Lamb chops with bacon powder. The chef at Frida took traditional Mexican flavors and mixed the into flavorful art. The desserts were a bit disappointing, but Glenn liked the tiramisu. We want a proper lunch, with real china, silverware and chilled wine glasses for our New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (no plastic ware). Nah, lets venture out. Sotolone is a lactone that has different aromas based on how high a temperature its heated at. An enticing selection of fresh French dishes and wine, served in an opulent atmosphere that transports you back to the elegance of Paris in the 1940s. Every time we went to eat, we'd say to ourselves, "Now we're just here to taste!" At home and away, she enjoys hearing peoples stories and feels at home just about anywhere. We had no incidents of contamination even though we had several food allergies, including one guest that couldnt eat anything with gluten. Home / Food + Drinks / Grand Velas Riviera Maya Restaurants: aka the 9-step Foodie Un-diet. Cocktails at Grand Velas Riviera Maya are as tasty as they are beautiful (Photo by Marcea Cazel). The waiters and staff will describe in detail every ingredient that is in a dish if you ask and if theyre not sure they will clarify with the chef. Because if you were to ask us which is our personal favorite restaurant of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants, wed say Piaf. Pool-side Dining During the busy seasons, they set up a poolside buffet with hot dogs and hamburgers. It may be hard tearing yourself away from the resort, but the cenotes are really special and something you must experience. And Cocina has won an AAA Five-Diamond rating the only restaurant in an all-inclusive ever to receive an AAA Five-Diamond award. Learn more about Nancy and the rest of CTC's contributors. . The luxury Grand Velas resort in Mexico gets top reviews for its huge suites and dining. The food was good, but didnt wow us, and the menu was tough for the picky eaters. Named after celebrated Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Frida is a beautiful restaurant with live music and features creative Mexican cuisine. There is also a buffet on the beach with hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, pizza, kebabs and more; plus you can order food and drinks to the chairs, including sushi, quesadillas, and an assortment of ceviche. Named in honor of the famous singer Edith Piaf and beautifully decorated in tones of red and black, with stunning chandeliers and sparkling curtains made of Swarovski crystals, this space transports you to the Parisian luxury of the 1940s. Learn more about Nancy and the rest of CTC's contributors. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. More. Even chocolate mushrooms. Bistro serves French brasserie favorites in a relaxed oceanfront setting, while all-day eateryChak serves an organic selectionwith desserts, wines and coffees,surrounded by the exotic mangroves and tropical jungle. Thanks so much. A new experience at Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the tequila/mezcal tasting. Thats it! Our resort restaurants offer a symphony of flavors for breakfast, lunch and dinner, showcasing incredible international cuisine. Taking a break for a cup of, What could be better than blowing bubbles on a sun, Happy Saturday! We loved visiting the Grand Velas! Do you adore dreamy travel? A few of the bars include the swim up bar at the Ambassador pool, the Karaoke and Piano bars in the Ambassador (karaoke for kids until late night), the beautiful Koi bar in Zen (with a huge screen for watching games), and a beachfront bar. Some others really enjoyed the salad with brie, puff pastry and mushrooms although it was quite rich. But, silly us, we forgot about the drinks by the pool. Were in Mexico, about to have dinner at Cocina de Autor one ofeight Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants. Copyright 2022 Cvent Inc. All rights reserved. Exotic cocktails and an Asian-fusion ambiance are the specialties here. I ordered the stuffed Cornish hen stuffed and I found it very bland. They ended up killing each other and when they went to the afterworld, the gods made them into two different trees: the chenchn which has a poisonous, burning sap and the chak, which always grows next to the chenchn and whose sap offers an antidote to the poisonous brother tree. Grab a cold one & catch the game in high definition with surround sound. For dessert white chocolate cream with dried fruit, nuts & amaranth and passion fruit gelee. The Grand Class building is adults-only and has its own adults-only pool. When not traveling, Marcea enjoys reading, watching old movies and spending time with her family. The serene Zen suites (in the jungle), for couples and families, are about half the cost of the Grand Class suites. You read that correctly one of Grand Velas Riviera Mayas chiefs is a guacamole expert. Please follow local guidelines to stay safe. Breakfast at Azul is buffet style but it doesnt feel like a traditional buffet. Waiters bring you your coffee, tea and juice and the extensive buffet had traditional options such as pancakes, scrambled eggs and toast. For dessert, we ordered the Grand Marnier and chocolate souffles. Grand Velas resorts are reinventing themselves for connoisseur guests looking for an authentic gastronomy experience, taking food and beverage to a whole new luxuriouslevel. Award-winning travel writers, we share our expert advice and nifty travel tips on this top-ranking blog. With her travel blog My Cornacopia, Marcea gets the chance to visit mermaids, swim in sinkholes and enjoy the natural beauty of the Sunshine State. I had never experienced molecular gastronomy, so just going off the size of the plates I honestly wasnt expecting much. Who hasn't, A whale of fun this piece of driftwood followe, Pass the celery salt, hold the ketchup. Most of these sorely disappointed when it came to the food. Truly small bites of food exploding in flavor, Cocina de Autor is AAA 5 Diamond rated and was the first restaurant in the Riviera Maya to receive this award. Let the exotic jungle ambiance take you away in this open-air restaurant. White Chocolate Cream with Dried Fruit (Photo Marcea Cazel). Honey and olive oil ice cream (Photo Marcea Cazel). The staff works hard at all-inclusives and doesnt always get tipped so I would recommend leaving at least a 10% gratuity on your checks, All the restaurants are very dark so bring your phone for the flashlight and dont think you are going to get any good food shots (as you can tell by this posts lack of food pictures), The butter is always cold or really, frozen, The minibar in the room is also included, however you only get one bottle of tequila, red wine and white wine per stay. And they certainly cant compare with what you get at the Grand Velas, where all-inclusive dining really has been elevated to a culinary art. Search destinations, manage bids, determine availability, and quickly build eRFPs. And as fans of beautiful food, we do that happily. Unlike many all-inclusive resorts in the area where you pay different levels based on how much is included in your plan, Grand Velas Riviera Maya is a true all-inclusive resort. If you are adventurous though, Cocina de Autor will not disappoint. each restaurant at Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers the freshest avant garde gourmet program in the region, taking guests on a gastronomic voyage to all corners of the earth without leaving the comfort of the resort. The Grand Class is a short walk away, interconnected to the Ambassador building, but is reserved for adults over 16 (as are its restaurants). Complete solution for virtual, in-person, and hybrid event success, Connecting planners to venues and vendors for remarkable events, Solutions for group and transient business, Engaging, interactive virtual experiences, Manage a preferred hotel program like a pro. Data-driven insights and robust resources to help you grow. This site has affiliate links. But theres a whole list of more than 20 complimentary wines from around the world, including New Zealand, Washington, France, Italy and Argentina. The stuffing just tasted like breading and the grains it rested upon seemed too al dente for my taste. Love this piece! Too much lime juice will alter the taste of the guacamole and traditional Mexican guac doesnt have any seasoning other than salt. The mousse had an undercurrent of spice and the fritter was a crispy sliver of pastry dough, more like a cracker, and overall the dessert didnt satisfy. Piaf The prettiest and also one of the tastiest option we tried was French-inspired Piaf. While out at the pools, youll have a poolside concierge who takes your order. Room service? I started off with the french onion soup, which was traditional and delicious. Besides, our attention was focused on eating!). I am one of those people who feels the 'pressure' of tasting everything that's on display in the buffet, so the repercussions were terrible. Customer resources for suppliers and venues. It was pristine and bustling. Wind up your stay with a multi-course tasting experience at Cocina. Enjoying a sunrise at Grand Valas Riviera Maya (Photo Marcea Cazel). Served in a thick wooden bowl, it was the perfect ending to a artistic, satisfying experience. A day of traveling had made me extremely hungry but I wasnt prepared for how delicious and rich the meal at Frida would be. I started with the crujiente de pescado, which was sort of like a spring roll with minced fish inside, accompanied by a spicy sauce, which was tasty. It was a work of art when brought out to the table and paired wonderfully with a glass of red wine. Plan on dinner service taking two hours EVERY TIME. After our meal the chef, Nahm Velasco, of Mexico City, was kind enough to come out and speak with us about his motivations and then took us in the kitchen area. Bottom Line The food at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya aspires to greatness and achieves goodness. Chef Nahm Velasco of Cocina de Autor (Photo Marcea Cazel). Excluding their high end wines and several other options such as excursions and the spa, everything is included in your initial cost. Cocina de Autor is a restaurant for people who enjoy being experimental, since your entire meal is based on someone elses choices. Enjoy a fusion of natural, healthy international cuisine for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Piaf has also been awarded 4 diamonds by AAA. Even our room mini bars (which was also included in the all-inclusive rate) only offered traditional basic beers. With its curtains of Swarovski crystals, rich ruby-red color scheme and candle-lit tables, its trs romantic feels cozier than Cocina. We believe that you shouldnt just take a vacation, you should experience it. Everything is all-inclusive except if you want to order a special bottle of wine house wine by the glass in included. You will NOT spend the week eating Mexican food. It was so creamy and delicious! However, you may have already picked up on the fact that our family enjoys good, local food and it is an important part of our travel experience. One the second night, I tried the spinach and ricotta tortellini with porcini mushrooms and it was delicious. During my three night stay, I was lucky to have been able to try four of the eight restaurants that Grand Velas Riviera Maya has to offer. A Chicago, A couple more the wider view with swirls of bla, Sunset colors on the Oregon coast showed up the fi, Sassy in Seaside. Wed conceived of this as an 8-step un-diet to match the eight restaurants. The food is finenothing you will rave about but it gets the job done. Each family-friendly restaurant offers a kids menu, which has your typical options of pizza, pasta, chicken fingers, mac n cheese (usually), filet mignon (tiny), and grilled chicken. We3Travel.com will use the information you provide on this form to send you newsletters. And we can tell this meal is going to be different. Relive the best of Cvent CONNECT 2022's sessions. Located south of Cancun on the Caribbean Sea, Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort takes pride in its culinary variety. For my main course, I selected the short rib in marrow sauce, with cotija cheese salad, mashed potatoes and black corn. You know, those colorful concoctions you sip while telling yourself the strawberry margarita is really just afruit serving for the day. This made the ones in our group who had food allergies feel much more secure. When I was finished with my beach stroll I went inside Azul to get some breakfast. The only potential problem with staying here is that youll be following a 9-step foodie un-diet plan :-). Just sit back, enjoy your evening, and let the waiters serve you as they explain all the little delicacies they bring. For dessert we were presented with sotolone with sherry, curry and roasted coconut. Unfortunately, it is also the only family-friendly option at the Grand Velas that doesnt offer a kids menu, so that ruled it out with our crowd. I love it when you have fantastic food at an all inclusive resort. Who would think to take black bean soup, put it in a drinking glass and combine it with cheese foam? Nancy Zaffaro loves to travel and explore, write and take photos. Ive only stayed at a few all-inclusive resorts before Beaches in Jamaica, the Moon Palace in Cancun, and a few cruises. Except for the buffet restaurants, if you wait until you get here you will end up eating at 9:30 pm or later. I was surprised on how small the servings were. In all fairnesses, all-inclusive resorts arent usually known for their food. Also, we use affiliate links. Not so good, then they have to sit there waiting for the adults. All the dishes were beautifully presented but tiny four shrimp for me, two tiny pieces of salmon for Hannah. Theres even a guacologist on staff. (Pssst! For the main course, I had the fettucini al pesto with green beans and potatoes. The mixologist, Brendon, provided a tasting that showcased the difference between tequila and mezcal while educating us on the history of Mexican liquor. Between them, theyve traveled to all 7 continents. After all, its the flagship restaurant. W. ith eight restaurants onsite including four AAA Diamond Award winners a resident mixologist,and in-suite gourmet service available 24 hours a day, gastronomy at Grand Velas Riviera Maya is a foodies dream come true. Flavorful bites of molecular cuisine are served at Cocina de Autor (Photo Marcea Cazel), Quail at Cocina de Autor (Photo Marcea Cazel). Even though high end wines are not part of the all-inclusive package, that doesnt limit you to only two or three wine choices as youd see elsewhere. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Cliff Guest House: Stay in an Ancient Calafia, Valle de Guadalupe: Mexicos Napa Valley, 5 Budget-friendly Outdoor Wedding Destinations, Feed Your Travelers Spirit: Great International Recipes, Patagonia: Beautiful Glaciers and Turquoise Lakes, Relaxing Stay at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Mexcio | My Cornacopia. A painting of Frida Kahlo graces the walls of her namesake restaurant (Photo by Marcea Cazel). Wow-this gives new meaning to an all inclusive, and looks a lot easier than Weight Watchers : ) I love pretty food and Grand Velas is a feast for all the senses. We gaze around the chic restaurant with its hanging white teardrop lamps, then take our seats at a green glass-topped table, decorated with a single anthurium. So if youre seeking the best all-inclusive resort in Riviera Maya at least the one with the best food bookmark this resort. There is a Mexican legend that tells of two brothers who were fighting over a lover. Experience a fusion of cuisines that showcase the flavors of Asia. Foie gras, escargot, lamb chops, duck confit and fluffy pillowy souffls are on the menu at French-themed Piaf. Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC Best Travel Blog award winners, Janice and George are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Among our extended family of fourteen, we have picky eaters, kids with food allergies, and gourmands all rolled up into one group. All rights reserved. When I did, I was really surprised. We3Travel is a registered trademark of Red Giant Media LLC. This priority was multiplied on our recent multi-generational trip to the Riviera Maya in Mexico. My sister-in-law loved her appetizer of eggplant parmesan, but the puff pastry with asparagus starter seemed to disappoint some others. Everything at Chaka was flavorful with spices and textures. Learn about thefeatures andbenefits they offer for planners, as well as the latest news on renovations, openings, and trends. The menu at Cocina de Autor changes on a regular basis and is created by the chef based on what is in season at the time. But the question still remained, would the dining at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya be good, or just good for an all-inclusive? Our final dish and second dessert was ice cream made with olive oil and honey. Watch on-demand now. I was so relaxed from my dinner at Frida the previous night, I slept well and woke up early, which is a rare thing for me to do. Seriously. . The short rib was very rich and tender and the cheese salad, which possibly also has some tomatillo, was delicious. For breakfast, youll find an omelette station, waffles or pancakes, bacon or sausage, and some other brunch/lunch options. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting [emailprotected] By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms. Poolside drink delivery (Photo by Marcea Cazel). When it comes to dinner on other nights, you now have a choice of these other waiter-served restaurants: Sen Lin for Asian, Frida for Mexican food, Lucca for Italian and the Bistro for French. See these 15 delicious Mexican margarita recipes you can make at home.). Discover cuisine as vibrant and colorful as the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, with live music and a tribute to Mexican classics reinterpreted for modern times. Still the place closest to my he, Great ending to a great trip, dinner at Sorella in, But my favorite place to be in Newport are the jet, Yaquina Bay Park. The answer is a bit of bothbut let me break it down by restaurant with Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurant reviews so you know what to expect and how to plan your stay. Others really enjoyed the Cipriani-style pasta and the spaghetti alla chitarra. All the servings were so artfully arranged I didnt want to eat them. All liquor is also included and their mixed drinks didnt taste watered down or weakened. If your kids cant handle that, either go to Azul (with a dinner buffet) or run the kids over to the kids club while you finish eating. Savor refreshing tropical cocktails with the luxury of swim-up or dry seating. This means a collared shirt and closed shoes for men and dressy slacks or skirts for women. Traditional music enhances your culinary journey at this popular & top-rated restaurant. Its menu features international specialties, andthe buffet breakfast display comparable to the finest country club Sunday brunch is a particular highlight. For dessert, I ordered the chocolate duo. No tank tops, flip flops or shorts are permitted during dinner hours. But the resort also appeals to families (the Ambassador Class building with 195 suites is totally family-friendly). Based on a Mayan theme, there were plenty of meats and seafood choices. Online Survey Pitfalls: Ambiguous Survey Question Writing, Online Survey Pitfalls: Double Barreled Survey Questions, Data Types: Using Nominal Data in Survey Research, Deliver a seamless event experience with Attendee Hub, Start growing group and transient business, https://www.cvent.com/microsites/amr-collection?ref=N7NP3S5M2X4&aCode=N7NP3S5M2, More articles from Featured Venues & Destinations, Do Not Sell My Personal Information (CCPA Required). If you ask for a glass of white, youll typically be offered a Pinot Grigio or a Chardonnay. As an beer lover, I wanted to taste some local beers from Mexico. The food photos are courtesy of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants. An avid traveler since the age of 1 (her first trip was to Jamaica), Marcea Cazel enjoys traveling around Florida finding unique places many people havent discovered. They start you off with a refreshing cocktail spritzer with cucumber and lime, followed by an amuse bouche from the chef. I wasnt a huge fan of the foie gras (it was my first time tasting it and it was gamey to me) but all of the dishes were special.
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