Renowned Chef Juan Mari Arzak Named Gastronomic Ambassador of Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Grand Velas Riviera Maya honored Juan Mari Arzak, one of the world’s most renowned chefs and a star of Spanish gastronomy with a special dinner in the resort’s Cocina de Autor and named him Gastronomic Ambassador of this exclusive resort of the Velas Group.
 

 
Considered as one of the most important culinary figures in Basque cuisine for more than three decades, Juan Mari Arzak was recognized by chefs Bruno Oteiza and Mikel Alonso, his most successful disciples and dear friends, with an unrivaled dinner that was offered in his honor along with special guests.
 
The owner of Arzak restaurant, winner of the most awards possible on an international level such as three Michelin stars, took advantage of his stay in the Mexican Caribbean to present a conference about the highlights of his innovative and revolutionary culinary art.
 
In marking the event, the Managing Director of Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Fernando Garcia Rossette, recognized the extraordinary career of Juan Mari Arzak and named him Gastronomic Ambassador.
 
Two renowned Spanish chefs, Bruno Oteiza and Mikel Alonso are creators of the singular menu of Cocina de Autor restaurant with dishes that celebrate the delicacies of the Basque country incorporating the characteristic flavors of Mayan cuisine. Oteiza and Alonso form part of the famous Restaurante Tezka in Mexico City and have their own gourmet restaurant, Biko, considered among the 50 best in the world.
 
With an elaborate combination of dishes of Basque and Mexican cuisine, fine wines and modern décor, Cocina de Autor has become one of the most important culinary destinations of the Riviera Maya and of Mexico. In 2011 this space of contemporary and evolutionary cuisine which utilizes techniques of molecular cuisine was listed among the eight best restaurants in Mexico in the Gourmand List of a prestigious financial institution.
 

 
Grand Velas Riviera Maya, recently awarded AAA five diamonds for the second time, offers unmatched gourmet options and service excellence that has contributed to being named in the select list of the 10 coolest all inclusive resorts by Forbes.com.