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 Entertainment | Restaurants & Dining | October 2006 
Culinary Jam Session 2006 a Success
 Bob Cohen - PVNN
| | Luis Fitch, chef and owner of Los Xitomates, opened the event with a brief speech and introduced the guest chefs. Next to Luis is Josefina Naya, public relations director of the Marriott. | 
| | All of the guest chefs received an astounding amount of applause. | 
| | Graham Cook entertained the crowd with his unique musical abilities. | 
| | This elegant table setting awaited the guests as the doors opened. |
Puerto Vallarta - Over 300 individuals filled the main ballroom at the CasaMagna Marriott on Tuesday night for the 3rd Annual Culinary Jam Session. As the name implies, six of the best chefs in Puerto Vallarta and local musicians allowed all attendees to sample their gourmet delights and the musicians entertained throughout the event.
The big winners however, were four local charities who received all proceeds collected for tickets and beverage service. All chefs and participating restaurants donated their time and food for the charitable cause.
The four non-profit charities that reaped the benefits to help with their services to the local community were Agape, Arturo y Los Hijos de Dios, Becas Vallarta and Asilo De Ancianos San Juan Diego.
Agape offers services for abused children and Arturo y Los Hijos de Dios provides services for individuals and families in critical need. Becas Vallarta helps young Vallartans with scholarships to continue their education and Asilo de Ancianos San Juan Diego provides shelter for the elderly.
Luis Fitch, chef and owner of Los Xitomates was the founder and Master of Ceremonies for the annual function and was joined by the head chefs from Café Des Artistes, La Palapa/Vista Grill, Kaiser Maximilian and the CasaMagna Marriott.
The menu included:
Café De Artistes - Vegetable and goat cheese terrine
Los Xitomates - Shrimp Taxtihuil
La Palapa/Vista Grill - Red snapper with mashed potatoes, spinach chorizo, asparagus and soy and Sherry reduction
Kaiser Maximilian - Roast veal with glazed vegetables, potato albondigas and cream sauce with mushrooms
CasaMagna Marriott - Chocolate trilogy served in vanilla sauce and berries
The pre-dinner music was acoustic guitar played by Alexis (Papo) of Los Xitomates, whose music allowed conversation among the guests.
Nearing the end of the six hour function, Graham Cook, a newcomer to the Puerto Vallarta scene, came out playing the congas and also brought out his sax and with the synthesizer in the ballroom, began to belt out some popular "oldies" with his unique voice and singing style. He opened with his rendition of Harry Belafonte's "Day-O" (The Banana Boat song), which was perhaps his most popular song.
Cook followed with "Mr. Saturday Night," then Otis Redding's classic, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." The remaining audience began to dance to the popular tunes when Graham returned after dessert and played Dobie Gray's "Drift Away," Bill Wither's "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" and closed with the Drifter's "Up on the Roof."
The CasaMagna Marriott once again showed the Vallartenese and out of town visitors why it has the reputation for hosting such events, providing all proceeds to the aforementioned charities.
Organized by Josefina Naya, the Supervisor of Public Relations, the elegant and most enjoyable evening was an astounding success. During a restroom break, I even walked just a few steps away to Champions, the Marriott's superb sports bar, to watch a bit of baseball's National League Championship. |
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