Puerto Vallarta Announces 10th Annual Gourmet Festival November 11-21, 2004 ~ Premier Cultural Event Marks Anniversary with Culinary Excellence and Opportunity

Mexicos premier culinary event is back and better than ever. The Puerto Vallarta Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the organizers of the Puerto Vallarta Gourmet Festival, is pleased to announce the 10th annual Puerto Vallarta Gourmet Festival, 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.

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco September 13, 2004 -- Mexicos premier culinary event is back and better than ever. The Puerto Vallarta Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the organizers of the Puerto Vallarta Gourmet Festival, is pleased to announce the 10th annual Puerto Vallarta Gourmet Festival, 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 Mexican chefs and over 25 guest chefs from internationally acclaimed restaurants and hotels throughout the world including Charlie Trotter from the world famous Charlie Trotters restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. The epicurean fete features a two week festival celebrated in over 25 local restaurants boasting guest chefs, gourmet cooking classes, tequila tasting dinners, private concerts by world-renown musicians such as Ra Blasio, and special gourmet menus available only to Gourmet Festival diners. Featuring an a la carte gourmet dinner every night, this 11-day event offers everything from a cheese education and tasting to a chef symposium.

Over 25 Vallartan restaurants will feature guest chefs during this 11-day festival. The guest and executive chefs will collaborate on a special menu offered in addition to the restaurants featured menu, available only during the festival. This spirit of this collaboration is seen in the imaginative menu creations inspired by a mix of essence of the region and the finesse of the creative partnership. Participating restaurants include: Bianco Lounge & Restaurant, Cafes Artistes Bistro Gourmet, Coco Tropical, Daiquiri Dick's, De Santos Restaurant, Kaiser Maximilian, La Palapa, Le Petite France, La Piazzetta, Los Xitomates, Porto Bello, The River CafTrio, Cafista Grill Restaurant Lounge, and Zsuba. Visiting chefs to be announced.

The festival opens with a bang at the World Chefs reception at the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center. 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, Corona beer and an open bar by Casa Jose Cuervo. This event, which has become a tradition, will welcome guests, the 25 guest chefs and Puerto Vallarta residents offering fanfare, live music by the 80-piece La Banda de Zacateca, dancing and tasting of the best the region has to offerall while mingling with the finest chefs the world has to offer.

Guests will have ample time to explore the Gourmet Expo at the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center November 11-13, 2004. Presenting tastes of more than 500 gourmet foods, cheeses, tequilas and liquors, the Gourmet Expo is one that is sure to tempt the taste buds, and pamper the palate.

Following tradition, several chefs will be spotlighted in this years various Chef Table and Winemaker Banquets to take place from November 13-16. An exquisite six-course menu will be prepared by the invited and local chef at each restaurant, including appropriate wines for each dish. For this gastronomic exhibition, the hosts will present the most sophisticated culinary arts and experienced sommeliers will offer the best wines. The event will be a real gala night, blending the experience of good food with live music. Restaurants featured this year include: Coco Tropical, Bianco, Trio, Cafes Artistes, Kaiser Maximillian, Vista Grill and Los Xitomates.

Guests will enjoy a fabulous Sunday brunch at the newly-renovated Sheraton Buganvilias Resort on November 13, 2004. This private brunch will feature an exquisite menu coupled with an inspiring ice-carving show. A traditional and lively mariachi band will compliment the brunch and ice-carving show.

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 tastings, cocktails and a gourmet dinner pairing each course with a select tequila. There will be a disc jockey and dancing at this event sure to go late into the night.

Gourmet Cooking classes are featured November 15 17, 2004 at Christines Disco at NH Krystal Hotel, starting at 9:00 am. Sponsored by Le Cordon Bleu Academy of Culinary Arts, the classes will take place in the disco to add space and glamour to the event. Each day a different master chef will share his knowledge in both English and Spanish simultaneously. Each participant also will receive a recipe book including all featured dishes. 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. Following the conferences each day, there will be a specially prepared, private lunch in Bogarts at the NH Krystal.

November 18, 2003 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 from a local producer who specializes in French and Mexican cheese. An educational lunch will pair wines with cheese courses and desserts.

On November 19th, the host chef Klaus Hof Velas Vallarta and chef Gerard Dupont president of the Culinary Academy of France, with join together with chef Thierry Blouet from Cafes Artistes, chef Bernard Gom 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 Ra Blasio, will perform a special melody for each country at the Grand Gala Dinner at Velas Vallartas accompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of Tepic. After the dinner, there will be dancing until the wee hours of the morning.

For reservations, call Monica Baron at 011 52 322 222 3228, send a fax to 011 52 322 222 3227 or an email to e-mail protected from spam bots. For information regarding the Gourmet Festival Press Trip, or to be added to the invitation list, please contact Rebecca Kollaras or Zaira Chacin at 954-568-5450 or via email at e-mail protected from spam bots.

About Puerto Vallarta: Puerto Vallarta was selected by CONDE NAST TRAVELER readers as the eighth best destination in the world in their annual Readers Choice Awards in the November 2001 issue, as well as number one international destination because of the remarkable amiability of the local folk. Puerto Vallarta was the only destination in Mexico that made the list. Located on the Western Pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Jalisco, Puerto Vallartas charm remains largely undiscovered, along with its cobblestone streets, stunning beaches, plentiful marine life, lush Sierra Madre Mountains, exceptional restaurants, fine Gourmet Festival, new golf courses and vibrant art culture. For more information about Puerto Vallarta, call your travel agent or toll-free at 888-384-6822, or direct at (52) 322 22 41175; fax: (52) 322 22 40915. Log on at www.visitpuertovallarta.com

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