03 Apr Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Fest – Star Chefs of the Americas Dinner
Taste The New World: Star Chefs of the Americas Dinner was the most amazing eating and drinking adventure of my life so far. At this gala event, we were treated by 20 star chefs who flew in from Mexico, United States, Canada, Argentina, Venezuela and other from the Americas. These chefs all showcased their style and a taste of their restaurants, while representing Mexican cuisine and cuisine from around the Americas, both traditional and avant-garde. To go with all the delicious food, we were served the finest wine from around the Americas, along with some European wines.
Once arriving at the Paradisus La Esmeralda Hotel in Playa del Carmen, we were greeted with a champagne reception courtesy of Novohispana, then given a Gourmet Passport. The beautiful outdoor pool area was set up like an food and wine adventure tour. You navigated the pools, palm trees and crowds to discover a new table featuring a chefs and their restaurant or a winery. Each table would give you a stamp for visiting and offered multiple delicacies or multiple bottles of wine.
Everything we tried was not just delicious, but some of the best and most interesting we’ve ever had. We couldn’t have been more impressed with the wine as well, especially since we both never truly experienced Mexican wine until that night. Not only did we get to try their creations and products, but the chefs were are happy to meet and chat with everyone. There are too many greats to mention unfortunately, but please check out festival website for the full list of chefs. We were able to meet quite a few for a photo with new team member Roz. Was great meeting so many talented chefs, the only problem is how bad we want to visit all their restaurants! Highlights include meeting food network star Aaron Sanchez and just catching chef Massimo at the end of the night.
**Click here for more posts on the CRM Wine & Food Fest 2013**
And click on an image below to open the full-size gallery:
- Paradisus La Esmeralda Hotel
- Event Sponsor Porsche decorated with a few of their cars
- Novohispana Champagne Reception
- Taste The New World Gourmet Passport
- Entrance to the Star Chefs of the Americas Gala Dinner
- Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Fest 2013 Gala Dinner
- One of my favourites: Tara Atacama
- Vina Ventisquero – Chilean winery
- Indomita Duette Cabernet
- Chef Jerome Ferrer of Groupo Europea in Montreal
- Not an egg, but scallop and mango ceviche from chef Jerome Ferrer
- Chef Jerome Ferrer of Groupo Europea and Roz Du Jour of Luxury Branded
- Roganto – Mexican winery
- La Cetto – Mexican winery
- grilled octopus by Mission 19 resturant
- Guy Santoro of St. Regis Mexico city and Roz du Jour of Luxury branded
- best ceviche ever by Guy Santoro of St. Regis Mexico City.
- Wine by Villa Montefiori & Fantinel
- Chef Mikel Alonso from Biko Restaurant
- Chef Jared Reardon of Jaso Restaurant and Roz du Jour of Luxury Branded
- Chef Manuel Banos of Pintiona resturant and Roz du Jour of Luxury branded
- Roz du Jour and Simon Gerard of Luxury Branded
- Carlos Garca of Alto Restaurant and Roz du Jour of Luxury Branded
- Chefs Guy Santoro and Josefina Santacruz
- Chef Josefina Santacruz of Dumas Restaurant and Roz du Jour of Luxury Branded
- Lobster salad on watermelon by Chef Josefina Santacruz
- Food Network chef Aaron Sanchez and Roz du Jour of Luxury Branded
- Chef Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana and Roz du Jour of Luxury Branded
Photo Credits: Roz du Jour