Feast Your Senses: A Culinary Journey at the 2023 Nayarit Vallarta Gastronomica

The 15th annual edition of Nayarit Vallarta Gastronómica, one of the most prestigious culinary festivals in Puerto Vallarta, will bring together the most innovative chefs, sommeliers and mixologists from Mexico, Latin America and Europe, as well as Michelin stars, 50 Best and Top Chef.

Under the motto “The Cooking Factor: Cooking a New Era” the event will be held from September 29 to October 4 at the Krystal Grand Nuevo Vallarta Hotel.

The program will include 52 celebrity chefs, gourmet dinners in idyllic locations throughout the Bay, wine seminars and gourmet workshops for industry professionals and the general public. 

The guest of honor will be Chef Piedad “Pía” Salazar of Nuema Restaurant.  She has been named World's Best Pastry Chef 2023 by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.  Pía Salazar will be joined by Alejandro Chamorro of Nuema (ranked 24th in the 50 Best of Latin America) for a live cooking demonstration on Tuesday, October 3, at the Convention Center of the host hotel.

The Michelin-starred chefs who have been confirmed for the Nayarit Vallarta Gastronómica 2023 are as follows: Begoña Rodrigo of La Salita (two Repsol Suns), the first Mexican to receive a Michelin Star; Carlos Gaytan of Ha' Restaurant; Pepe Solla, owner and chef of the family-run Solla Restaurant; and one of the great exponents of Andalusian haute cuisine, Kiko Garcia of Choco Restaurant (two Repsol Suns.)

Also taking part will be members of The World's 50 Best guide, such as David Castro and Maribel Aldaco of Fauna Restaurant (number 16 in the 50 best restaurants in Latin America), and “celebrity chefs” Betty Vázquez (Mexico), Inés Páez Nin “Chef Tita” (Dominican Republic) and Jorge Jiménez (Colombia.)

The talent of Puerto Vallarta and the region will include some of the best chefs in the Bay, including Blanca Hernandez of Sheraton Buganvilias Resort, Laura Romero of La Fina, Memo Wulff of Barrio Bistro, Gaetano Simonetti of La Tosca, Mauricio Leal of icú, Joel Ornelas of Tintoque, Mario Borja of Cha, Miguel Valenzuela of Florios, and more.

Workshops and premium tastings of wines, distillates, signature cocktails and creative mixology by prominent bartenders and specialists are among the complementary activities that will take place during this nine-day celebration.

They include: barlady Samanta Frey; maestro raicillero Jorge Carbajal of Hacienda El Divisadero (gold medalist at the Top World Spirit Awards 2021); Gabriel Tiznado, ambassador of Mezcal Sentir; Memo Trejo, owner of Barra 322; Aarón Méndez, mixologist of La Tienda Grande; and Biorel Villaseñor, owner of Café Ina.

Over the course of 14 annual editions, Nayarit Vallarta Gastronómica has hosted a total of 62 Michelin-starred chefs, 293 speakers and 67,950 attendees.  The 2023 edition is on track for a record attendance.

In this year's edition, Spain will be the guest country.  The Mexican states of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Querétaro and Guanajuato will be represented by chef ambassadors of their cuisine. 

Visit the official website of Nayarit Vallarta Gastronómica for the complete program of activities (in Spanish.)