Do you love food and want to attend an amazing culinary event in Puerto Vallarta? You’re in lucky as the 2022 Festival Gourmet International is almost here. This year’s Festival Gourmet International will start on Friday, Nov. 23rd and continues each night through Sunday, Dec. 2nd. The first festival occurred back in 1995 under the supervision of local chefs Thierry Blouet and Heinz Reize who wanted to create an event to promote local restaurants and invite internationally recognized chefs to attend. The Festival Gourmet International has done very well over the last few decades and is now an internationally recognized gastronomic event.
Festival Gourmet International – Established 1995
During the event’s inauguration back in 1995, only six local hotels and six independent restaurants participated. This year, there are twenty-eight hotels and restaurants that will participate. Can you believe that almost 600 celebrity chefs have participated over the years as well as more than half a million people attending in total? The Festival Gourmet International has been so successful and Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have really benefited. The festival is doing so well that even Michelin star guest chefs are now attending. Wow, how impressive!
Festival Program
Participating restaurants and hotels host special events where the invited chefs will create and share their culinary creations for guests in attendance. Depending on the specific event you attend, a delicious tasting menus or gourmet a la carte dinner will be served. The first event of the festival is at the Hilton Hotel and all the chefs and hosts of the festival will be there. It’s a not miss event as guests will be thrilled to meet the amazing and talented guest chefs in person. On top of great food, festival attendees will enjoy premium wines, tequilas and beers as well. Do you love mole and mariachi? If so, don’t miss the special event “Night of Mole and Mariachi” on Nov. 28th at 8pm at Cafe des Artistes. Mole is one of Mexico’s most iconic dishes, and live Mariachi music always makes for a magical and passionate evening. Cafe des Artistes Head chef and founder Thierry Blouet is one of Puerto Vallarta’s most popular chefs, and he has been proudly serving up incredibly unique dishes at his restaurant for over 27 years.
Top Local Restaurants and Hotels
Want to know which restaurants and hotels in town are participating in this year’s festival? La Casona at Villa La Estancia, Bocados STK at Garza Blanca, and Cafe des Artistes are just a few of the great restaurants where you can attend festival events. La Casona is an Hacienda style property situated in the high end Villa La Estancia in Riviera Nayarit. La Casona plans to feature a Mediterranean menu inspired by head Chef Leonardo Castro who uses a fusion of international-level techniques. La Casona has invited Chef Penny Davidi & Chef Luciano Mier Santoro to host and share their culinary expertise. Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa will host an event at the Bocados STK Mixology and Grill restaurant where Head Chef Álvaro Cortez will be joined by the current Head of Villa del Palmar Cancun, Chef Andrés García González. García González has had international experience as well when he represented Mexico abroad in October 2010 in the European “Passion in Paris” Trophy contest in France.
The 2022 Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit is a great event that you should check out. Get your tickets now as it is destined to be an exciting and popular gastronomic event that will be the experience of a lifetime.
