Grand Velas Riviera Maya Celebrates the Bicentennial of Mexico's Independence with A Culinary Tribute: The Five Routes to Independence

Five Tasting Menus will Explore Mexican Cuisine and Contemporary Fusion

Riviera Maya, Mexico (PRWEB) September 2, 2010

From now through October 30th, Grand Velas Riviera Maya will celebrate the bicentennial of Mexico's Independence with an exploration of traditional Mexican cuisines and their fusion with diverse global kitchens.

The resort will offer five or six course tasting menus or "routes" at each of its five gourmet signature restaurants. The chefs of each restaurant will re-interpret traditional Mexican ingredients and cooking methods in their own personal style. Under the supervision of executive chef Patrick Louis, the menus will explore fusion with the French, Italian and Asian kitchens and offer a new take on Mexican gourmet.

In retracing the steps of the principal supporters of Mexican Independence the routes incorporate Mexican and international influence into the following exquisite tasting menus:


Route Hidalgo: The Mexican states Guanajuato, Queretaro, Mexico and Morelia inspired Chef Antonio Cortaza of Sen Lin to create an Asian-Mexican fusion menu with delicacies like lamb ribs bathed in ancho pepper curry, sweet potato ginger puree, and field roasted corn rolls with lemongrass infused white chocolate sauce.


Route of Patriotism: Independence campaigns waged through the states of Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Morelos, Puebla, Veracruz and Chiapas, all of which are known for both unusual and traditional mole dishes. Chef Daniel Garcia of Frida celebrates these states in his singular style with snails in green mole, pork shank and coffee cream filled donuts.

Route of Democracy: Retrace the triumphant path of Francisco I. Madero from Cuidad Juarez to Mexico City with Xavier Perez Stone of Cocina De Autor. Explore contemporary fusion with dishes like quesadilla mushroom soup, traditional Mexican corn pasty with rockfish and stone ground chocolate.

Route Zapata: From the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Aguascalientes and Zacatecas come a wide variety of seafood dishes. Chef Michel Mustiere of Piaf presents a seafood menu of Franco-Mexican fusion. Savor pacific shrimp marinated with lemon juice and serrano peppers, served on a bed of creamed cucumber and black mole soufflé with Grand Marnier.

Route Constitutional Revolution: Chef Christian Testa of Lucca lends a creative twist to Italian-Mexican fusion with Mexican truffle gnocchi, bicentennial pizza (nut sauce, pancetta, radicchio, poblano chile and pomegranate), and semi-frozen chestnut tart served with berries and an agave nectar reduction.

The tasting menus are available to all resort guests at no additional charge as part of the all-inclusive rate. For outside guests, the charge is $980 pesos (approx. $98 USD) for the tasting menu and $1,500 pesos (approx. $150 USD) for the tasting menu with wine pairing, which include tax and service charge. Seatings are from 6 to 11 pm. For reservations, call 01-984-877-4400 ext 8118, or visit www.rivieramaya.grandvelas.com.

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya:
Grand Velas Riviera Maya, an all-suites and spa resort located five minutes from Playa del Carmen, represents the latest and most sophisticated iteration of the ultra-luxury, all-inclusive resort experience. Building on the success of its AAA 5-Diamond-ranked sister property in Nuevo Vallarta, this Leading Hotels of the World designated resort is the preeminent one of its class boasting 491 suites, each more than 1,000 square-feet, in three separate ambiances-- adult-only ocean-front and ocean-view Ambassador Grand Class Suites, family-friendly Ambassador Suites and Master Suites embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula's jungle. The resort presents a gastronomic tour of the Yucatan, Europe and Asia offering seven restaurants with world-class chefs from France, Spain and Mexico; dedicated butler service for each guest and a 91,457 square-foot convention center ideal for business and social gatherings of all sizes, including weddings. The resort was designed by lauded Mexican architecture firm Elias and Elias and features the sleek and modish interiors that fuse the serenity of the Caribbean with the vibrancy of Yucatan cultures.

# # #