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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, Gary also writes restaurant reviews for Puerto Vallarta newspapers and 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.
 Hacienda Jalisco: True Mexican Hospitality
 Gary R. Beck
The enchantment of true Mexican hospitality coupled with exquisite cuisine marks Hacienda Jalisco in San Sebastian del Oeste as a destination we urge everyone to experience, especially if you are enthralled with history and magical vibrations.
A Cool Way to Quench Your Tropical Thirst
 Gary R. Beck
The weather is seriously starting to heat up in Puerto Vallarta and one of the easiest ways to beat the heat is to enjoy lots of ice cold drinks! I recently discovered the Arnold Palmer. Half lemonade and half iced tea, it's a cool and refreshing way to quench your tropical thirst.
Gourmet Japanese and PanAsian in Vallarta
 Gary R. Beck
At Mikado Japanese Restaurant, Marriott award-winning Executive Chef Fred Ruíz and Sushi Chef Ricardo Lona offer Sashimi, Sushi, Miso soup, Tempura, Yakitori, Thai dishes, lobster, shrimp, chicken, steak and vegetables, all cooked with an intense eye on quality and presentation.
 Vallarta Lifestyles' Restaurant Week 2009 Wrap-Up
 Gary R. Beck
Over the course of the 17 day Restaurant Week 2009, which took place from May 15th-31st, Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer Gary R. Beck escorted small groups of food lovers to participating restaurants - and you can read his reviews right here on BanderasNews.
Le Kliff Restaurant Week Review
Gary R. Beck
Since Le Kliff has reached international fame for its unusual architecture and stunning sunsets, not to mention it's gourmet cuisine, we could not pass up the opportunity to take advantage of the specially priced 3-course menu presented during Vallarta Restaurant Week 2009.
Restaurant Week at Barcelona Tapas
 Gary R. Beck
Serving up both excellent bay views and small plates of delicious tapas meant to be shared amongst guests, Barcelona Tapas is the ideal place for eating out with friends - and those are just some of the reasons that it was on the top of my list of places to visit during Vallarta Restaurant Week.
Cilantro's Restaurant Week Review
Gary R. Beck
In addition to unique menu selections, Cilantro's serves up a fantastic view of Puerto Vallarta's most famous landmark, the uniquely crowned Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral, an extensive wine list and creative cocktails, all of which we immensely enjoyed during Restaurant Week 2009.
Restaurant Week at Trattoria Michel
Gary R. Beck
Swiss Michel Pascal Ferrari brings his knowledge of authentic Italian cuisine to bring Puerto Vallarta the traditional tastes of Tuscany at his south side restaurant, Trattoria Michel, where we enjoyed 'una notte italiana' right here in Puerto Vallarta during Restaurant Week 2009.
Vista Grill Restaurant Week Review
Gary R. Beck
At Vista Grill, Executive Chef Sergio Esquivel and his fine group of 'cocineros' present eclectic and creative cuisine, beautifully presented. Add to this top-notch service, gorgeous views, and the special Restaurant Week menu and you'll enjoy an evening that is as memorable as it is unique.
Restaurant Week at Vitea
Gary R. Beck
During Restaurant Week 2009, we visited Vitea Oceanfront Bistro, an intimate oceanfront bistro and bar offering classic and contemporary European fare in a casual atmosphere. But enough about the ambiance - what counts here is the exceptional fare, which is both classic and original...
Tikul Restaurant Week Review
Gary R. Beck
Tikul's artfully prepared and presented Pacific Cuisine, excellent wine selection, fabulous service and spectacular views of Marina Vallarta, plus a look at their special 3-course Vallarta Restaurant Week 2009 menu, put this gourmet restaurant on the top of my list of places to visit this month.
Restaurant Week at The River Café
Gary R. Beck
The River Cafe's creative and ever-changing menu always offers diners a wide range of national and International dishes created with only the finest ingredients and elegantly eye-catching plate presentations, but they've really outdone themselves with their Restaurant Week 2009 menu!
Trío Restaurant Week Review
Gary R. Beck
The Restaurant Week menu at Trio exemplifies the outstanding Mediterranean cuisine served at this upscale restaurant. Serving "food cooked with love," chef-owners Bernhard Guth and Ulf Henriksson personally see that every dish meets their exacting standards and that every guest is satisfied.
Restaurant Week at Hacienda San Ángel
Gary R. Beck
Between Chef Eduardo Mitchaca's Mexican infused international cuisine, the boutique hotel's luxurious surroundings and the fabulous views of downtown, Banderas Bay and Puerto Vallarta's famous sunsets, a visit to Hacienda San Angel during Restaurant Week is a must!
Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant Week Review
Gary R. Beck
Through May 31st, Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant & Café is offering diners their choice of 8 superb starters, 10 enticing entrées and 10 delectable desserts in a 3-course meal for only $299 pesos, making a visit to this upscale eatery during Restaurant Week not only necessary, but also most pleasurable.
Restaurant Week at Banana Cantina
Gary R. Beck
At bANANAcANtiNA, traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine is always beautifully presented, but during Restaurant Week, the restaurant is presenting old-style dishes with modern twists that will excite your taste buds and encourage a return visit.
La Palapa Restaurant Week Review
Gary R. Beck
During Restaurant Week 2009, La Palapa executive chef Rafael Cornejo Solórzano and his staff are on a whirlwind journey of combining unusual ingredients, mixing unlikely partners, and presenting the dishes in an extremely elegant fashion. We were very much impressed.
Restaurant Week at Daiquiri Dick's
Gary R. Beck
With exceptional Pacific Rim cuisine and superior service in an elegant beachfront setting, when it comes to fine dining in Puerto Vallarta, Daiquiri Dick's has it all - especially during Restaurant Week 2009, when you can enjoy a special 3-course menu for only $299 pesos through May 31.
El Arrayán Restaurant Week Review
Gary R. Beck
We visited El Arrayán on May 16th, where our group sampled all nine dishes in the three courses offered on the Restaurant Week 2009 special menu. The three enticing entrees, Filet Mignon, Mahi Mahi and Cochinita Pibil, tested the kitchen's breadth... with the staff succeeding.
Magna Magna: Italian Cuisine in Vallarta
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer Gary R. Beck and friends sample the authentic flavors of Italy at chef/owner Luca's intimate seven table café, Magna Magna, on the south side of Puerto Vallarta.
2009 Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Guide
 Gary R. Beck
Whether a Puerto Vallarta local, part-time resident or first-time visitor, most everyone loves to dine out. To learn more about Banderas Bay area restaurants, pick up the latest edition of the Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Guide, Beck's Best.
La Tía Katrina's True Mexican Cuisine
 Gary R. Beck
In this tight economy, many residents and visitors are looking for local restaurants that serve good food at fair prices. BanderasNews food writer and Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer Gary R. Beck gives La Tía Katrina a thumbs-up.
Boca Bento - It's All About the Food
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer, Gary R. Beck, samples the Latin inspired specialties at Boca Bento Latin Grill's fabulous new dining venue inside the Casa Iguana Hotel in Mismaloya.
Tony's Please - As Delicious as Ever
 Gary R. Beck
At the risk of aging myself (even more,) I need to point out I have been a loyal regular customer of Tony's Please since back in the days of the 1970's and 1980's when it was located all by itself on Encino not far north of Rio Cuale.
La Hacienda - A Puerto Vallarta Tradition
 Gary R. Beck
Since its founding in 1978, La Hacienda has been an old style oasis of fine dining in a family hacienda on the southside of Puerto Vallarta. Today, La Hacienda continues to captivate diners with traditional down home Mexican comfort food.
An Oasis in Downtown Puerto Vallarta
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer Gary R. Beck visits Restaurant Mestizo, an oasis in downtown Puerto Vallarta that embraces the spirit of an Old Mexico villa, and the delicious flavors of an unaffected Mexican menu.
Tempting Thai Cuisine at Talento
 Gary R. Beck
Puerto Vallarta restaurant reviewer Gary R. Beck gives us a taste of the tempting Thai cuisine at Talento Restaurant, where you'll enjoy an unforgettable culinary experience in a distinguished cosmopolitan atmosphere overlooking the Malecón.
Contemporary Mexican Cuisine in Vallarta
 Gary R. Beck
Some friends and I recently visited La Destileria, an authentic Mexican restaurant and bar that serves Contemporary Mexican cuisine and over 100 kinds of Tequila in a casual and relaxed atmosphere overlooking the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta.
Espressions: Casual Dining in Bucerías
 Gary R. Beck
BanderasNews food writer and restaurant reviewer Gary R. Beck visits Espressions Cafe, a casual yet intimate neighborhood restaurant in Bucerías where Mike and Dayna Leake from London, England have been presenting International dishes since 2001.
Seafood Delicacies at El Barracuda
 Gary R. Beck
Fernando and Carlos of Fajita Republic have veered in cuisine at their new Puerto Vallarta restaurant, El Barracuda, where they offer a proverbial table of seafood delicacies, all prepared with the freshest fish and shellfish found each morning.
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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