Press

PICK YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

PRESS CONTACT
Walter DeMirci / Nathalie Pilovetzky
Tel: 212-633-2047
walter@latitudepr.com
nathalie@latitudepr.com       

Puerto Vallarta is a sports lover’s paradise offering an endless array of outdoor adventures under the warm Mexican sun. Water sports enthusiasts can choose from every imaginable activity from snorkeling and scuba diving to kayaking, sailing, water skiing, and surfing. The abundant marine life in the warm Pacific waters of Banderas Bay are known to be a fisherman’s paradise offering some of the best deep sea sports fishing around. Those in search of harder adventure can go mountain bike riding, opt for a jeep safari or go horseback riding in challenging terrains. There are also soft adventure tours of the jungle surrounding Puerto Vallarta from canopy tours to eco hikes. And, of course, all of the more traditional sports including tennis and world-class golf are also on offer. Following is a brief description of the many adventures that await travelers in Puerto Vallarta. 

ATV Tours
An adventure filled tour of the back roads of Puerto Vallarta, a ride on an ATV (all terrain vehicle) will prove a fun-filled experience. The tour takes riders to the rural countryside and along dirt roads and through rivers. It is recommended to bring old clothes and sneakers for this excursion as drivers end up completely covered in dust and mud.

Bungee Jumping
The natural beauty of Banderas Bay provides a picturesque backdrop for bungee jumping, overlooking the verdant slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains and the emerald blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. At this permanent bungee jumping structure, located on the south shore of the bay, on the road to the small village of Mismaloya, the more adventurous can take advantage of this extreme sport and let their inhibitions loose by jumping 120 feet below, towards the water.

Canopy Tours
Canopy tours remain one of the most fun ways to see and learn about the varied tropical flora and fauna of the rainforest surrounding Puerto Vallarta. Three canopy tour options are offered around Puerto Vallarta and all are located within ecological reserves that contain a wealthy biodiversity. The adrenaline mounts as one zips from treetop to treetop, hovering over the canopy of the lush vegetation of the Sierra Madre Mountains. The jungle vegetation and bird life look spectacular from this truly privileged vantage point. Each canopy tour, Vallarta Adventures, Canopy Tours de los Veranos, or Canopy Tour El Eden, offer a different thrill including tours on a total of 14 cables, lines over 1,300 feet long, or 90 feet above the forest floor.

Eco Hikes
The Sierra Madre Mountains around Puerto Vallarta are home to some of the largest biodiversity in North America. Various local tour companies offer nature walks to explore the different flora and wildlife of the region that include hikes on rocky terrains and repelling. Some of the sightings that visitors can look forward to include orchids and bougainvillea, dyewood trees, parrots and several types of migratory birds, iguanas, and armadillos.

Fishing / Fly Fishing
The abundant marine life in the waters of Banderas Bay are known by fishing experts to offer some of the best deep sea sports fishing in the world. Fishing enthusiasts also have the option of fresh water fishing in the rivers that wind through the SierraMadreMountains. Various specialized operators offer deep sea fishing excursions on established fishing fleets. Panga boats can also be rented at some of the more popular beaches around BanderasBay. Some of the wide varieties of fish that can be caught in the area include marlin, sailfish, snapper, yellowfin tuna, rooster fish and dorado (mahi mahi). Puerto Vallarta also hosts an annual fishing tournament every November.

Golf
Puerto Vallarta is fast becoming one of Mexico’s premier golf destinations. The resort town is currently home to seven world-class golf courses; all framed by beautiful vistas of the Sierra Madre Mountains and the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean and include jungle-rich layouts. These include two Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses (Four Seasons Punta Mita and Vista Vallarta) as well as a Tom Weiskopf Signature Design (Vista Vallarta). The course at El Tigre was designed by Robert von Hagge, while Roy Bechtol designed Mayan Palace. Puerto Vallarta also played host to the inaugural edition of the PGA’s Puerto Vallarta Blue Agave Golf Classic in March 2006. The Blue Agave Golf Classic was the first Champions Tour event in Mexico since the MasterCard Classic at Bosque Real Country Club in 2004. Puerto Vallarta also hosts an annual golf tournament every November.

Horseback Riding
A memorable excursion for those who love horseback riding, half-day or full day excursions on horseback provide a challenging experience through diverse terrains amidst some of the finest scenery surrounding Puerto Vallarta. Riding high atop the mountains, through trails of lush tropical vegetation, canyons, streams and waterfalls, these excursions will also allow witnessing life in picturesque jungle villages, relaxing by refreshing cascades, and stopping for a swim in the river. Horseback riding excursions can also be combined with visits to working ranches where visitors can savor a traditional Mexican barbecue lunch.

Jeep Safaris
A great way for more adventurous types to experience Puerto Vallarta’s authentic Mexican culture while discovering the area’s rich biodiversity, jeep safaris combine visits to traditional towns outside Puerto Vallarta with nature walks, and drives through mountain streams and the dense forests of the Sierra Madre Mountains. The tours are conducted in all terrain vehicles and offer a wide overview of all facets of life in and around PuertoVallarta, from interacting with the locals in small towns and suburbs to exploring the flora and fauna of the Sierra.

Kayaking
Puerto Vallarta offers some great sea kayaking. Most often, sea kayaking can be combined with snorkeling or simply experienced on its own. The azure waters of Banderas Bay are home to an abundant marine life and kayaking tours allow for spotting various species of vibrantly colored tropical fish, sea turtles, manta rays and eagle rays along the sea surface.

Mountain Biking
Several mountain biking tours allow for the more adventurous to discover some of Puerto Vallarta’s neighboring locales from a different angle. Mountain biking tours, led by professional guides, are offered to several locations such as Yelapa, San Sebastian, Emiliano Zapata and Las Juntas y Los Veranos, amongst others. Tours are offered according to levels of difficulty and riders can experience many thrills from enjoying beautiful scenery cruising along more relaxed tracks to uphill and downhill rides, riding along trails used for silver and gold mining in the 1700s, or crossing streams under the jungle canopy.

Parasailing
A thrilling way to catch breathtaking views of Puerto Vallarta and the Banderas Bay, parasailing is offered at numerous beaches and major hotels around Puerto Vallarta. Visitors can chose from either beach or boat take-offs and see the sights from above.

Sailing
Sailing cruises provide an adventurous way to spend a day relaxing in the sun or for those who prefer a more active vacation, to go swimming and snorkelling in protected coves or catch a glimpse of dolphins and humpback whales. There are also romantic sunset cruises for a memorable evening under the stars. All cruises offer a briefing on the sport of sailing before departure so that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy and participate in the ride.

Scuba Diving
A variety of dive sites around Banderas Bay offer world class diving options for both beginners and experienced divers. The complex marine ecosystems of Los Arcos National Marine Park and the Marietas Islands contain large reserves of marine wildlife. Divers can explore underwater caves, canyons, reefs teeming with tropical fish, and see turtles, octopus, sea horses, dolphins, manta rays, jacks, yellowtails and sailfish. The waters of Banderas Bay are also home to whales, dolphins and wahoo that can be spotted almost year-round. Many specialized operators offer scuba diving excursions and offer various levels of PADI certification.

Snorkeling
Banderas Bay, with its warm blue waters, beautiful coral reefs, natural rock formations, and abundant marine life is a magnet for snorkelers and scuba divers. There are numerous snorkeling options in the Puerto Vallarta area, whether close to shore in Mismaloya, Yelapa or Majahuitas, or on exciting boat trips to secluded islands such as the Marietas or the Caletas.
The rich marine life that the area houses include turtles, spotted eagle rays, needlefish, and many varieties of tropical fish. A lot of the snorkeling tours can also be combined with sea kayaking or simply relaxing on a deserted beach.

Surfing and Windsurfing
With over 60 places to surf along the Banderas Bay, including many secluded surf beaches, the Puerto Vallarta area is a true surfers’ paradise. The best surfing conditions are usually found in the late summer and early fall when hurricane season often drives huge swells ashore all along the Pacific coast. Some of the more popular locales for surfing include Ipala and Las Peñitas (on the Cabo Corrientes coast south of Tehualmixtle), Playa el Tecuán, Playa la Manzanilla, and Barra de Navidad (at the jetty). Farther north, Sayulita is very popular with surfers as well as Playa Matanchen, near San Blas.

Tennis
Tennis is a popular sport in Mexico and Puerto Vallarta holds no exception. Tennis lovers will find an excellent option of courts around town, from open air to covered, clay and asphalt to synthetic grass. Most of the clay courts are turned around several times a week to ensure their freshness. Some of the more popular tennis courts are located within hotel complexes such as the Hotel Continental Plaza Tennis & Beach Resort, the Sheraton Buganvillias, the Playa de Oro Resort, and Los Tules Resort. Many of these hotels offer tennis instruction courses, host annual tennis tournaments and also allow non hotel guests to use their installations at a fee.

Water Skiing and Jet Skiing

The calmer waters off the coast of Puerto Vallarta allow for some exciting water skiing, while catching spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, the picturesque towns along Banderas Bay and the verdant slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Most resorts along the beach as well as concessions on the more popular beaches allow for water and jet ski rental by the hour or the half-hour.

Manuel Lepe, is perhaps the most renowned native vallartense painter who inspired a new wave of artists that now call Puerto Vallarta home. One of Mexico’s most highly acclaimed international artists and creator of the “naïf” style, more popularly referred to as Vallarta art, he is the only Mexican artist registered in the French Directory of Naif Art. His works are/were collected by the likes of Elizabeth II, Queen of England; Elizabeth Taylor, John Travolta, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan; former Austrian President and Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim; and former German Chancellor Willi Brandt, among others. He lived at a time when Puerto Vallarta was beginning to attract the attention of the international media with the filming of Night of the Iguana and one of his first public works adorned the walls of the town. His images were also used for Puerto Vallarta’s first promotional posters. Manuel Lepe’s vision generated a group of followers, mostly self-taught artists that share Lepe’s traits combined with their own approach. Best known are Javier Niño and Ada Colorina.

Ada Colorina presents a world that is full of color and very Mexican in nature. The neighborhood she grew up in as a child and always lived in has influenced her spirit and vision. Her work depicts a typical vallartense world reflecting warmth and happiness, focusing on typical scenes with children playing in the streets. Javier Niño, on the other hand,emphasizes nature as the most striking element while incorporating fantasy.

Other local artists have also earned an international reputation and visitors can admire their works in numerous Puerto Vallarta galleries. Two of the best known include Ramiz Barquet and Rogelio Diaz.
Ramiz Barquet sculpts works in bronze that express gratitude for a life richly lived. Nature highly influences Barquet’s art and a few of his works form part of the public art collection that embellish the city. Rogelio Diaz identifies himself more with figurative art and expressionism. Diaz paints strong and eclectic images with piercing colors that are rooted in Mexico’s indigenous cultures and test the viewer’s emotional consciousness.

ART GALLERIES

Some of Puerto Vallarta’s better known galleries offering an interesting selection of works by local, national and international artists include:

Galería Pacifico
Aldama 174 — Tel: 322-222-1982
Galería Pacífico features some of the stars of Puerto Vallarta’s art scene, such as the highly acclaimed sculptor Ramiz Barquet and Patrick Denoun, a masterful French painter. Other artists based in the area include Richard Baker and Alfredo Langarica.

Galerie des Artistes
Leona Vicario 248 — Tel: 322-223-0006
Galerie des Artistes houses an eclectic display of works that range from small decorative items and avant-garde paintings to extraordinary masterpieces by some of Mexico’s greatest classic masters, such as Rivera, Orozco and Coronel.

Galeria de Arte Latinoamericano
Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez 155 — Tel: 322-222-4406
This two-floor gallery features works by Marta Gilbert and Raymundo Andrade. The gallery also features very creative painters and sculptors such as María Fernanda Matos, Eduardo Mejorada, César López, Yolanda Marroquin, Jose Guerrero and Jaime Rodriguez.

Galería Omar Alonso
Leona Vicario 249 — Tel: 322-222-5587
Galeria Omar Alonso specializes in photography, engraving and sculpture and is a magnet for art collectors and artists from around the globe. This gallery has featured exhibitions with works of Sebastiao Salgado, Wouter Deruytter, Michal Macku, Ron Van Dongen, Luis González Palma, and Anderson & Low, among others.

Galería 8 y Más
Guerrero y Miramar — Tel: 322-222-7971
A collection of eight owner/artists support this space thus eliminating large commissions and providing buyers with reasonable prices.

A Thousand Flavors: Puerto Vallarta Offers a
Wealth of Culinary Delights

PRESS CONTACT
Walter DeMirci / Nathalie Pilovetzky
Tel: 212-633-2047
walter@latitudepr.com
nathalie@latitudepr.com

Puerto Vallarta sets the stage for one of the finest culinary experiences in Mexico. The city offers endless alternatives for food aficionados. Some of Mexico’s top chefs along with numerous chefs from around the world call Puerto Vallarta home. From small, family-run taco stands to internationally acclaimed restaurants serving everything from regional Mexican cuisine to creative contemporary Mexican fare and the most varied international options, Puerto Vallarta’s gastronomic scene will impress the most sophisticated palates.

In November of every year, Puerto Vallarta reigns as Mexico’s capital of culinary arts with the annual International Gourmet Festival. During this ten-day celebration that is a feast for the senses, about 20 guest chefs - amongst the finest in the world - in addition to talented local chefs offer special tasting menus in 21 participating restaurants, cooking classes and wine tastings. Past participants have included Anton Mossimann of Club Mossimann in London, winner of numerous international awards; internationally acclaimed Mexican chef Patricia Quintana; and Gerard Dupont, president of the Académie Culinaire de France (the French Culinary Academy).

More detailed information on the Gourmet Festival including the year’s guest chefs, special menus and participating restaurants can be found at www.festivalgourmet.com

Following is a list of some of Puerto Vallarta’s most inventive restaurants:

Café des Artistes/Thierry Blouet
Guadalupe Sanchez, 740
Colonia Centro
www.cafedesartistes.com
Internationally acclaimed chef Thierry Blouet creates delectable fusions of Mediterranean fare blended with traditional Mexican ingredients. Café des Artistes has won many accolades and offers a memorable dining experience in an environment that features high design, a romantic multi-level garden and a comprehensive wine library.

Los Xitomates
Morelos, 570
Colonia Centro
www.losxitomates.com
Owner and executive chef Luis Fitch uses traditional Mexican ingredients and lots of ingenuity to create some of the most refined contemporary Mexican fare. Chef Fitch strives to create the most modern dishes that reflect the evolution of Mexican cuisine, with influences from the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Caribbean, while respecting the main elements that respect the roots of Mexican cuisine, from colonial and pre Hispanic times.

Daiquiri Dick’s
Olas Altas, 314
Colonia Emiliano Zapata
www.ddpv.com
In this restaurant that offers unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean, Executive Chef Ignacio Uribe Moreno and Thai Chef Hnoi Lattitham have fused an eclectic menu that is truly representative of today's modern cuisines and where classic Mexican, European and American preparations appear side by side, along with a spirited dose of Asian, Indian, and northern African influences.

Kaiser Maximilian
Olas Altas, 38
Zona Romantica
www.kaisermaximilian.com
Chef owner Andreas Rupprechter has created a little corner of Austria in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone. Combining his experience in Europe and Mexico with a great crew of dynamic chefs, Kaiser Maximilian has created a menu that merges new and old world cuisines and features traditional Austrian dishes.

La Petite France
Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio, Km. 2.5
Adjacent to Hotel Fiestamericana
www.lapetitefrance.com.mx
Chef owner Ignacio (Nacho) Cardena Beraud learned the secrets of fine cuisine and good wine from his French grandfather who settled in Mexico in the late 1800s. La Petite France transmits the tradition of refined French cuisine with a menu whose main ingredients include garlic, shallots, fine herbs, butter and cream.

Le Kliff Restaurant & Bar
Carretera a Barra de Navidad, Km. 17,5
Puerto Vallarta
www.lekliff.com
Perched on the edge of a cliff a short drive south of downtown Puerto Vallarta, in a contemporary Mexican setting, Le Kliff is known one of the best kept gastronomical secrets of Banderas Bay with spectacular views over the ocean. From December through April, patrons can even enjoy views of gray whales and giant manta rays. The menu includes some of the finest seafood in Puerto Vallarta.

Vista Grill
Pulpito, 377
Colonia Alta Vista
www.vistagrill.com
Vista Grill offers creative contemporary cuisine accented with regional flavors in an exquisite setting high above town, overlooking all of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay. Some of the menu highlights include venison medallions, duck confit, and grilled salmon.

The River Café
Isla Rio Cuale, 4
Colonia Centro
www.rivercafe.com.mx
Located on the banks of the Cuale River, The River Café combines contemporary architecture and design with classic Mexican elements. Its staff of award-winning chefs has created a contemporary menu that combines the most traditional Mexican techniques and ingredients. Numerous other dishes reflecting the best of international cuisine are also offered.

Trio
Guerrero, 264
Colonia Centro
www.triopv.com
A cosmopolitan restaurant located in an old colonial townhouse with an open courtyard and roof top terrace in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, Trio displays colorful paintings of local artists, a hand carved mahogany bar and stone columns. Chefs Bernhard and Ulf welcome you to experience Mediterranean food prepared by using the finest local produce. Some of the menu highlights include rosemary roasted pumpkin ravioli with wild mushrooms, chile roasted red snapper on ratatouille vegetables and wild boar on Sicilian gnocchi.

Sol y Luna Gallery

This gallery shares three more anexes in Plaza Romy. Here music poetry (both Spanish and English), painting, sculpture, and photography; all with images related to the nude form. Their collection includes work of local talents such as painter Pillo Kuri, Maxican talent like photographer Jose Luis Bueno, and international artist like sculptor Rafael Miranda and painter Lena Bartula.

Lazaro Cardenas #230, Zona Romantica
(322) 22 21302

Yak & Sport Book

This is a Betting House growing for ten years in Spain; it now has 45 locations throughout the world. The facility is divided into three sections: a Vegas-Style Slot-machine area (108 altogether), the Sports Book area (screens to follow several sports, with no maximum betting limit), and the Bar with room for 50 people.
Admission is restricted to minor under 18.

Local 24-85, Plaza Peninsula, Zona Hotelara
(322) 22 11718

PUERTO VALLARTA has well earned its reputation as the festival capital of Mexico. From cultural and religious festivals, to international sports tournaments, and the city’s highly acclaimed International Gourmet Festival, there is a special event that’s sure to appeal to every traveler, every season of the year. The month of November is particularly busy with numerous world-class events.

• 5th Annual Vallarta Golf Cup – November 3-4, 2006. This competition is quickly becoming a Puerto Vallarta tradition and allows for golf aficionados to team up and play with some of the world’s best golfers.

   www.vallartagolf.com

• 4th International Half Marathon –November 5, 2006. Mexican and international athletes can sign up to participate in the 13-mile run. A separate 3-mile race will also be held. Interested parties can obtain additional information by visiting www.maratonvallarta.com

• 12th International Gourmet Festival – November 9-19, 2006. Puerto Vallarta’s popular and highly reputed International Gourmet Festival enters its 12th strong year with 22 guest chefs from Mexico and around the world showcasing their most creative talent during a ten-day gastronomic celebration that will offer special tasting menus, cooking classes, and wine tastings.  www.festivalgourmet.com

• 51st Sailfish and Marlin Tournament – November 17-19, 2006 – A Puerto Vallarta tradition for over 50 years, and one of the most traditional fishing tournaments in Mexico, the Sailfish and Marlin Tournament brings together the most passionate group of fishermen for three exciting days of fishing in some of Mexico’s finest waters. www.fishvallarta.com

• Puerto Vallarta Film Festival 2006 – November 29 – December 3, 2006 -   In keeping with Puerto Vallarta’s famed Hollywood traditions, the Third Annual Vallarta Film Festival promises to feature some of the best new productions from Mexico, Canada, and the rest of Latin America. This year’s festival will also focus on films with an environmental theme. Some of Mexico’s best-known stars along with Angelica Huston and Danny Huston will be attending. www.vallartafilmfestival.com

Additional information on Puerto Vallarta can be obtained at www.visitpuertovallarta.com

Culinary Jam Session

A night of friends for friends

Once again Puerto Vallarta best chefs will combine their talents to participate in the 3rd annual "Culinary Jam Session" which will take place on Tuesday October 17th at 7:00p.m. at the CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort. What began as a simple idea between friends has become a fantastic charity event that directly benefits to local area.
All participating restaurants have achieved international recognition by winning the "Five Star Diamond" an award given by the American Academy of Hospitality Science. This year attending restaurants include: Café des Artistes, Kaiser Maximilian, La Palapa, Vista Grill, Los Xitomates and the Marriott Hotel.
With such an eclectic collection of restaurants, the menu will span a vast amount of international flavors. This will allow the attendee to become familiar with unique and exquisite styles of some of the best chefs Puerto Vallarta has to offer.
Not only will the night be filled with great food, but it will also have fun and entertainment with a musical jam session. A variety of musical groups will showcase their creativity in a night of friends for friends.
If the music food and fun is not enough, there is still the real reason for the event: all the money received in tickets sales will be donated equally among four local charities. The first is AGAPE, a shelter for abused young girls. Next is Arturo y los Hijos de Dios, an organization which helps people and families in poor conditions. After that is Becas Vallarta, an institution that helps children and young people from Puerto Vallarta with necessities to continue their basic and higher education, and finally there is Asilo de Ancianos San Juan Diego, a shelter for senior citizens.
Tickets are $600 pesos and can be purchased at the participating restaurants, charities and the concierge desk at the Marriott CasaMagna Hotel. Tickets for the event are in limited supply.

Shanti Studio Dance & Fitness

Starting September the 16th, Shanti Studio Dance & Fitness open the first gym in Plaza Caracol.
The Facility is divided into two air-conditioned areas: one is for spinning (with 16 bicycles available), and the other for Body Combat classes (a cardio-aggressive program inspired by the martial arts, dance to the beat of high-energy music. In addition, zumba, Pilates and ballet.

Plaza Caracol, Local Mezanine
Zona Hotelera
22 2 9190
http://studio.gruposhanti.com
studio@gruposhanti.com

Erotic & Sensual Art Walk and Festival

When the eroticism appears in bombards the senses; emotions, sensations, impressions, everything is involved. With infinite techniques in a multiplicity of colors, it represents symbols, practices, pleasure, and evocations. Artists, through out the ages, have recreated the erotic being in images that are in constant communication. For that reason, often, when gazing at the work, we lose track of the time and… moment by moment, we drift away, far, very far from the fast way of life.

The Festival of Erotic and Sensual Art in Puerto Vallarta presents one week to visit the G-Spot of some of local galleries that will be exhibiting the art the causes more noise by its inquisitive and controversial nature. Painting, drawings, photographs, engravings and sculptures, will be presented about which has been generated such a long introduction

This is the second edition of Latin Vision: Erotic & Sensual Art Walk and Festival organized by XArt Gallery & Foundation and the department of culture of the city council of Puerto Vallarta with the support of Lifestyles Organization and the active participation of Group AVE (Visual Artists of Eroticism).

The opening of the Festival will be on October 4th in Salas Berenice Starr of Los Mangos Library at 8:00 pm. To get ready for the event, the Alternative Camera of Cinemark will be showing the French film “Innocents” by Joaquin Oristrell from October 6th to 12th.
A story that takes place in 1913, when the theories of Sigmund Freud on the sexuality and hysteria, scandalized by bringing out in the open the most intimate secrets of sexual behavior. The Premier will be October 5th al Cinemark.

Free admission.

Los Mangos Library
Francisco Villa 1001, Col. Los Mangos

TASTE OF PUERTO VALLARTA AT
THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION
AND ROSA MEXICANO IN NEW YORK

Introduction

Puerto Vallarta is the second most important gastronomic center in Mexico, behind Mexico City, offering endless alternatives for food aficionados. Some of Mexico’s top chefs along with numerous chefs from around the world have settled in Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta is also home to many internationally acclaimed restaurants that serve everything from regional Mexican to creative contemporary Mexican fare and the most varied international options that impress even the most sophisticated palates.

In November of every year, Puerto Vallarta reigns as Mexico’s capital of culinary arts with the annual International Gourmet Festival. During this ten-day celebration about 20 guest chefs - amongst the finest in the world - in addition to talented local chefs offer special tasting menus in 21 participating restaurants, cooking classes and wine tastings.

Puerto Vallarta’s Fideicomiso de Turismo is now working through LATITUDE, its public relations agency for the US and Canada, to promote Puerto Vallarta as an important culinary center and introduce the city’s restaurants, creative gastronomy and annual International Gourmet Festival held in November to fine food and wine lovers.

The Event

As a way to introduce Puerto Vallarta’s superior gastronomic offerings to the American public, we have teamed up with the prestigious James Beard Foundation in New York and the well famed restaurant Rosa Mexicano for a series of specially prepared Puerto Vallarta themed-dinners for exclusive media for top food and travel journalists and editors, beginning on September 6, 2006.

Chef Luis Fitch from Puerto Vallarta’s highly acclaimed Los Xitomates, a Five Star Diamond Award and a Chaine des Rotisseurs restaurant, will be guest chef at the James Beard House on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, preparing special Puerto Vallarta-themed menus.

The James Beard House will be hosting a special dinner for its members and the general public beginning with a cocktail reception followed by a special 5-course vallartense menu prepared by Chef Fitch that will include a tequila tasting to introduce all attendees to the authentic flavors and traditions of Jalisco. All dishes will be paired with Mexican wines courtesy of the Chateau Camou winery.

The James Beard House is the most prestigious venue in the US for culinary artists to showcase their talent, similar to prestigious theaters and symphonic halls for performing artists and musicians. The Foundation’s objective is “to celebrate, preserve, and nurture America's culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence”.

April 2, 2006

Champions Tour

Hatalsky hangs on for win in Mexico

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Sports Network) - Morris Hatalsky shot a two-under 70 on Sunday to win the Puerto Vallarta Blue Agave Golf Classic by one shot over Scott Simpson.
Hatalsky ended the tournament at nine-under-par 207 for his third win on the Champions Tour and first since the 2003 Columbus Southern Open. The overnight leader played bogey-free golf until the 18th hole, where he dropped his only shot of the day.
Simpson, the first-round leader, also shot a 70 in his final round to finish at eight-under-par 208. Defending Senior PGA Champion Mike Reid (70) shared third place one stroke further back with Gil Morgan (71).
In the first round on Friday, Hatalsky played poorly on the front nine and made up for it with a scorching back nine. He turned it around Saturday with six birdies on the front at Vista Vallarta Golf Club, then continued that trend in his final round.
Sunday, Hatalsky began his round with consecutive birdies at the first two holes, both par-fours. He rolled in a six-foot putt at the first and a five- footer at the second, then missed short birdie tries at the next two holes.
Five more pars followed until Hatalsky moved to 10-under with a birdie at the par-five 10th. The 54 year old coasted most of the back-nine with a two-shot lead -- although a missed seven-foot birdie try at 16 could have made it three -- until his three-putt bogey at 18.
"I was solid tee-to-green, but I missed some putts," said Hatalsky, also a four-time PGA Tour winner.
"I first noticed the scoreboard at 12 and saw I had a two-shot lead. I was disappointed to miss the birdie putt at 16, but then I saw Scott (Simpson) had made bogey at 17. I knew I could three-putt [at 18] and that's what I did."
Hatalsky, who led heading into the final round for the first time on the Champions Tour, had some previous experience winning in Mexico: 37 years ago, he claimed the 1968 Mexico National Junior Championship.
"To come back and win again, that's quite a feat," he said. "It's very gratifying to come to a place like this and win."
Simpson made two big missteps in his round: a double-bogey from a bunker at the par-four sixth, which erased two earlier birdies, and his bogey at the 17th, which eventually cost him a chance to face Hatalsky in a playoff.
"Overall, I played pretty well but I felt I threw away some shots," said Simpson. "I'd love to be in a playoff now. It's disappointing. I'm a little frustrated."
Hatalsky claimed $240,000 for his win, while Simpson received $140,800 for second place.

Buenos dias, Stanford Single
Stanford Single

Stanford Daily - Palo Alto,CA,USA
By Marie Christine Cannizzaro
Columnist
Monday, April 3, 2006

When my friends and I heard that everyone was going to Cabo for Spring Break, we were nothing short of disgusted. Cabo, I mean really, could it be any more cliche? It was almost as bad as going to Tahoe over MLK weekend or — God forbid — Aspen over Winter Break. We are not the Cabo-for-Spring-Break type of girls. We are dessert-before-dinner girls, kiss-on-the-first-date girls, wear-white-way-after-Labor-Day girls. So we went to Puerto Vallarta, which is definitely several miles south of Cabo.
The cheapest ticket to PV (as we affectionately began to refer to the exotic locale) had us flying from SFO on an airline that may or may not be named after a cold state near Canada. This airline — I’m going to call it “Malaska Airlines” for lack of a better pseudonym — evidently fashioned its fleet from fish bones and husky pelts. Whenever we encountered minor turbulence the plane would shake as though we had just hit a giant flying moose. I would have found the captain’s recommendation to “pull your seatbelt a little tighter” rather quaint had I not been vomiting uncontrollably into my Coach handbag, but circumstances being what they were, I could only pray that a flight attendant would go berserk and ram the beverage cart over and over into my partially conscious body until I took a permanent siesta. Unfortunately, the plane landed before the crew could perform any mercy killings (to my knowledge).
But if the flight was hell, life was heaven at the Lindo Mar Resort. “Lindo Mar,” for those of you who don’t hablar español, means “Great Bar” in Spanish. And, true to its name, the resort had an extensive bar next to the ocean complete with a bartender who would — get this — actually speak his native language with me. At last, five years of Spanish class and broken conversation with my Mexican relatives culminated in exchanges such as:
ME: Una piña colada, por favor.
BARTENDER: Para llevar?
ME: What?
By the end of the trip, I could tell that he and I had formed a special connection. We would play this game where I would down several piña coladas muy fuertes and then hand him what I guessed was the appropriate amount of currency. He would point angrily at the bill and yell the Spanish word for “more,” and I would laugh as I stumbled away, saying that I couldn’t possibly drink any more today. What a crazy guy.
But the best part of the trip was undoubtedly clubbing in town with my posse of gorgeous girlfriends, doing what we do best: getting hit on by sleazy American guys. Now being the professionals that we are, we have secret hand signals to indicate when we need to be saved from a particularly shady character [Ladies: I strongly suggest you develop a similar code with your friends. Gentlemen: Forget everything I just said]. “Saving” a girlfriend usually involves physically lodging oneself between the friend and Shady McShaderson. It may also include statements such as, “She has a very large boyfriend,” “She has a strange rash” or “Hey, look! A wet T-shirt contest!” This last one was particularly effective, because everywhere you turned there actually was a wet T-shirt contest in some corner of the club, with some bevy of beauties drowning their political aspirations along with their clothes.
It was an incredible week, and I was very sad to leave the Lindo Mar and my bartender friend. As we took off in our plane, I looked down on the beautiful coastal town of Puerto Vallarta and thought about how lucky I was to get in touch with my Hispanic heritage and have a real cultural experience instead of some cliche Spring Break. It’s just what every single girl needs — to bond with her girls and seek out something beyond the Stanford Bubble. I should do this more often, I thought. And as the plane shakily flew off into the sunset, I clutched my stomach and tried not to throw up. But this time I was smiling.
Marie would like to thank Sarah, Lindsay, Laura, Alice and Cate for an amazing vacation. Comment on this article at www.stanfordsingle.com.

Mexican Riviera´s Cruise Itineraries on the Rise
Apr 07, 06

As more travelers become experienced Caribbean cruisers, they are discovering a new tropical paradise, the Mexican Riviera, which offers sensational scenery, some of the best beaches in the world and a formidable array of cultural attractions. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the Mexican Riviera has grown into one of the top five cruise destinations in the last five years, and for good reason.

[April 11, 2006]

Enjoy la Buena Vida in Mexico

(Kiplinger's Retirement Report Via Thomson Dialog News Edge)page 12 | RETIREMENT LIVING

PATT BARRACK, a former medical secretary, and her husband, Robert, a former firefighter, were all set to retire to Florida a couple of years ago. Then the hurricanes came, delaying construction on their dream home.So the Barracks changed plans. They read a magazine article about retirees in Lake Chapala, Mexico, 30 miles south of Guadalajara. They found a real estate agent on the Internet and paid $236,000 for a three-bedroom home with a swimming pool. A few months later, after selling their home in Lake Anna, Va., for $325,000, they moved to their new community, where thousands of other American retirees live. "You can't beat the weather," Patt, 65, says. "And you don't have the hustle and bustle you have in the States."Seeking adventure and an affordable cost of living, American retirees like the Barracks are flocking abroad. Many are looking to warm-weather destinations in Costa Rica, Panama and Belize. But Mexico remains one of the most popular retirement havens. About one million Americans, including 157,000 retirees over age 55, live in Mexico, according to a study by Cemex SA, the Mexican cement giant, and Active Living International, a Corona del Mar, Cal., company that builds retirement communities.But expatriates who don't prepare properly can jeopardize their retirement nest egg. Complicated tax laws and unfamiliar local customs can be a minefield. Most financial and international-living advisers caution against doing what the Barracks did: making a decision, buying a home and moving, all within a few months. Instead, they say, take a vacation in the country you have in mind, and then plan a longer stay, possibly renting in the off-season, to get a flavor of routine life. Everyone loves idyllic beaches, but you may find that the seemingly perfect neighborhood near the ocean has a high crime rate.Before packing your bags, it's essential to check with a tax lawyer, accountant or financial planner familiar with international-living issues. "People charge across the border and think everything looks the same, except it's in Mexico," says Robert Keats, a certified financial planner in Phoenix. "These people buy, and then they realize that they have these other issues--taxes and estate planning. If they don't have a plan, they could lose a substantial amount of their assets."Many people who retire overseas are surprised to learn they must file federal tax returns. Income from Social Security, pensions, IRAs, annuities and other investments are subject to U.S. tax. In many instances, you'll have to pay income taxes in your home state, if the U.S. government decides you are still "domiciled" there.To cut all state ties, you need to sell everything and should not return to the U.S. for more than 30 days at a time, according to Robert Barbetti, head of executive compensation at JPMorgan Private Bank. An alternative, says Bernard Fisken, a tax consultant in Bethesda, Md., is to change your domicile to a state without income tax, such as Texas or Florida. You only need a driver's license and voter registration to prove residency.You may also be required to pay income taxes in your new country. You'll get a break if your new home is in one of the more than 50 countries, including Mexico, that have tax treaties with the U.S. Most countries allow you to exempt pensions and annuity income, but some require you to pay taxes on Social Security benefits or even on your tax-free bonds. The U.S. often provides a credit for taxes you pay overseas. Check IRS Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad, at www.irs.gov. Also, each country has different estate laws, so make sure your foreign property is titled correctly so heirs won't face a problem.You can collect Social Security anywhere, but it's easier to have the check sent to a U.S. account that you can access abroad. The Social Security Administration provides details in Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States, at www.ssa.gov.

Mexico by mountain bike: A cultural experience

Jim Scripps, jscripps@tahoedailytribune.com
April 13, 2006

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico - Rogelio Salazar may have the ultimate job, though he only makes $80 on a good day. Eighty dollars goes a long way in Mexico, even in an expensive tourist town like Puerta Vallarta.

Salazar is chief executive officer, head chef and tour guide for EcoRide Mexico, a mountain bike tour company boasting two employees, and probably the most laid back approach to bicycle touring in Puerta Vallarta. He offers rides in the Sierra Madre mountains, a short hop from downtown "P.V.", as the gringo tourists call it.

"I love this place," Salazar says, punctuating his thick Mexican accent with hand gestures. "Look at it!"

What's not to love? Like the many gringos who flock to P.V. each winter for the sunny weather and friendly community feel, Salazar happily makes the seaside town in Mexico's Banderas Bay his home. During our cold months, especially this year's gray Lake Tahoe winter, Puerta Vallarta stays consistently in the 80s during the day and 60s at night. The only thing to break up the blue skies from about November to May is the hovering parasailors who dot the white sand beaches. But despite the allure of the ocean, it is the green hills that draw Salazar's cycling customers.

"This is where you get to see the real Puerta Vallarta," Salazar said. He oiled my chain and we headed out of the downtown. From his small bike shop behind the Church of Guadalupe, I pedaled an old GT hardtail about 2 inches too small (the largest bike in his rental fleet); he sat on a somewhat modern Trek.

A genuine cock fight takes place on a rural road in the hills above Puerta Vallarta. These locals were happy to share their tradition with tourists.

Posted on Sun, Apr. 16, 2006

GOOD SPIRITS
Tequila: Not just for college bingeing anymore
Tequila has gone so mainstream that the Inter-American Development Bank has just approved $1.6 million to support the Tequila Trail.
BY WILLIAM M. DOWD

Hearst Newspapers

Tequila. For some people the name conjures up images of lost weekends in Tijuana, wild nights at college parties, or self-medicating visits to dingy bars when life got too much to bear.
That was then, this is now. The consumer market for the onetime outlaw alcohol continues to expand, with the 100 percent pure blue agave super premium niche recording a 25 percent sales increase in the past year. Tequila has gone mainstream and upscale in a big way.
In fact, it has gone so mainstream that the Inter-American Development Bank's Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) has just approved a $1.6 million grant to support the Tequila Trail, a sustainable tourism project in the Tequila region of the Mexican state of Jalisco.
The aim is to highlight the region's natural and cultural attractions such as mariachi music and the charros, the traditional horsemen. The region is linked by highways to Guadalajara, the country's No. 1 convention city, and to
Puerto Vallarta, one of Mexico's most popular seaside resorts. The project also will be supported by the Jose Cuervo Foundation and other distillers.
Beyond Jose Cuervo, Sauza, Patron, Don Eduardo, Corazon, Don Julio and other familiar names, more newcomers to the American market keep popping up, drawing comparisons to the explosion in vodka labels that shows no signs of abating.
ESTATE GROWN
Partida, for example, is an estate-grown tequila made by the Partida family in Mexico's Amatitan region. They've released tequila in all three official categories -- Blanco, Reposado and Anejo.
Partida's Reposado won a double gold at the recent San Francisco World Spirits
Competition, the Blanco won a single gold, the Anejo -- aged 18 months in French-Canadian oak barrels -- won a silver.
It also earned a perfect, and rare, five-star tasting mark from my colleague F. Paul Pacult in his respected Spirit Journal. Not bad at all for a tequila introduced to the general market less than a year ago.
Suggested retail prices: $45 for Blanco, $57 for Reposada, $62 for Anejo.
At the other end of the production extreme is Siembra Azul (Blue Harvest), a kosher, 100 percent blue agave small-batch product just introduced to the U.S. market in March. It's produced by David Suro-Pinera, who returned to his native land after two decades in the States to take up commercial tequila making.
''I've spent 20 years researching the greatest tequilas and made hundreds of trips in search of the rarest and best tequilas that my homeland offers,'' Suro-Pinera says.
His tequila comes in three traditional varieties, all produced in the highlands of Jalisco state. The Blanco retails for about $34, the Reposado for $39, the Anejo for $45.
The first batches of Siembra Azul Blanco and Reposado are available only in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania restaurants, bars and liquor stores, but will go national in the coming months. Consumers elsewhere who can't wait can order through online companies such as Sherry-Lehmann Wine and Spirits in New York.
Tequila has its unique points. For one, there are no vintage years because tequila is made year-round from a plant that takes eight to 12 years to mature and its ripeness doesn't depend on the climate of one particular year. However, the weather obviously plays a major role year after year on the quality of the blue agave plants.
Once the best plants are selected, workers cut off the outer layers to reveal the pina, the pineapple-like heart of the plant, roasting it, with a clay oven -- the most traditional and, say purists, the best way to heighten flavor.
STRINGENT REGULATIONS
Just as true champagne can only be made in Champagne, France, true tequila can only be produced in the Tequila region of Mexico and must meet stringent government regulations. It is made in two general categories:
• Tequila 100 percent Agave: Must be made only with the juice of the blue agave plant and must be bottled at the distillery in Mexico. It may be Blanco, Reposado, or Anejo.
• Tequila: Must be made with at least 51 percent blue agave juices. It may be exported in bulk to be bottled in other countries following the NOM standard. It may be Blanco, Gold, Reposado, or Anejo.
NOM, the official Mexican product safety requirements, defines four types of tequila:
• Blanco, or Silver: The traditional tequila. Clear, transparent, fresh from the still. Must be bottled immediately after distillation process. Traditionally served in a two-ounce glass called a ``caballito.''
• Oro, or Gold: Modified by adding colorings and flavorings, caramel the most common. Widely preferred for frozen Margaritas.
• Reposado, or Rested: Kept in white oak casks or vats called ''pipones'' for two to 11 months. Much mellower than blanco or oro, pale in color, gentle bouquet.
• Anejo, or Aged: Matured in white oak casks for a year or more. Maximum capacity of the casks should not exceed 159 gallons. Amber color, oak notes.
• Reserva: Not technically a category, but recognized as an Anejo aged in oak up to eight years.
The aforementioned Paul Pacult was the leadoff speaker at a recent tequila workshop in Manhattan for beverage journalists and industry insiders. He, mixologist/author Dale DeGroff, spirits experts Steve Owen and Doug Frost and beverage historian Dave Wondrich led the group through a tasting of the full range of tequilas as well as sampling several drinks created by DeGroff (``The Craft of the Cocktail'').
The tastings covered a trio of 100 percent blue agave tequilas, from young to aged, and can be used as a basic yet high-quality range of tequilas for an at-home tasting party.