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 Local Profiles 
Exploring Puerto Vallarta's Rich Array of Eateries
a profile of Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, whose life and work here in paradise bring him never-ending pleasures.
| Famous for his restaurant guide, available online at CafePress.com or Lulu.com, Gary also writes restaurant reviews for Puerto Vallarta newspapers, Bay Area magazines, and now, a feature column for BanderasNews.com.
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When Gary R. Beck first visited Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in February of 1979, he stayed at the Molino de Agua Hotel, which was once a tropical jungle getaway in Old Town complete with monkeys and macaws, and he immediately knew that PV was a special and spiritual place where he would have many wonderful experiences.
From San Francisco, CA via Toledo, OH and East Lansing, MI, Gary was educated in horticulture at Michigan State University and worked in flower hybridizing before his livelihood turned to the restaurant business in the San Francisco area, where he worked as a food server and wine buyer for 20+ years.
And though he has maintained his worldwide contacts on African violet culture, hybridizing, exhibiting, judging and photographing, today, cooking, dining out, creating recipes and exploring new tastes are hobbies that bring him never-ending pleasures.
"Exploring Puerto Vallarta's rich array of eateries is exhilarating. In semi-retirement, I am able to enjoy longer stays in my South Side condo and develop deeper relationships with the locals - both personally and professionally," Beck says.
Over the past 30 years, Gary has taken meticulous notes of every dining experience he's had here, which he uses to write restaurant reviews and articles that have been published in Puerto Vallarta newspapers, magazines and online publications.
He also contributes regularly to Zagat surveys, and has had his own personal recipes published in Sunset Magazine as well as in various local media sources. In addition, he is the author of the popular PV Restaurant Guide, "Beck's Best," which includes reviews of restaurants all over the entire Bahía de Banderas area - from San Pancho to Yelapa.
When asked about his guide, Gary replies, "I call it my labor of love, because no ads, endorsements or meals are received in its maintenance... once costs are deducted, a few dozen pesos are all that's left on the bottom line! But I love what I do, and giving back to PV residents and visitors alike is reward enough."
The spiral-bound PV restaurant guide "Beck's Best," is personally edited, constantly updated and uploaded on the Internet all year long. It is available online at CafePress.com, and can be purchased locally at places as far-ranging as the PV Botanical Gardens to fine restaurants and the Puerto Vallarta realty and vacation rental company, PVRPV.
Trio Restaurant: Quality Times Three
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer Gary R. Beck samples the 5 Star Diamond Award winning Mediterranean haute cuisine at Trio, an upscale restaurant in downtown Puerto Vallarta featuring a constantly changing menu.
Bruce's Back Alley: New Owner, Same Great Food!
 Gary R. Beck
Rarely does a restaurant change ownership and maintain the same quality of food and service. But according to BanderasNews food writer and Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, this has occurred at the famed Bruce's Back Alley Bistro.
El Torito - Not Your Average Sports Bar
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, tells us about the world-famous BBQ Ribs, Mamalina Shrimp and other mouth-watering temptations that make El Torito more than just another Sports Bar.
Maria Candelaría's Tamales Are To Die For!
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, explores the wonderful world of authentic Mexican food at Candelaria Tamales Artesanales, a colorful cafe only a couple of blocks from the beach in El Centro.
Southern Cooking in Puerto Vallarta
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, samples the fare at Coconuts, a new restaurant on the South Side that serves honest-to-goodness down home Southern Cooking at reasonable prices.
 Uncommon Ground Buddha Lounge
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, travels into delightfully new cafe territory at Uncommon Ground Buddha Lounge, a wonderfully unusual place that delights the senses and sets your soul at ease.
de Santos - THE Place To See and Be Seen
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, checks out the culinary creations and after hours action at THE place to see and be seen in Puerto Vallarta - the fashionable and very popular de Santos Restaurant.
 Stop by Picnic for Some Good Eats
 Gary R. Beck
The Chile's legacy lives on at Picnic. BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to this casual restaurant on the south side of Puerto Vallarta serving Hank and Conrad's tried and true menu of good eats.
Romantic Dining at the River Café
 Gary Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to The River Cafe - a romantic restaurant nestled on the banks of the Río Cuale featuring prizewinning chefs and a menu that rivals the best restaurants in Mexico.
The Flavor of Mexico at Agave Grill
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and PV restaurant reviewer Gary R. Beck re-visits Agave Grill, a hacienda-style restaurant in downtown Puerto Vallarta that celebrates the cuisine, spirits and overall flavors of Mexico.
Looking for a Little Menage Z Trois?
 Gary R. Beck
At Ztai Restaurant + Lounge + Garden in downtown Puerto Vallarta you’ll discover three different concepts under one roof: a stylish Pacific Rim Restaurant, a Zen-like garden and a sophisticated Minimal Bar - Lounge with an oceanfront view.
A European Bistro on the Mexican Riviera
 Gary T. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to Vitea, a European bistro on the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta serving up exceptional views and creative Mediterranean cuisine that make it a classic.
Classic Oriental Cuisine in Vallarta
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to Archie's Wok. One of the truly special "eating and meeting" spots in Puerto Vallarta, this Asian restaurant was founded by John Huston's personal chef in 1986.
Authentic Italian in Puerto Vallarta
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to Alfredo di Roma, where you will find authentic Italian cuisine in Puerto Vallarta at a restaurant born in Italy: Alfredo di Roma [formerly Da Antonio.]
Exploring the Vista Grill Experience
 PVNN
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to Vista Grill and tells us why this restaurant with a view gives out-of-town visitors just one more reason to visit this wonderful paradise called Puerto Vallarta.
Pleasing the Palate in Paradise - Spiaggia
 Gary R. Beck
Spiaggia, which means "beach" in Italian, is the name of an exciting new Puerto Vallarta restaurant that combines three concepts in one location: Beach Club, Restaurant and Bar Lounge.
One Enchanted Evening in Puerto Vallarta
 Gary R. Beck
A fine meal, great entertainment and a lot of chattering and laughing made the Full Moon Feast, hosted by PV Botanical Gardens owner Bob Price on June 1st, one of those enchanted evenings that will not soon, if ever, be forgotten.
Another Helping of Mama's Cooking
 Gary R. Beck
Serving home-style cooking that satisfies both ex-pats and homesick visitors, Mama Dolores keeps 'em coming back for generous helpings of great food at reasonable prices, a daily Happy Hour, a friendly atmosphere and a bitchy drag queen!
Coco Boca Bento
 Gary R. Beck
When one thinks of breakfast in Vallarta, the name Coco brings sighs. From the Hotel Tropicana to Karpathos to Kit Kat and now Boca Bento, Coco has been been delighting locals and visitors with her breakfast specialties for more than 20 years.
A Mediterranean Masterpiece in Bucerias
 PVNN
BanderasNews restaurant reviewer Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to Sandrina's, a charming little Mediterranean restaurant in Bucerias, Nayarit. Located on the south side of town, Sandrina's is by far the most romantic restaurant north of Vallarta.
A Jewel in the Town's Crown
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to Bruce's Back Alley Bistro and tells us why despite the name, there is nothing "back alley" about this popular steak house on the South Side of Puerto Vallarta.
Go Bohemian!
 PVNN
BanderasNews food writer and Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to Café Bohemio Patio Bistro and Bar - a great place to have a drink with friends, enjoy a romantic dinner or celebrate special occasions.
Home Cooking at Mama Dolores Diner
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to Mama Dolores Diner, a popular South Side restaurant that has been serving Puerto Vallarta residents and visitors home style Mexican and American comfort food since 1996.
El Arrayán Cocina Tradicional
 PVNN
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to El Arrayán Restaurant in downtown Puerto Vallarta for traditional Mexican dishes and award-winning menus.
Beck's Best - Casa Naranjo
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, pays a visit to Casa Naranjo. Located at 263 Naranjo on the South Side of Vallarta, this orange-themed restaurant joins the ranks of gourmet restaurants that are springing up on every corner in Colonia Emiliano Zapata.
Beck's Best Taco Stands
 Gary R. Beck
Please do not scream and run away. Today's topic is "Taco Stands," Mexico's ubiquitous street food. Designed as a method to get a good, healthy, tasty, fast and reasonable meal or snack, it us found all over much of Latin America.
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