Show 248, November 18, 2017: Chef Thierry Blouet, Café des Artistes, Co-Founder – Festival Gourmet International

“LOVE AND PASSION – THE SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE GOOD!”

Thierry Blouet2017 marks twenty-three years of the Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta featuring the talent and creations of over 30 chefs. In 1995 Chefs Thierry Blouet and Heinz Reize (joined later by Chef Roland Menetrey) came up with the idea of ​​promoting and raising up the culinary level of this region to competitive international standards, interacting with new methods and creativity of highly qualified Chefs from around the globe. Over 500,000 gourmet food fans have attended over the years along with close to 600 participating celebrity chefs.

The goal of this 10-day, great party is to strengthen the gastronomy of Puerto Vallarta as an exemplary showcase and to promote the destination through the excellence of the good table.

It’s a full schedule of culinary activities including chef tastings events, culinary safaris, seasonal tastings and themed nights offering distinct dishes from cities from around the world. Distinguished restaurants from Puerto Vallarta’s different zones will be participating.

In addition to all the special events every night of the 9-day Festival is the Gourmet Dine Around.” Nightly each of the 27 participating Puerto Vallarta restaurants and hotels serve a special menu offering creations and delicacies crafted by their respective guest chef.

Chef Thierry joins us.

Show 248, November 18, 2017: Chef Nacho Cadena, La Leche, Puerto Vallarta

Nacho CadenaChef Nacho Cadena is the proprietor of Puerto Vallarta’s celebrated La Leche restaurant and also a goodwill ambassador for Puerto Vallarta.

“We like to reinterpret the culinary tradition irreverently, making the most of local products to reinvent the menu every day, making La Leche a fun, delicious and extraordinary space to live together.”

“Each one of us has a certain essence that makes this kitchen something special and unique. Our bases: surprise, contrast, difference, fun and exquisiteness.”

“With a unique, minimalist and forceful style, the interior design proposes a monochromatic atmosphere where each diner awakens their senses by interacting with stimulating plates in a space conceived as a canvas, which will be intervened by the cuisine of Chef Alfonso Cadena (Chef Nacho’s son) and his dear visitors.”

Chef Nacho Cadena, the patriarch of Le Leche, is our guest.

 

Show 248, November 18, 2017: Lindsay Prime, Founder, Vallarta Food Tours

Lindsay PrimeOne of the best ways for a first-time visitor to understand and appreciate the cuisine of a city is to explore the area on a local food tour. The premier operator in Puerto Vallarta is Vallarta Food Tours.

Vallarta Food Tour’s mission is to help visitors and residents alike enjoy the best that Vallarta has to offer by highlighting off-the-beaten path, “non-touristy” food and drinks along with a local insight of its treasures. Our love of Puerto Vallarta and Mexican culture inspired us to create the city’s finest culinary tour. We sampled the perfect mole, sipped on succulent tuba water and tasted fresh coconut from arguably the best coconut vendor in the country.”

Vallarta Food Tours’ Co-Founder Lindsay Prime is our tour guide.

“My husband (Paul Mayer) and I started the food tour after realizing a need for connecting people to some of the local, off the beaten path eateries in Vallarta. Mexico has some of the best food in the world. Such great history and culture associated with it. Many people come and want to try local food, but are unsure where to start. We are able to showcase in about 3 hours a great feel for Puerto Vallarta through walking the streets, showcasing some interesting tidbits, and eating amazing local food. Our guests leave feeling much more connected to Vallarta, ready to continue exploring on their own. It’s very rewarding for us, as we are not only having fun showing off our town, our delicious food, and creating more fans, we are supporting small local businesses.”

 

Show 246, November 4, 2017: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris

Now an enticing preview of Saturday’s mouthwatering show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case, upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

Earlier in the year we introduced you to the pride of southern BBQ, the Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta. The youthful owner/ chefs are Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee. They are featured in the “Smokehouse Stories and Recipes” section of Matt Moore’s The South’s Best Butts – Pitmaster Secrets for Southern Barbecue Perfection.

Executive Producer Andy Harris recently made the pilgrimage to Heirloom. It was as good as Matt promised and an experience. Chefs Cody and Jiyeon are our guests.

Executive Producer Andy Harris was in Roswell, GA (an incorporated City of 95,000 in the greater Atlanta area with a lot of living Civil War history) in early October with fellow members of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA.) In this show we continue our coverage of the best of Roswell with a chat with Chris Nelson, the new Executive Director of the 120,000 member Chattahoochee Nature Center.

The much-honored Ranch Restaurant in Anaheim was the recipient this year of The Golden Foodie Award for the Best Entrée in Orange County. That is Executive Chef Michael Rossi’s signature Cowboy Ribeye. That’s a 58oz. bone-in rib chop with Grafton Farms white cheddar scalloped potatoes and Sauce Bordelaise. Oh yea…We’ll get Chef Michael out of the kitchen to chat about the extraordinary project that is The Ranch Restaurant.

Salt & Straw Ice Cream is a family-run, chef-driven ice cream company with kitchens and scoop shops in Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles that partners with local artisans, producers and farmers to serve unusually creative and absolutely delicious ice cream. Co-Founder and Head Ice Cream Maker Tyler Malek is our guest.

2017 marks twenty-three years of the Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta. In 1995 Chefs Thierry Blouet and Heinz Reize came up with the idea of ​​promoting and elevating the culinary level of this region to competitive international standards, interacting with new methods and the creativity of highly qualified Chefs from around the globe. The goal of this 10-day, great party was to strengthen the gastronomy of Puerto Vallarta as an exemplary showcase and to promote the destination through the excellence of the good table. Chef Thierry Blouet joins us from his sister Café des Artistes in Los Cabos.

Raise a Glass For Wine Country Benefit

Long Beach’s Chianina Steakhouse and Michael’s On Naples Ristorante are joining together the evening of Wednesday, November 15th to raise money to support the Sonoma County Resilience Fund and The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund. The only expense deduction from the $175 ticket price is for the servers’ gratuity. All other monies are being donated so you know your dollars are really going to support the relief effort! For Tickets to this event, you can order here or also from here.

Bocuse d’Or Team USA Update

Team USA wins Hold at the 2017 Bocuse D'orEarlier in the year in Lyon, France Team USA led by Chef Mathew Peters earned the Gold statue in the prestigious, biannual Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition. It was a proud first for USA in the long history of the Bocuse d’Or.

In Las Vegas on Thursday, November 9th at The Palazzo Ballroom at the Palazzo & Venetian Resorts in Las Vegas 3 chefs will compete for the right to represent Team USA 2019 in Lyon. It’s an all-day event and spectator tickets are available. The day before in Las Vegas is the 2017 Ment’or Young Chef & Commis Competitions. Also a fun spectator event.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Show 246, November 4, 2017: Chef Thierry Blouet, Café des Artistes, Festival Gourmet International, Puerto Vallarta

“LOVE AND PASSION – THE SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE GOOD!”

Thierry Blouet2017 marks twenty-three years of the Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta featuring the talent and creations of over 30 chefs. In 1995 Chefs Thierry Blouet and Heinz Reize came up with the idea of ​​promoting and raising up the culinary level of this region to competitive international standards, interacting with new methods and creativity of highly qualified Chefs from around the globe. Over 500,000 gourmet food fans have attended over the years along with close to 600 participating celebrity chefs.

The goal of this 10-day, great party was to strengthen the gastronomy of Puerto Vallarta as an exemplary showcase and to promote the destination through the excellence of the good table.

It’s a full schedule of culinary activities including chef tastings events, culinary safaris, seasonal tastings and themed nights offering distinct dishes from cities from around the world. Distinguished restaurants from Puerto Vallarta’s different zones will be participating.

In addition to all the special events every night of the 10-day Festival is the Gourmet Dine Around.” Each night each of the 27 participating Puerto Vallarta restaurants and hotels serve a special menu offering creations and delicacies crafted by the respective guest chef.

“The SoCal Restaurant Show” will be broadcasting live from Puerto Vallarta’s Festival Gourmet International on Saturday morning, November 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PT.

Chef Thierry Blouet joins us from his flagship Café des Artistes at the JW Marriott Los Cabos.

November 4: Heirloom Market BBQ, Chattahoochee Nature Center, Michael Rossi, Salt & Straw, Thierry Blouet

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chefs Cody Taylor & Jiyeon Lee, Heirloom Market BBQ, Atlanta
Segment Three: Chris Nelson, Executive Director, Chattahooche Nature Center, Roswell, GA
Segment Four: Executive Chef Michael Rossi, The Ranch Restaurant
Segment Five: Tyler Malek, Co-Founder & Head Ice Cream Maker, Salt & Straw Ice Cream
Segment Six: Chef Thierry Blouet, Café des Artistes, Festival Gourmet International, Puerto Vallarta

Now an enticing preview of this Saturday’s mouthwatering show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case, upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

Earlier in the year we introduced you to the pride of southern BBQ, the Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta. The youthful owner/ chefs are Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee. They are featured in the “Smokehouse Stories and Recipes” section of Matt Moore’s The South’s Best Butts – Pitmaster Secrets for Southern Barbecue Perfection.

Executive Producer Andy Harris recently made the pilgrimage to Heirloom. It was as good as Matt promised and an experience. Chefs Cody and Jiyeon are our guests.

Executive Producer Andy Harris was in Roswell, GA (an incorporated City of 95,000 in the greater Atlanta area with a lot of living Civil War history) in early October with fellow members of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA.) In this show we continue our coverage of the best of Roswell with a chat with Chris Nelson, the new Executive Director of the 120,000 member Chattahoochee Nature Center.

The much-honored Ranch Restaurant in Anaheim was the recipient this year of The Golden Foodie Award for the Best Entrée in Orange County. That is Executive Chef Michael Rossi’s signature Cowboy Ribeye. That’s a 58oz. bone-in rib chop with Grafton Farms white cheddar scalloped potatoes and Sauce Bordelaise. Oh yea…We’ll get Chef Michael out of the kitchen to chat about the extraordinary project that is The Ranch Restaurant.

Salt & Straw Ice Cream is a family-run, chef-driven ice cream company with kitchens and scoop shops in Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles that partners with local artisans, producers and farmers to serve unusually creative and absolutely delicious ice cream. Co-Founder and Head Ice Cream Maker Tyler Malek is our guest.

Each ice cream is handmade in small batches using only all-natural cream from local farms in each city. Flavors showcase the best local, organic and sustainable ingredients from Oregon and Southern California farmers and artisans as well as imported flavors from small hand-picked farms from around the world. The company started in Portland, OR serving eight flavors from an ice cream cart in May of 2011. Scoops of handmade, small batch ice creams, sundaes, milkshakes and floats as well as pints to go are available at each shop with an ice cream sommelier of sorts who will gladly take you through a tasting of all the flavors.

2017 marks twenty-three years of the Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta. In 1995 Chefs Thierry Blouet and Heinz Reize came up with the idea of ​​promoting and raising up the culinary level of this region to competitive international standards, interacting with new methods and creativity of highly qualified Chefs from around the globe. The goal of this 10-day, great party was to strengthen the gastronomy of Puerto Vallarta as an exemplary showcase and to promote the destination through the excellence of the good table. Chef Thierry Blouet joins us from his Café des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta.

Bocuse d’Or Team USA Update

Team USA wins Hold at the 2017 Bocuse D'orEarlier in the year in Lyon, France Team USA led by Chef Mathew Peters earned the Gold statue in the prestigious, biannual Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition. It was a proud first for USA in the long history of the Bocuse d’Or.

In Las Vegas on Thursday, November 9th at The Palazzo Ballroom at the Palazzo & Venetian Resorts in Las Vegas 3 chefs will compete for the right to represent Team USA 2019 in Lyon. It’s an all-day event and spectator tickets are available. The day before in Las Vegas is the 2017 Ment’or Young Chef & Commis Competitions. Also a spectator event.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Jiyeon Lee and Cody TaylorEarlier in the year we introduced you to the pride of southern BBQ, the Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta established in 2010. The youthful owner/chefs are Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee. They are prominently featured in the “Smokehouse Stories and Recipes” section of Matt Moore’s The South’s Best Butts – Pitmaster Secrets for Southern Barbecue Perfection.

Atlanta Magazine has consistently recognized them as one of the “50 Best Restaurants in Atlanta.” Quite an honor for a modest establishment which is housed in 720 sq. ft. and is essentially to-go because much the limited patio seating is stand up.

Chef Jiyeon is Korean so one of the available winning sauces is KB Sauce (Korean BBQ Sauce) with a dash of sweet heat. It’s mouthwatering American BBQ with an unintentional Korean influence.

Pork is the house specialty here but all the meats are worthy of deserved praise. Don’t miss the unusual Kimchi Slaw.

Executive Producer Andy Harris recently made the pilgrimage to Heirloom. It really was as good as Matt promised and an experience to see during the lunch rush.

Chefs Cody and Jiyeon are our guests.

Chris NelsonExecutive Producer Andy Harris was in Roswell, GA (an incorporated City of 95,000 in the greater Atlanta area with a lot of living Civil War history) in early October with fellow members of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA.) In this show we continue our coverage of the best of Roswell with a chat with Chris Nelson, the new Executive Director of the 120,000 member Chattahoochee Nature Center founded in 1976 by local citizens.

CNC is the oldest and largest private, non-profit natural science learning center in the Southeast. This environmental sanctuary encompasses 30 species of native wildlife and 127 acres of native plants and gardens.

Follow the “Wildlife Walk” to view beaver and native birds of prey including owls, hawks and bald eagles. Hike the woodland trails or wander the boardwalk. Visit the gardens, and explore the Discovery Center. A true nature-lover’s paradise.

One of the most noteworthy efforts at the Chattahoochee Nature Center is The Unity Garden. It was established in April 2010 with a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente. The quarter-acre garden has three goals: Production, Donation, and Education.

The Unity Garden grows fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs. The Unity Garden uses sustainable gardening practices, found and recycled resources, and focuses on producing healthy plants in healthy soil. The garden is tended by a garden coordinator, as well as dedicated individual volunteers. Most of the fresh produce grown in the Unity Garden is donated to the food pantry at North Fulton Community Charities. CNC delivers fresh vegetables and greens once or twice a week. The Unity Garden is in year-round production. To date, CNC has delivered over 27,000 pounds of fresh produce.

Michael Rossi of the Ranch Restaurant and SaloonThe much-honored Ranch Restaurant in Anaheim was the recipient this year of The Golden Foodie Award for the Best Entrée in Orange County. That is Executive Chef Michael Rossi’s signature Cowboy Ribeye. That’s a 58oz. bone-in rib chop with Grafton Farms white cheddar scalloped potatoes and Sauce Bordelaise. Oh yea…

The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon is an upscale fine dining and country music establishment located on the ground floor of Extron Electronics corporate headquarters in Anaheim. It also offers a luxurious private dining and events center on the sixth floor of the same building. A personal vision and dream of Extron President and Owner Andrew Edwards, THE RANCH comprises a rustic yet elegantly styled restaurant based on regional American cuisine and fine wines.

THE RANCH delivers a notable combination of a quality culinary experience with a seasonally driven menu emphasizing the best local ingredients. Many of the fresh fruits and vegetables used on the menu (and at the bar) are grown on The Ranch’s own farm in Orange.

We’ll get Chef Michael out of the busy kitchen to chat about the extraordinary project that is The Ranch Restaurant.

Tyler MalekSalt & Straw Ice Cream is a family-run, chef-driven ice cream company with kitchens and scoop shops in Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles (5 locations in the L.A. area) that partners with local artisans, producers and farmers to serve unusually creative and absolutely delicious ice cream. Co-Founder and Head Ice Cream Maker Tyler Malek is our guest.

Each ice cream is handmade in small batches using only all-natural cream from local farms in each city. Flavors showcase the best local, organic and sustainable ingredients from Oregon and Southern California farmers and artisans as well as imported flavors from small hand-picked farms from around the world.

The company started in Portland, OR serving eight flavors from an ice cream cart in May of 2011. Scoops of handmade, small batch ice creams, sundaes, milkshakes and floats as well as pints to go are available at each shop with an ice cream sommelier of sorts who will gladly take you through a tasting of all the flavors.

“LOVE AND PASSION – THE SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE GOOD!”

Thierry Blouet2017 marks twenty-three years of the Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta featuring the talent and creations of over 30 chefs. In 1995 Chefs Thierry Blouet and Heinz Reize came up with the idea of ​​promoting and raising up the culinary level of this region to competitive international standards, interacting with new methods and creativity of highly qualified Chefs from around the globe. Over 500,000 gourmet food fans have attended over the years along with close to 600 participating celebrity chefs.

The goal of this 10-day, great party was to strengthen the gastronomy of Puerto Vallarta as an exemplary showcase and to promote the destination through the excellence of the good table.

It’s a full schedule of culinary activities including chef tastings events, culinary safaris, seasonal tastings and themed nights offering distinct dishes from cities from around the world. Distinguished restaurants from Puerto Vallarta’s different zones will be participating.

In addition to all the special events every night of the 10-day Festival is the Gourmet Dine Around.” Each night each of the 27 participating Puerto Vallarta restaurants and hotels serve a special menu offering creations and delicacies crafted by the respective guest chef.

“The SoCal Restaurant Show” will be broadcasting live from Puerto Vallarta’s Festival Gourmet International on Saturday morning, November 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PT.

Chef Thierry Blouet joins us from his flagship Café des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chefs Cody Taylor & Jiyeon Lee, Heirloom Market BBQ, Atlanta
Segment Three: Chris Nelson, Executive Director, Chattahooche Nature Center, Roswell, GA
Segment Four: Executive Chef Michael Rossi, The Ranch Restaurant
Segment Five: Tyler Malek, Co-Founder & Head Ice Cream Maker, Salt & Straw Ice Cream
Segment Six: Chef Thierry Blouet, Café des Artistes, Festival Gourmet International, Puerto Vallarta

Show 206, January 14, 2017: Bob Price, Curator and Founder, Vallarta Botanical Garden, Jardin Botanico De Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta

Bob PriceSome of the best & tastiest Mexican street food available in Puerto Vallarta is found at the Vallarta Botanical Garden (“Where Mexican plants meet the imagination!”) Let’s talk about those incredible fish tacos and fresh guacamole! The serving vessels are all distinctive, custom Mexican pottery. It’s all served with style, too, in an unequaled setting. The garden itself is an impressive attraction, too.

They are also known for their pizza. They are baked in an oak fueled, wood-burning brick oven.

“The mission of the Vallarta Botanical Gardens is to create Mexico’s foremost botanical garden for the discovery, study, propagation, conservation and display of native and exotic plants for the enjoyment of Puerto Vallarta’s residents and visitors.”

Out of the 187 Puerto Vallarta attractions rated by TripAdvisor the Vallarta Botanical Garden has impressively earned the Number 3 spot.

It’s easy to get to. There is a City Bus that runs to their front entrance. It’s about a half-hour ride from Downtown. Also, it’s a reasonable cab fare from all districts of Puerto Vallarta.

We’re sipping local Raicilla (available at the VBG gift shop and resrtaurant) with Curator and Founder, Bob Price.

 

Show 197, November 12, 2016: Tequila Sommelier Audrey Formisano, Marriott Resort CasaMagna, Puerto Vallarta

Audrey FormisanoGenuine Tequila can only come from certain areas of Mexico and the State of Jalisco is famous for their blue agave which is the base for authentic Tequila. The accommodating Marriott Resort CasaMagna in Puerto Vallarta’s Marina zone has a resident Tequila Sommelier and a fascinating on-site Tequila program. We’ll meet her. Bring on the aged Anejo.

CasaMagna has their own, on-property agave garden. CasaMagna Tequila (only available there) is distilled in five styles including Blanco, Joven, Reposado, Extra Anejo and Anejo. It’s attractively packaged in a distinctive custom bottle. They also offer over 114 different varieties of Tequila from other producers at the resort for the guests’ sipping pleasure.

Audrey hosts highly-rated Tasting Classes that come enthusiastically recommended. These can be arranged on 24 hours notice at the guest’s convenience. The informative sessions include colorful commentary on the mythical origins of the drink as well as the modern state of the tequila industry.

 

Show 196, November 5, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Brea, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for Rams and USC Football, is back as today’s Guest Host. San Clemente is launching next. In May in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association’s annual conclave he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish.

Now an appetizing preview of Saturday’s fully-loaded show and not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a pretty good thing…

Puerto Vallarta is a welcoming visitor destination in the State of Jalisco in Mexico. This November 11th to 20th, 2016 marks the 22nd anniversary of the Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta. Festival Co-founder, Chef Thierry Blouet of Café des Artistes, joins us from Mexico with the needed 411.

Simran Sethi is a journalist, author and educator focused on food, sustainability and social change. Her new book, Bread, Wine Chocolate tells the story of what we are losing, how we are losing it, and the inspiring people and places that are bringing back the foods we love. Simran Sethi is our guest.

The Loews Coronado Bay Resort is situated on a private 15-acre peninsula surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and Coronado Bay. Executive Chef Chris Aguirre joined the property earlier this year. He oversees all of the resort’s restaurants and day-to-day culinary operations. We’ll meet him.

For James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist Javier Plascencia, the U.S. – Mexico Border is not a barrier between two countries, but rather the inspiration for his signature Baja Peninsula cuisine. On September 30th Chef Javier presented his Bracero Cocina de Raiz dinner at the James Beard Foundation in Manhattan. Tuesday night, Nov. 1st Chef Javier recreated that special menu at Bracero in San Diego as a benefit for the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food. Bracero’s GM J.M. Woody Van Horn shares that incredible evening with us.

The Dean of French Chefs in San Diego is Maitre Cuisiner de France Bernard Guillas the executive chef of the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, the Shores Restaurant at the La Jolla Shores Hotel, and the landmark AAA, 4-Diamoind Award Marine Room Restaurant. Chef Bernard is our guest.

It’s been almost 10-years in the planning but dirt is being moved at Europa Village winery in Temecula to prepare for the construction of three wine themed European resorts on prime vineyard land that was previously home to Callaway. Europa Village’s Agent Du Vin Gregg English provides the preview of what’s to come.

Our Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group, is in the know. He now shares a new list of personally researched and hand-selected “Finds” with us. Previously suggested were primo breakfast spots that are a bit hidden, fast food breakfast items that are real standouts, child friendly restaurants in the OC that are chef-driven, better burger spots and more…Today fresh seafood is on his mind.

All of this and lots more absolutely incredible deliciousness on Saturday’s show!

Show 196, November 5, 2016: Thierry Blouet, Executive Chef / Proprietor, Café des Artistes, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Thierry BlouetPuerto Vallarta is a welcoming visitor destination in the State of Jalisco in Mexico. This November 11th to 20th, 2016 marks the 22nd anniversary of the Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta. There is also a Café des Artistes in Los Cabos at the JW Marriott celebrating its 1st Anniversary. Chef Thierry’s other restaurant near Puerto Vallarta is Tuna Blanca in Punta de Mita. Festival Co-founder, Chef Thierry Blouet of Café des Artistes joins from Mexico us with the needed 411.

“Exclusivity, elegance and comfort of its many gourmet-chic environments distinguish the Café des Artistes, which for 25 years has earned the crown as the icon restaurant in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay, Jalisco. It’s synonymous with tradition, art and distinction for local, national and foreign guests.”

The Gourmet Festival turns 22! In 1995 Thierry Blouet and Heinz Reize originated the idea of promoting and upgrading the culinary standards to competitive international levels by interacting with new methods and the creativity of highly qualified chefs.

The first Gourmet Festival took place in 1995 with the participation of six hotels and six independent restaurants. The original format remains unchanged; each one of the participant restaurants invites a celebrity in the culinary scene.

In 2000, Chef Roland Menetrey joined the team and since then the festival has been organized by the three musketeers.

In twenty-two years changes are seen in the growth and expansion of the Festival to the Riviera Nayarit and Tepic. Twenty-five, first – class hotels and restaurants will be participating this year.

To date, The Festival Gourmet International has hosted and pampered almost half a million gourmet fans, and five hundred chef-celebrities have visited. The Festival strives to improve every year.