Yo ❤️ Mexico is making a grand return after taking a hiatus last year.
Instead of taking place over the course of one weekend, Mexico hotel Rosewood Mayakoba’s exclusive culinary festival is back as a four-month series of events. Opening weekend will feature chef Josh Gil of Mirame in Beverly Hills, chef Claudette Zepeda of Alila Marea in San Diego, bar director Alba Huerta and Chicago chef Diana Davila.
The second annual festival is an expanded celebration of the rich diversity of Mexican cuisine, wine and culture, meaning your escape to the Riviera Maya will be about more than just lounging on pristine beaches.
“Mexico is steeped in rich history and culture, and offers a blend of indigenous and immigrant influences,” Rosewood Mayakoba Culinary Director Juan Pablo Loza said. “We are always aiming to highlight this diversity at our restaurants and look forward to showcasing the ingredients and techniques that make this country so special, along with guest chef perspectives, throughout Yo ❤️ Mexico.”
The culinary event kicks off on Jan. 14 with The Festival of Yucatan Cocktails at the hotel’s Zapote Bar with Huerta, which will be followed by a collaborative multi-course garden party at La Ceiba Garden & Kitchen. Under twinkling lights, guests will enjoy an intimate dinner from Gil, Davila and Zepeda , who will source their ingredients from the on-site garden and prepare dishes over an open flame in line with Mayan tradition.
Opening weekend continues on Saturday at Aquí Me Quedo with the chefs, Loza and the Rosewood Mayakoba team. During A Culinary Journey Through Mexico, quests will be treated to live music, lounge seating with beach views and street food-inspired specialty dishes.
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Yo ❤️ Mexico will continue through the spring, and will include a spotlight on Mexican wines from Valle de Guadalupe in February. In celebrating the region’s history as the Americas’ oldest wine producer, the festival will welcome Tru Miller of Adobe Guadalupe, Amado Garza of Vinas de Garza and Drew Deckman, the namesake, chef and owner of one of Baja California’s most acclaimed restaurants. Visitors in April can look forward to Amigos del Mar, which will bring in guest chefs from across the country in support of sustainable seafood practices.
More guests, programming and partnerships are to be announced.
The exquisite culinary event is a one-of-a-kind experience, and it’s all for a good cause. A portion of proceeds from Yo ❤️ Mexico events will benefit Centro Educativo K’iin Beh, a local bilingual school financed by the Rosewood Mayakoba community.
Learn more about Rosewood Mayakoba’s COVID-19 protocol.
Photography by: Courtesy Rosewood Mayakoba
