Cancún-Riviera Maya Wine and Food Fest
The fourth annual Cancún-Riviera Maya Wine and Food Festival takes place March 12 through 15, 2015, in several venues on the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
It will include two dozen events featuring Mexican, Spanish and other world gastronomy.
Honored chefs include Spanish legends Juan Mari Arzak, Joan Roca and Eneko Atxa. Chefs Bruno Oteiza, Mikel Alonso and Rafael Zafra will accompany the trio to prepare five-course meals paired with Spanish wines in a dinner held March 13, 2015, at Live Aqua Cancún.
The festival will also showcase the top 10 female Mexican chefs in a five-course “Divas of Mexican Cuisine” Gala Dinner on March 14 at Secrets The Vine, home to a wine wall that holds as many as 3,000 varieties of wine. The dinner will be paired with Mexican wines for a celebration of Mexican cuisine (included on UNESCO’s list of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage).
The Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort will host the Gourmet Tasting Village, which will feature not only food, but tastes from more than 35 Mexican and international wineries.
Other festival events includes a tribute to French cuisine with the “Barefoot Elegance: a taste of France and world DJ” event, held at the Ritz Carlton Cancun. The Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach will host the Star Chefs Dinner, showcasing 25 chefs from Mexico and around the world.
Private cooking classes (capped at 24 students) will be held March 15 in the El Dorado Royale, led by chefs including Patricia Quintana, Martha Ortiz, Mikel Alonso, Bruno Oteiza and Aquiles Chavéz.
More information on visiting the region is online.
(Photo courtesy of Cancún-Riviera Maya Wine and Food Festival)