5 Nayarit restaurants named among “The Great Restaurants of Mexico 2021”

• Two restaurants in the Riviera Nayarit—Carolina, at The St. Regis Punta Mita and El Delfín at the Garza Canela San Blas hotel—and Emiliano Comida y Vino in Tepic have confirmed their place in the Guía México Gastronómico; Tuna Blanca Punta de Mita and Loma 42 Tepic have also joined the list.

Five Nayarit restaurants shone at the gala presentation and awarding of plaques for the Guía México Gastronómico in the category of “The Great Restaurants of Mexico 2021,” presented by Culinaria Mexicana, S.Pellegrino, and Nespresso, published by Larousse Cocina, which has become a national and international benchmark in the industry.

Two restaurants from the Riviera Nayarit and one from the capital of the state of Nayarit secured their place for the sixth time: Carolina, at The St. Regis Punta Mita; El Delfín at the Garza Canela San Blas hotel; and Emiliano Comida y Vino in Tepic. Tuna Blanca Punta de Mita and Loma 42 Tepic were included for the first time.

Virtual Gala

Last Monday, February 22, Mexico’s gastronomic guild held a virtual gathering that was broadcast live on Culinaria Mexicana’s website and social networks, directed by Claudio Poblete.

“It’s a pleasure join you—from Tijuana to Mérida—in this wonderful gala; this is the sixth year of a dream that was born from two great brands that have always been committed to the hospitality industry,” said Poblete at the beginning of the transmission.

He commented that the Guía México Gastronómico is considered the most comprehensive of its kind in the country and was created to recognize the efforts and work of cooks and chefs, both traditional and professional, hence the importance of appearing in it. 

In order to be included, restaurants must comply with the following conditions: 1) Quality of service. 2) That the restaurant encourages the creation of gastronomic communities in the surrounding area. 3) Quality in the preparation of the food. 4) Clarity in the gastronomic concept and a vision of transcendence with respect to trends. 5) An experience of value in terms of price-quality ratio. 6) Ability to receive interns with a training plan for students. 7) Participate in community initiatives such as charitable causes, conferences, workshops, among others.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as a way of supporting the hospitality industry, the 120 Restaurants of Gastronomic Mexico in fact included 278, in addition to which special awards were granted to the best of the restaurant industry, those that prevailed “through thick and thin” in what has been called “one of the most challenging years for the sector.”

This is how “Best In-Home Experiences 2021” was born, a new category that awarded the establishments that devised the best strategies to bring the flavors and aromas of their kitchens into Mexican homes. Other categories were: “Eight-Handed Basket” and “Gastronomic Resilience,” in addition to the “Ricardo Muñoz Zurita Medal/Mexican Cuisine 2020” and awards for “Chefs of the Year” and “Restaurants of the Year.”

Through “thick and thin”

Chef Betty Vázquez, Gastronomy Ambassador for the Riviera Nayarit, expressed her excitement after learning that for the sixth time her El Delfín restaurant was included in this compendium: “It’s an honor to be part of this gala. A thousand congratulations to everyone for the effort; despite everything we have gone through this year, we’re still fighting. Thanks to all the sponsors and to every member of the team,” she said. 

Chefs Marco Valdivia, from Emiliano Cocina y Vino; Miguel Soltero from Carolina at St. Regis Punta Mita, as well as Jesús Vázquez from Loma 42 Tepic and Thierry Blouet from Tuna Blanca Punta de Mita, who for the first time received the plaque for their restaurants, also said they were very happy and proud of their achievements.

“The Riviera Nayarit is a tourist destination that considers gastronomy one of the cornerstones of its marketing, so it’s very important that its restaurants are recognized for their quality, tradition, and innovations. I congratulate the chefs who run these restaurants for the prestige they bring to the cuisine of Nayarit,” said Marc Murphy, managing director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

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The Guía México Gastronómico has a print run of 65,000 copies, is free of charge, and is distributed in hotels, VIP lounges at the airports of Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, and culinary schools, as well as at culinary events and congresses.

We’re ready!

The Riviera Nayarit is a safe destination. Hotels, restaurants, and tourist establishments are following all the health protocols established by the Federal Government’s Ministry of Health and operating at the allowed capacities. Access to the beaches is limited. Be a responsible tourist: wear your mask and keep your distance.

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The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) work tirelessly to jointly promote the region with the support of the Government of the State of Nayarit through its Tourism Promotion Trust (Fiprotur).