Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit to Host International Gastronomy Seminar Xaman Ek - PV Guide
go to original September 6, 2012

This year, we'll be holding the 4th edition of the Excelencias International Gastronomy Seminar Riviera Nayarit – Puerto Vallarta, with a program that features the very best industry speakers from Mexico and around the world.

This will be a two-day event filled with lectures, tasting sessions and demonstrations to bring together gastronomy, the latest technologies, trends and tourism. The event will provide networking opportunities for sponsors, keynote speakers and attendees.

The venue will be the Marival Group Hotels: Hotel Marival Resort and Hotel Marival Residences, on October 1-2, 2012.

Under the motto "Tourism and Gastronomy: Key Resources for a Destination," we are reaching out to those professionals from the hotel, gastronomic and tourism service industries. With an update on the latest trends, attendees will focus on the economic importance of tourism and gastronomy in the promotion of travel destinations from leaders in the domestic and international industry.

We are honored to introduce two of the greatest sommeliers – one hails from the Old World, Javier Gila, and the other from the New World, Yamir Pelegrino. In addition, we will have some of the most influential and world-renowned chefs such as Spain's Pablo San Roman, who comes from the celebrated D.O. Restaurant in Mexico City, and Luis Alfonso Pérez "lucio," from Havana, Cuba.

We also want to underscore some new exclusive novelties:

• Water Tasting, by the Blue Orchid Company, will demonstrate the latest in waters from Canada in an incredible tasting presented by our sommeliers.
• Blind Wine Tasting
• Mixology Course featuring major mixologists from around the country who will be sharing the  most creative cocktails for a jury of distinguished guests.

Another highlight will be the Red Carpet Pairing Dinner which will be held for the first time at this seminar on October 1 at the Marival Residences Hotel. It will bring together the knowledge of our two guest sommeliers, the craftsmanship of Chef Lucio and a bevy of special guests.

The seminar registration fee is 2,500 per person and 2,000 pesos each for groups of three or more people, as well as for students. The pairing dinner will be charged independently at a price of 950 pesos, and 700 pesos for those who sign up for the entire seminar.

The International Gastronomy Seminar is a new and exclusive event that will marry the gastronomy industry and the business sector. The hope is to further educate staff, spread the word about their endeavors and reach out to other clients.

The Seminar is supported by UNIVA Campus Puerto Vallarta and by the International Gastronomy School of Guadalajara.

International Gastronomy Seminar Official Program

Day one, Monday, October 1, 2012:

9.00 -  Opening Ceremony

9:45 – 11:45  New Technologies for the Good of Gastronomy and Tourism
Keynote Speaker: Efrain Mendicuti, Neurona Digital

11:45 – 12:00  Douwe Egbert Presentation

12:00 – 12:15  Coffee Break

12:00 – 2:00
• Promotion Means of a Travel Destination: Market Niches, New Channels and Outstanding Markets
• Importance of Gastronomy in Tourism Development
Keynote Speaker: Fernando Gonzalez Ortega, President of the Riviera Nayarit Hotel Trust

2:00 – 3:30  Lunch Break

3:30 – 5:00  Blue Orchid Water Tasting
Sommeliers: Yamir Pelegrino and Javier Gila

5:00 – 5:15  La Patrona Club de Polo Presentation

5:15 – 6:30  Wine Blind Tasting
Sommeliers: Javier Gila and Yamir Pelegrino

8:30  Exclusive Red Carpet Pairing Dinner - New World & Old World

Day Two, Tuesday, October 2, 2012

9:00 – 11:15  Importance of Events as Business Opportunities for Travel Destinations: Weddings, Conventions, Meetings & Celebrations - Logistics and Organization of Gastronomic Events
Keynote Speaker: Elias Sapien, Evole

11:15 – 11:30  Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:00  "Benefits of Healthy Gastronomy"
Keynote Speaker: Lic. Belen Vazquez Martinez, UNIVA Puerto Vallarta

12:00 – 12:15  UNIVA Presentation

12:15 – 2:00  Lecture on Gastronomy and Current Trends
• Traditions vs. Innovations
• Royal Cuisine vs. Commercial Cuisine
• The Use of Mexican Products in European Cooking
Keynote Speaker: Chef Pablo San Roman, D.O. Restaurant

2:00 – 3:30  Lunch Break

3:30 – 4:30  Tequila Tasting Session

4:30 – 6:30  Mixology Contest
Sommeliers: Yamir Pelegrino, Javier Gila and special jurors

Closing Ceremony
Delivery of Certificates

This program could be subjected to minor changes or time adjustments.

For Information and Registration, go to Seminario Gastronomico, or send an email to
consueloeliper@gmail.com or celizondo58@gmail.com.

Organized by Grupo Excelencias – Excelencias Consulting