Top Mexican Chefs gather for Culinary Festival at Mexico’s Foodie Resort

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Five of the best Mexican chefs known internationally for their trend setting culinary art will highlight the best of the new tendencies in high Mexican cuisine with the Best of Mexico Riviera Maya. The event will be held from October 5 to 9 at the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya.

The exclusive resort invited the prestigious chefs including Zahie Téllez, Carlos Gaytan, Francisco Ruano, and Mikel Alonso to share their creativity, talent and passion for Mexican cuisine through this gastronomic event. The event is a 10-course tasting menu, original dishes featuring ingredients and seasonings from all of Mexico. The special tasting menu will be offered over the four nights, and is included in the daily rate for all guests of this top all-inclusive resort.

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“We want our guests to take with them an unforgettable memory of Mexico through the best of its gastronomy,” said Rodolfo González Munguía, Managing Director of Grand Velas Riviera Maya. “The gastronomic event is yet another part of our resort’s commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards, creating unique experiences and adding value for guests. It complements what we call our international culinary tour as we feature cuisines of the world in our Grand Velas gourmet restaurants where guests can dine at no additional charge,” he added.

 

The hosts of the event, Chef Ricardo de la Vega of Frida, awarded Four Diamonds by AAA, and Executive Chef of the resort, Michel Mustière, Maître Cuisinier de France, added that the Best of Mexico Riviera Maya was designed to promote the richness of Mexican cuisine through its leading exponents and the use of ingredients, colors and seasonings typical of the different regions of Mexico.

 

Top Mexican Chefsjpeg-2Holding a total of 18 Diamonds by AAA, Grand Velas Riviera Maya has set new standards in the All Inclusive World with food, creativity and presentation comparable to top restaurants in world capitals. In addition to Frida’s Four and the resort’s Five, its Cocina de Autor restaurant is the only restaurant in the world that’s part of an All-Inclusive to hold the AAA Five Diamond Award. The resort’s French restaurant Piaf also holds Four Diamonds.

 

Frida, named in honor of the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, offers high Mexican cuisine in an atmosphere at once contemporary and relaxing. It has been honored as one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Mexico, featured on the Gourmand of BBVA Bancomer list.

 

Top Mexican Chefsjpeg-3Chef Alejandro Heredia recognized as the best Mexican chef of the 20th century, will be named ambassador of Frida restaurant during this gastronomic event.

 

 

 

About the Chefs

 

Top Mexican Chefsjpeg-4With an insatiable curiosity and a passion to create new dishes, Zahie Téllez transmits her energy and joy of cooking at every step. She produces culinary experiences inspired by her background with Mexican and Italian cuisine and enriched by her Lebanese and Mazatec roots and practical studies in many cuisines of the world. She has participated in six seasons of the leading TV show El Gourmet. Besides giving classes, she has participated in gastronomic festivals in India and Italy and is a Brewery Master Sommelier. Zahie is also the owner of the successful restaurant Jose Guadalupe Platos de Cuchara that promotes Mexican cuisine with a modern touch and great quality.

 

Top Mexican Chefsjpeg-5The culinary voyage of Chef Carlos Gaytan, originally from Guerrero, has been marked by hard work, persistence and dedication. His talent and passion for cuisine has taken him to leading hotels and restaurants and to work together with renowned chefs like Michael Garbin and Dominique Tougne. A former contestant on BRAVO’s Top Chef, in 2011, he was named the chef of the year by the American Culinary Federation. His restaurant Mexique is known as one of the best in Chicago, with a Michelin star and awards from Michelin Bib Gourmand among others. With great creativity, love and dedication he has succeeded in creating a revolution in Mexican gastronomy, applying his knowledge of French cuisine yet rooted in traditional Mexican cuisine.

 

Top Mexican Chefsjpeg-6Francisco ‘Paco’ Ruano became interested in gastronomy thanks to his mother’s and grandmother’s teachings. Encouraged by Mikel Alonso and Pablo San Roman, he studied in the Spanish Basque Country at the Escuela de Cocina Luis Irizar. Upon completion, in Europe, he worked in some of the best restaurants in the world, including Mugaritz and El Celler de Can Roca in Spain and Noma in Denmark where he met Jorge Vallejo with whom he worked upon returning to Mexico, in Quintonil. In 2013, he opened Alcalde restaurant, considered the best in Guadalajara for its unpretentious updated Mexican cuisine.

 

Top Mexican Chefsjpeg-7Originally from Biarritz, France, Mikel Alonso studied in the Escuela de Cocina Luis Irizar and began his career in restaurants in Spain under the likes of the famed Chef Arzak of Northern Spain. In Mexico, he has been executive chef of numerous prestigious restaurants, docent of the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana, advisor at special events, and speaker and lecturer at leading gastronomic events. Ten years ago he opened Biko restaurant which has consistently been named among The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Mikel alongside Bruno Oteiza create the singular menu at Grand Velas’ Cocina de Autor, the first all-inclusive restaurant to earn Five Diamonds from AAA. Upon opening the restaurant was also named one of the “100 Best New Food & Drink Experiences” in the entire world by Food & Wine.

 

Top Mexican Chefsjpeg-8Born in Mexico City, Chef Ricardo de la Vega began his gastronomic adventure in the city of his birth. His passion for the culinary arts has taken him to leading hotels and restaurants in Puebla, Oaxaca, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. As executive chef of Frida in Grand Velas Riviera Maya, he has focused on exploring in depth the culinary riches of Mexico. The diversity of its ingredients and different preparations to give diners an unforgettable culinary experience with a modern touch without losing the traditional essence.

 

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya:

Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Set on 206 acres of pristine jungle and mangroves and with the finest white sand beach in the Riviera Maya, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya is an ultra-luxury all-inclusive resort. Guests can choose among three separate ambiances in this Leading Hotel of the World, including adults only oceanfront, family friendly ocean view and a Zen-like tropical setting, embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula’s jungle. All 539 designer-like suites are exceptionally spacious, more than 1,100 square feet each, all with balconies, and some with private plunge pools. All feature fully stocked mini bars, plasma TVs, Wi-Fi, L’Occitane amenities, artisanal tequila, and Nespresso coffee machines. Bathrooms deserve special mention with walk in glass shower, deep soaking Jacuzzi tubs and marble interior. Eight restaurants, including five gourmet offerings, present a tour through Mexico, Europe and Asia. Cocina de Autor, at the hands of world celebrity chefs Bruno Oteiza, Mikel Alonso and Xavier Pérez Stone, holds the AAA Five Diamond Award, the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to win this prestigious distinction. Grand Velas Spa, a Leading Spa of the World, is the region’s largest spa sanctuary at more than 90,000 square feet, known for its authentic Mexican treatments, offerings from around world and signature seven-step water journey. Other features include 24-hour Personal Concierge; 24/7 in-suite service; three swimming pools; two fitness centers; water sports; innovative Kids Clubs and Teen’s Club; Karaoke Bar; Koi Bar; Piano Bar, and business center. The resort offers more than 91,000 square feet of meeting space and outdoor areas for events inclusive of a 31,000-square-foot Convention Center, able to accommodate up to 2,700 guests. The resort has won numerous awards from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today and several other magazines and major companies worldwide. This year, the resort entered TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame for obtaining the Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years in addition to the Signature Spa being awarded “Best Luxury Resort Spa-The Americas” at the World Luxury Spa Awards 2014. Grand Velas Riviera Maya was built and is operated by Eduardo Vela Ruiz, majority owner, founder and President of Velas Resorts, with his brother Juan Vela, Vice President of Velas Resorts.

http://rivieramaya.grandvelas.com/

 

Ayesha Curry International Smoke Pop-Up at Michael Mina’s Test Kitchen

Ayesha Curry, food lover, cookbook author and wife of the Golden State Warrior’s Steph Currey, and superstar chef Michael Mina are launching a pop-up restaurant, named International Smoke.

See the video:

Reservations at http://minatestkitchen.com/

For more about Popup Restaurants, visit www.popuprestaurants.com

Top Tips for Safe Summer Grilling from Firedisc Grills Chef Ambassador

Tips for the Summer’s Grilling Season, from Firedisc Grills:

Spring has arrived and summer BBQ’s are kicking off throughout the country. Many of us have heard the horror stories about the risks of food borne illness when grilling.

Here are a few tips to keep friends and family safe when serving up summer BBQ meals in the coming months.

Food Safety:
Tip #1 – Raw Meat: Make sure to never leave raw anything out at room temperature for too long; the FDA recommends a 2-hour exposure limit.

Tip #2 – Meat Thermometer: We know you’re a grill pro but it doesn’t hurt to keep a meat thermometer on-hand just to be safe when you’re unsure or to satisfy Aunt Jane.

Tip #3 – Meat Plate: Make sure Grandpa or Uncle Bob do not accidentally serve any cooked food on the plate that once held raw meat or raw poultry.

Tip #4 – Clean Hands: If you’ve touched raw meat, keep some antibacterial handy wipes on-hand if you can’t make it to the sink to wash your hands before handling your cooking utensils, or anything else for that matter, to avoid food borne illness due to cross contamination.

Grill Safety:
Tip #1 – Cook outdoors: Never cook on your grill indoors! No matter what the weather is doing outside.

Tip #3 – Grill Perimeter: For kids safety at the party, set up a 3’ safe zone around your grill.

Tip #4 – Propane: Check your propane cylinder and hose for any leaks, especially if it has been hibernating all winter. A solution of water and soap can be used to show any leaks as bubbles will form.

Tips Compiled by Chef, Conor Moran:
Who better to think out of the box and craft a new benchmark of quality for the BBQ industry than renowned Chef, Conor Moran. Chef Conor’s culinary influences are as diverse as his family roots and choice of adopted home towns across the globe. Born and raised in Houston, TX with Irish and Italian family roots, Chef Conor has honed his culinary palate while living in the far reaches of Cairo, Egypt and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Moran, having worked in a multitude of restaurants from the young age of fifteen, has learned to create delicacies in just about any kitchen type, from Houston’s upscale Lomonte’s Italian restaurant to streamside using a Firedisc®. His experiences leveraging all levels of cooking apparatus set the stage for development of the Chef-Tested/Chef-Approved® protocol for FireDisc grills..

http://www.firediscgrills.com/executive-chefs/
http://www.firediscgrills.com

Weber’s New Hybrid Charcoal Grill

Weber Hybrid Charcoal Grill

Weber-Stephen Products LLC, the world’s leading manufacturer of outdoor gas and charcoal grills and grilling accessories, announces a new charcoal grill that combines the form and functions of the classic Weber kettle grill with the company’s beloved Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker smoker to create a completely new grill option from Weber.

The new Summit® charcoal grill and Summit® charcoal grilling center (MSRP:  $1,699 and $2,299 respectively) will be available at select specialty retailers beginning April 6, 2016. Consumers can visit www.weber.com to find a dealer in their area.

“We are so excited to bring these new grills to our customers—providing true convection cooking that only Weber’s trademarked round shape can provide,” said Kim Lefko, Chief Marketing Officer, Weber-Stephen Products LLC. “Charcoal grill owners interested in smoking, and gas grill owners who long for the taste of charcoal now have the best of both worlds available to them.”

Designed to provide ultimate control and hold steady temperatures for more than 10 hours of cooking, the Weber Summit charcoal grill will incorporate many unique features including multi-zone heat options, a hinged diffuser plate, a two-position fuel grate, an insulated lid and bowl for less charcoal consumption and better heat retention, and a slow cook/smoke bowl damper set-up that allows for three bottom vent positions.

In addition, the Weber Summit charcoal grills come with a Gourmet BBQ System cooking grate—a hinged cooking grate that features a removable center piece designed to fit a variety of Weber accessories, including a wok, griddle, and a poultry roaster.

The Weber Summit charcoal grill features 452 square-inches of cooking space, Snap-Jet gas ignition for easy lighting, a Rapidfire lid damper and built-in thermometer, a bottom wire rack for additional storage and the One-Touch cleaning system for easy ash removal. The Weber Summit charcoal grilling center will also include a stainless steel tabletop, wire basket and tool hook, along with a CharBin storage container.

For more information, visit http://www.weber.com/grillofalifetime.

Here’s a great recipe from Weber

 

 

About Weber: Weber-Stephen Products LLC, headquartered in Palatine, Ill., is the world’s premier manufacturer of charcoal, gas and electric grills, grilling accessories and award-winning cookbooks and mobile applications. In 1952, founder George Stephen sparked a backyard revolution with his invention of the Weber® kettle. More than 60 years later, the privately held company’s products are sold worldwide at select national home centers, specialty hardware stores, patio stores and other retail outlets. Weber’s social communities include www.facebook.com/weberbbq, www.instagram.com/webergrills, and www.youtube.com/user/GrillwithWeber.

 

Visit www.weber.com for more information.

 

Fitz And The Tantrums New Single “Handclap”

“HandClap” – the first single from Fitz and The Tantrums self-titled album, set for release on June 10 on Elektra Records – was #1 Most Added for two weeks in a row at Alternative radio and is already #15* on the Mediabase Alternative chart. It climbed into the Top 5 of Spotify’s U.S. viral chart – and within the Top 10 of the Global viral chart – in just a few short days and currently has more than 1.75 million Spotify streams. “HandClap” can be streamed HERE.
“[‘HandClap’ tops] a jittery, low down beat with spitfire verses and a surging, skyward hook,” observed Entertainment Weekly. BuzzFeed praised the “neon-hued” track, naming it one of the month’s best songs. “Fitz and The Tantrums deliver another tight groove,” said Baeble Music. “On top of a keen ability to make you bounce your feet and clap your hands, Fitz and The Tantrums have quite a knack for a catchy beat,” noted Glamour, which invited co-lead singers Fitz and Noelle to curate the month’s Listen With Us playlist.
Fans who pre-order Fitz and The Tantrums HERE will instantly receive “HandClap.” Deluxe bundles, which include a choice of the album in digital, CD or white vinyl formats paired with an exclusive t-shirt and/or slip mat, can be pre-ordered from Fitz and The Tantrums’ online store.
Fitz and The Tantrums was recorded in the band’s hometown of Los Angeles. Jesse Shatkin (Sia, Matt & Kim) produced eight of the album’s eleven tracks. Fitz produced “Fadeback” while Joel Little (Lorde) produced “Do What You Want” and Ricky Reed (Jessie J) helmed “HandClap.” It is the follow-up to 2013’s More Than Just a Dream, which has racked up over 76 million album streams to date. The album contained the Gold-certified singles “The Walker” and “Out Of My League.“ Both tracks topped Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart – a feat accomplished by only three other artists in the chart’s 25-year history.
The band will kick off the “Get Right Back” summer tour on June 14 at The National in Richmond, VA. The North American headline run includes a June 21 show at New York City’s Terminal 5. See below for itinerary. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Fitz and The Tantrums are: Fitz (vocals), Noelle Scaggs (vocals/tambourine), James King (saxophone), Jeremy Ruzumna (keyboards), John Wicks (drums) and Joseph Karnes (bass).
LINKS
Stream “HandClap” HERE
Watch “HandClap” lyric video HERE
Check out Fitz and Noelle’s playlist for Glamour HERE
Pre-order album HERE
Pre-order exclusive album bundles HERE
Purchase tour tickets HERE
 
FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS – UPCOMING TOUR DATES
April
16 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – 35th Annual Buzzfest
30 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Sunfest
June
3 – Santa Barbara, CA @ KJEE Summer Round Up
4 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre – Live 105 BFD 2016
11 – Brooklyn, MI @ Michigan International Speedway – Keloorah Festival
13 – Norfolk, VA @ Constant Convocation Center – 96x Fest
14 – Richmond, VA @ The National
15 – Greensboro, NC @ Cone Denim Arts Center
17 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival
18 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
19 – Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
21 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
23 – Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall
24 – Rochester, NY @ Rochester International Jazz Festival
25 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
28 – Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird Nightclub
29 – Milwaukee, MI @ Summerfest
July
14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
15 – Columbus, OH @ PromoWest Festival
16 – Kansas City, KS @ Sporting Park Stadium – KRBZ’s Annual Beach Buzz Ball
17 – North Birmingham, AL @ Sloss Music & Arts Festival
19 – New Orleans, LA @ Civic Theater
20 – Little Rock, AR @ Metroplex
22 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
23 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
24 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s
26 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
27 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
 
August
18 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
19 – Portland, OR @ Oregon Zoo Amphitheater
20 – Seattle, WA @ Marymoor Park
22 – Eugene, OR @ Britt Pavilion
23 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
24 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
26 – Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall
27 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall
28 – Missoula, MT @ Big Sky Brewery
30 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House

31 – Jackson, WY @ Pink Garter Theatre

 

The Griswolds “Hotline Spring” tour w/ Magic Man and Panama Wedding

Fresh off a busy 2015 playing 130 shows, and celebrating the one year anniversary of their debut LP, Be Impressive, The Griswolds were busy dividing their time between their homeland Australia, Europe, Asia and their adopted home, of The United States. Having toured with the likes of Walk The Moon, The Kooks, Andrew McMahon and The Wilderness, New Politics, as well as a slew of festivals and their own sold out shows, the Aussie four-piece will be gracing American shores for the first time in 2016, announcing the “Hotline Spring Tour” with good friends, Magic Man and Panama Wedding.

Kicking off in North Carolina in early April, the tour takes the boys across the country for a one and a half month stretch, hitting the east coast, west coast, Canada, everything in between, and closing out at Hangout Fest in Alabama, mid-May.

The band’s debut and fittingly titled LP, Be Impressive was received with critical acclaim. Their infectious indie rock cemented the Sydney-based band on the scene, being awarded Rolling Stone single of the year, #4 Alternative Single from Billboard, 6 weeks at #1 on the Alt Nation Alt 18 countdown, and peaking at #13 on the Alternative Radio charts.

The band are working on new music and will be debuting brand new material as well as crowd favorites on the road.