allowed the audience to immediately connect with him, get inspired and, more than once, be moved to the point of tears.
•After Top Chefs Normand Laprise (Canada), Enrique Olvera (Mexico), Jacques Pépin (US) and Mara Salles (Brazil) joined him in a Panel, Ferran Adrià graciously signed every single one of the books, aprons and note-pads presented to him by an endless line of students and fans.
•In order to show its commitment to the local community, the Festival donated computers to the local charity Ciudad de la Alegría, as well as scholarships to Gastronomy students of two public universities in Cancun; UT and Universidad del Caribe.
•As the sun set, our 22 Star Chefs, gathered by country, presented their signature delicacies in the Tribute to Mexico Opening Dinner on the splendid pool terrace of the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa. Customers were able to move from Canada to the US, Mexico and South America, greet the chefs and have them sign the event’s “passport” thanks to a friendly and cordial atmosphere.
•The continental journey included 17 Top Wineries of Ibero-America, strategically placed by our team of sommeliers in order to achieve a perfect pairing and contribute to a star studded evening with great entertainment.
•At the end of the tribute, the Festival announced the creation of the Ricardo Muñoz Zurita Award, which consisted in a donation to build a Foundation in the name of the multi-awarded Mexican chef, dedicated to the Research and Preservation of Traditional Mexican Ingredients and Culinary Techniques.
•The evening continued late into the night at the super hip Rose Bar of the ME Hotel: music, dancing and cocktails by Mixologist Junior Merino helped top off the evening!
•The Cooking Demos program was an opportunity to meet the Star Chefs of the Americas in the most intimate environment: guests who attended any of the three mornings of the festival collected not only invaluable cooking insights but memories of honest, exclusive encounters.
•The Wine Program amazed even the most knowledgeable aficionados, with the presence of Top Winemakers from Ibero-America and our world-class sommeliers and mixologist: top wines, tequilas and mezcales were rediscovered through the generous and convivial approach of our Star Team.
•Our Tribute Dinner to Ferran Adrià, at Live Aqua Cancún, included some of the most moving moments of the festival, as six of Adrià’s Mexican disciples and chocolatier José Ramón Castillo set to surprise him with their own creations. The Festival presented him with a Tribute video, a personalized sculpture by local artist Sergio Romero and the first donation ever to the elBulli Foundation; a series of events that moved the master to tears.
•The American Express Gourmet Tasting Village blew everybody’s minds, including habitués of other top food festivals around the world. Not only was the setting superb, with a gigantic and yet cozy tent on the lawn of Iberostar Hotel, but the local restaurants outdid themselves with the delicacies they served to over 2000 visitors. These same restaurants received our guests in the Dine Around Program Saturday evening, an idea that showcased Cancun’s talent to chefs, journalists and gourmands from around the world.
•Another fantastic experience took place that evening at Zama Beach Club, on Isla Mujeres, where the Festival’s Executive Chef, Federico Lopez, served an unforgettable feast to guests who signed up to Junior Merino’s Sunset Spectacular Catamaran Cruise.
•The four days culminated with the most fantastic Closing Fiesta: gourmet grilled steaks, laughs, tears, tango, samba and fireworks sealed a community that is more than ready for the 2013 edition in Riviera Maya!
(With information from Cancun and Riviera Maya Wine and Food Festival website)