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10th Annual Festival Gourmet
 Each November the gastronomic community gets together to showcase its talents during the Festival Gourmet. This year twenty five of the best restaurants from Jalisco and Nayarit will participate in the 10th annual Festival Gourmet, celebrated November 11-21, 2004. Under the direction of the impressive and experienced festival committee, Chef Thierry Blouet, Chef Heinz Reize, Chef Roland Menetrey, the event will once again entice all gastronomic fans as well as xenophiles from around the world.  This festival serves to showcase a spicy blend of culinary talents between the local chefs of Puerto Vallarta guest chefs from internationally acclaimed restaurants and hotels throughout the world including Charlie Trotter from the world famous Charlie Trotter's restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. The epicurean fete features a two week festival celebrated in area restaurants boasting guest chefs, gourmet cooking classes, tequila tasting dinners, and a private concert by Raúl Di Blasio, and special gourmet menus available only to Gourmet Festival diners. The festival opens with a bang at the World Chef's reception at the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center on November 11. Guests will be introduced to the Gourmet Expo with an introductory look into the world of food styling, wine, tequila and equipment. A film from the Puerto Vallarta Film Festival will be premiered and guests will enjoy tapas, and open bar. This annual event will welcome visitors, the guest chefs and Puerto Vallarta residents offering live music by the 80-piece La Banda de Zacateca, dancing, and tasting of the best the region has to offer-all while mingling with the finest chefs the world has to offer. The Second Annual Gourmet Expo at the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center November 11-13, 2004 will present tastes of more than 500 gourmet foods, cheeses, tequilas and liquors.  Following tradition, several chefs will be spotlighted in this year's various Chef Table and Winemaker Banquets to take place from November 13-20. An exquisite six-course menu will be prepared by the invited and local chef at each restaurant, including appropriate wines for each dish. The event will be a real gala night, blending the experience of good food with live music. A fabulous Sunday brunch at the newly-renovated Sheraton Buganvilias Resort will take place on November 14, 2004. This private brunch will feature an exquisite menu coupled with an inspiring ice-carving show. A mariachi band will compliment the event. On November 14, 2004, De Santos Restaurant will host the Don Julio Gourmet Event. Limited to just 100 people, De Santos will feature Don Julio tequila tasting, cocktails and a gourmet dinner pairing each course with a select tequila.  Gourmet Cooking classes are featured November 15 - 17, 2004 at Christine's Disco at NH Krystal Hotel, starting at 9:00 am., sponsored by Le Cordon Bleu Academy of Culinary Arts. The US Meat Federation also will present an instructive conference-demonstration the 15th and 16th while a gastronomy themed conference will take place on the 17th. These events are intended for both haute cuisine amateurs and professionals. November 18, will be the Cheeses of the World day at the Quinta Real, serving a multitude of the finest and most enticing cheeses. Guests will enjoy delicious cheeses and wines and learn about the process of organic cheese production.  On November 19th the Grand Gala dinner will be hosted by chef Klaus Hübner of Velas Vallarta and chef Gerard Dupont president of the Culinary Academy of France, joined together with chef Thierry Blouet from Café des Artistes, chef Bernard Güth from Trio, chef Herve Fuch from the Four Seasons Hotel and pastry chef Mario Ruiz from Productos Alta Reposteria to prepare an exquisite dinner, presenting the best creations of haute cuisine. As a special guest, pianist Raúl di Blasio, will perform a special melody for each country at the Grand Gala Dinner accompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of Tepic.For reservations please contact the concierge. For more information about the specific events please visit the Events Guide and the Spotlights articles Chefs of the World unite and More Festival Gourmet. PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS (Date indicates Chef's Table event) Bianco Lounge and Restaurant (November 14) Café des Artistes Bistro Gourmet (November 16) Coco Tropical (November 13) Daiquiri Dick's DeSantos Restaurant Kaiser Maximilian (November 17) La Palapa La Petite France La Piazzetta Los Xitomates (November 20) Porto Bello The River Café Trio Restaurant-Bar-Café (November 15) Vista Grill Restaurant Lounge (November 18) Zsuba Andrea-Velas Vallarta Hotel Argentina Terrace & Grill-Mayan Palace Marina Bogarts-NH Krystal Resort Da Antonio-Presidente Intercontinental El Candíl-Hotel Quinta Real Frida-Grand Velas Resort La Estancia-Marriott CasaMagna Murales-Villa Premiere Hotel and Spa Nikki Beach Club-Westin Regina Sheraton Buganvilas Resort & Convention Center Tumtah-Mayan Palace Resort Nuevo Vallarta |
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