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Entertainment 
««« Click HERE for Recent Restaurants & Fine Dining Cinco de Mayo Celebrates Victorious Battle, Victorious Culture
Philip A. Stephenson
 We should know by now that Mexico's El Cinco de Mayo isn't the same as America's Fourth of July. But popular imagination can probably be excused for confusion, since so much of the best stuff about celebrating El Cinco is evocative of the Fourth. And then, there's the food. more »»»
How Much Do Chefs Really Make?
Judith Weinraub
 Higher salaries, more opportunities, and in some cases union benefits are luring top chefs to the casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. more »»»
Tipping and Travel: It's No Easy Equation
Cindy Loose
 Okay, so most people know that 15 to 20 percent of the bill before tax is the accepted standard in the United States for tipping a waiter. But what about a sommelier who only uncorks and pours your wine? The question takes on more urgency the more expensive the beverage. more »»»
El Negro Grand Opening Party - a Splashing Success
PVNN
 An explosion of tastes and colors was unleashed on a crowd of around 300 guests at the Gala Opening of El Negro Restaurant on March 30th. Join Banderas News Video Journalist, Laura Gelezunas, as she pulls up a seat and gives us a taste.  more »»»
Next Year In Mexico
Nancy Davidson
 On the third day of Passover last year, I went to visit a pair of Jewish tequila makers in Mexico. I had been eager to meet Daniel Schneeweiss Bernstein and Moises Guindi ever since I first heard about Milagro, their premium tequila. So I jumped at the chance to visit their agave fields and distillery in Jalisco. more »»»
Restaurant Owner, Columnist and Poet
Elena del Barrio
 Nacho Cadena is a celebrity in Vallarta for his charismatic personality and active cultural and social life. He claims to follow the sun, and this is no flippant remark, but his inspired way of saying he lives the moment. more »»»
Beverage Creates a Buzz
Chris Kraul
 Call it the "Real Thing." Indians in this remote mountain village in southern Colombia are marketing a particularly refreshing soft drink that harks back to Coca-Cola's original formula, when "coca" was in the name for a reason. more »»»
I Love to Cook - an Interview with Oscar Galvan
Kathy Taylor
 A few days following his fist win in a professional cooking contest, the Thierry Blouet Vallarta Trophy, Kathy Taylor had the pleasure of interviewing one of Mexico's hottest young chefs, Oscar Galvan. more »»»
Vallarta Trophy Cooking Competition
Kathy Taylor
 One of Mexico's rising culinary stars, 24 year old Oscar Galvan, Executive Chef of Agave Grill in Puerto Vallarta, was crowned on March 19th at the First Annual Thierry Blouet Vallarta Trophy Cooking Competition. more »»»
The World Comes to Puerto Vallarta
Josef Kandoll
 Passengers on The World, one of the most deluxe cruise ships on earth, recently spent two days in Puerto Vallarta enjoyed gourmet meals prepared by some of the finest restaurants in the area, including: Café des Artistes, Daiquiri Dick's, La Palapa and Los Xitomates. more »»»
Lenny & Jorge Benefit Concert at Daiquiri Dick's
PVNN
 Daiquiri Dick's invites you to enjoy an unforgettable evening of fine dining, great music and good will at the Second Annual Jorge & Lenny Benefit Concert on Friday, March 31st from 7-10 pm. more »»»
IFC Pasta Cook Off
PVNN
 If you are one of the lucky few who have mastered the art of cooking pasta, the International Friendship Club's annual Puerto Vallarta Pasta Cook-Off, scheduled to take place on March 18th at 3 pm at the Molina de Agua Hotel, offers you the chance to make everybody sit up and take notice! more »»»
El Negro Comes to Puerto Vallarta
PVNN
 In celebration of the Grand Opening of their new restaurant at Plaza Genovesa in the Puerto Vallarta Hotel Zone, El Negro Restaurant-Bar will be throwing the biggest marine party Puerto Vallarta has ever seen on March 30th at 8 pm. more »»»
Taco Bell Nation
Dagoberto Gilb
 Look around any of these fast-food franchises and you'll see the mosaic of people we've become. Maybe a little too portly. And way too ignorant of what a real chalupa is. more »»»
From the Hands of Two Masters
Kathy Taylor
 Two of the world's top chefs, Thierry Blouet and Gerard Dupont, are offering bilingual cooking classes in the elite setting of Puerto Vallarta's Café des Artistes on March 21, 23, 24 and 25th. more »»»
What's Between Your Tortillas?
Marcia Kramer
 Quesadillas might have gotten their start in Mexico, where they traditionally contained little more than quesillo de Oaxaca, a tangy cheese. But Americans have embellished their quesadillas, stuffing them with grilled chicken or barbecued beef. And the tortillas nowadays are likely to be made with spinach or sun-dried tomatoes. more »»»
Peyote People Exhibit at El Arrayan
Patrick Harrison
 The award-winning restaurant El Arrayán will once again host a special art exhibit March 15 through April 10, 2006 with a festive cocktail reception from 6 pm to 7:30 pm on the opening night. more »»»
Mexican Coke: The 'Real Thing?'
Tom Ragan
 It's popping up just about everywhere in Latino communities across the United States: Mexican-made Coca-Cola in those old glass bottles, somewhat of an anomaly in the age of the plastic liter and twist-off cap. more »»»
Entertainer, Athlete, Puerto Vallarta Resident
a profile of Kosmas Mamadopoulos
 Bob Cohen tells us about entertainer, athlete and Puerto Vallarta resident, Kosmas Mamadopoulos, who plays his music at Le Gourmet Restaurant and his tennis at Canto Del Sol Tennis Club. more »»»
Bon Voyage to the Three-Bean Salad
Michelle Green
 As a lone-wolf traveler and something of a food snob, I'm one of those people who'd always scoffed at the idea of going on a cruise. What I love about getting away is breaking new ground and sniffing out the local culture, which means paying serious attention to the food. more »»»
BananaCantina Opens in Puerto Vallarta
Debbi Egan
 Have you ever wondered why retirees move to Mexico and open a restaurant? So have we, so we asked Puerto Vallarta restaurant owner Debbi Egan to share the story of how she and her family came to establish BananaCantina, a casually elegant eatery that opened two months ago at Amapas and Pulpito in the Romantic Zone. more »»»
Some See a Wine Loved Not Wisely, but Too Well
Eric Asimov
 You need to have your museum legs for a visit to Il Greppo, the historic estate just south of this hillside town, where the Biondi Santi family virtually invented the wine now prized around the world as brunello di Montalcino. more »»»
Tequila's Sun Rises
Elana Ashanti Jefferson
 Pancho's Restaurant & Tequila Bar is a hangout founded by American cocktail connoisseurs who have amassed some 500 types of tequila and mescal. Pancho's once boasted the world's largest tequila selection, before similar bars sprouted up in the United States. more »»»
Informal, Filling and Finger-Licking Good
Thomasina Miers
 Eating tacos is the most fun way to eat. A basket perches on the table with a cloth inside, hiding slightly charred, hot corn tortillas, the instrument of choice for delving into the food. more »»»
Wine Tipplers Buy Smarter Food Than Beer Drinkers
AFP
 The stereotype of the beer drinker as a lover of cholesterol-boosting snacks has been borne out by a study that also confirms that wine drinkers are likelier to tuck into something light and healthy. more »»»
Perfecting the Palate at Costantini Wine Bar
Kathy Taylor
 Mark Thursday evenings on your calendar for Costantini's hour-long, complimentary, bilingual wine tasting seminars, hosted by Susan Stewart who heads the Wine Bar staff, and guest wine experts. more »»»
Casamagna Marriott Receives 2006 Distinctive H Award
PVNN
 Once again, international tourist industry experts have recognized the Puerto Vallarta Casamagna Marriott Resort for meeting high quality standards. In January, the resort was once again presented with the Distinctive H award - despite a surprise visit to its installations. more »»»
UN Moves To Block 2006 Caspian Sea Caviar Exports
Reuters
 The United Nations said on Tuesday it would not approve 2006 caviar export quotas for the Caspian Sea basin, where most of the delicacy is produced, until it had more information on stock levels and illegal sales. more »»»
Mexican Comfort Food
KitsapSun.com
 A great tortilla soup can be a revelation — rich with an intriguing roasted-corn flavor, vibrant with color and toasty, tantalizing aromas. It's wonderfully satisfying, "a sort of soul food soup," as Mexican cooking authority Diana Kennedy puts it. more »»»
Message in a Bottle
Tom Standage
 The question is simple enough: which wine will you serve on Christmas Day? But the answer is far from straightforward, for your choice of wine is laden with meaning. more »»»
Tortilla, Long a Mexican Staple, Evolves
Karen Robinson-Jacobs
 The tortilla, which has been a staple in Mexican homes for thousands of years, is swimming in the mainstream now. Sales were estimated to be more than $5.3 billion in 2004, evidence that the tortilla has crossed a cultural bridge and shows no signs of turning back. more »»»
Pie in the Sky Opens in Vallarta
Sue Fornoff
 Chocoholics rejoice! Besos, those deliciously rich chocolate brownies are once again available in Puerto Vallarta. Pie in the Sky has had a bakery in Bucerias for many years, and this week opened a location at Lazero Cardenas 247 in Puerto Vallarta. more »»»
The Road from Cuautla
Heidi Dietrich
 Though Cuautla sits in the Mexican state of Jalisco, three hours by car from Puerto Vallarta and 2,000 miles from Seattle, an estimated 300 Mexican restaurants in Washington have been started by entrepreneurs from this tiny town with a population of roughly 1,000. more »»»
Ultraglam: Champagne by the Glass at Café des Artistes
Kathy Taylor
 New York's trendy Bubbles wine bar has over 16 champagnes available nightly by the glass. Café des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has a rival cellar, and recently offered an evening of Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot tasting to celebrate their 15th anniversary. more »»»
To Sloth or not to Sloth
Jim Soliski
 What’s the one thing you have lots of when staying at an all-inclusive holiday resort in Vallarta? The answer is everything. And when eating, a decision is required. How much of which item to take in order to find a balance between sampling enough fare to satisfy your curiosity, and trying to walk to the beach without calling in a mobile crane. more »»»
"Tasting the Stars" under the Stars
PVNN
 On Thursday December 1st, Café des Artistes kicked off their 15th Anniversary celebrations with a champagne tasting party. Join BanderasNews video journalist, Laura Gelezunas, as she pops the cork in celebration of this sparkling event.  more »»»
A Taste of Puerto Vallarta
PVNN
 If you are one of the unfortunate few who missed the Eleventh Annual International Festival Gourmet Vallarta - don't worry! Video journalist Laura Gelezunas was on-the-scene, and you can see her exclusive video footage right here at BanderasNews.com.  more »»»
A Great Blend: Viajeros Café and Café Sabroso
Sue Fornoff & Harold Sokolove
 Tucked away in the garden of the Hikuri Gallery is La Cruz's newest restaurant. Owners Kate and David Cope have created Viajeros Café, featuring home baked pastries, organic shade-grown coffee, espresso drinks and delicious breakfasts. more »»»
Like the Best Wine, Café des Artistes Only gets Better with Age
Kathy Taylor
 The traditional gift for a 15th anniversary is crystal, and Café des Artistes is busy polishing the crystal in preparation for the 15 days of celebration that begins on December 1st, when Café des Artistes will recognize its community, guests, and staff in very special ways. more »»»
Tropical Odyssey - An Exotic End to Festival 2005
Kathy Taylor
 For an evening to be truly memorable, it takes a combination of ambiance, music, wine, food, and often, company. The Tropical Odyssey Gala that was the closing event of the Eleventh Annual International Festival Gourmet Vallarta had all of these elements. more »»»
The ABC's of Gourmet
Kathy Taylor
 What many consider to be the "heart and soul" of the Festival Gourmet takes place in the days between the opening and closing parties, and during the daylight hours before the coveted Chef's Tables. The cooking classes offered by the Festival Gourmet are a great way to learn new skills and rub shoulders with like-minded gourmands. more »»»
Baja Wines' New Buzz
Diane Lindquist
 When the market for Mexican wines plummeted 20 years ago, growers in this valley northeast of Ensenada started ripping out their grapevines. But now a new breed of vintner has arrived, and the distinctive wines they're creating are capturing international medals, drawing aficionados and boosting tourism. more »»»
The Chef's Table Masterpiece of Cocina de Autor
Kathy Taylor
 Imagine this... you've invited two of the world's finest chefs into your home, as well as a sommelier, a maitre d' and staff, and a jazz duo. The linens are crisp, the glasses gleam in the candlelight, and soothing water cascades down the rock wall in your outside atrium as you watch Chefs Blouet and Tapia create a masterpiece. more »»»
To Know Wine is to Understand Life
Denise Derameé
 It has been said that "to know wine is to understand life," and thanks to the wine tasting events taking place at the Sheraton Buganvilias during this year's Festival Gourmet Expo Forum, you don't have to be a wine connoisseur to explore the wonderful world of wine. more »»»
Bianco - The Best of Both Worlds
Erich Haubrich
 Just a month after their gala opening, Bianco's Chef's Table event, as part of the Festival Gourmet, was a huge success. Guest Chef Bernard Guillas from La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, and the Bianco staff created a one-of-a-kind 6 course meal in their unique fusion style, bringing together European cuisine and traditional Mexican ingredients. more »»»
Festival Gourmet Brunch Highlights
Kathy Taylor
 One of the most anticipated events of the Gourmet Festival is the Brunch at the Sheraton Buganvilias in Puerto Vallarta. Chef Francis Drillien of the Sheraton Cabo San Lucas, guest chef for this event, celebrated the sea with a minimalist brunch for 400 guests on Sunday. more »»»
The Flavours of Contemporary Chile
Kathy Taylor
 In the leafy aerie that is the top terrace of Chef Thierry Blouet's Cocina de Autor, his guest chef Oscar Tapia gave us a little gift yesterday, an amuse-bouche, which not only pleased but teased in anticipation for the chef's table dinner they will offer this Tuesday. more »»»
Daiquiri Dick's Unveils Puerto Vallarta's First Virtual Menu
PVNN
 Thanks to Video Diva Productions' new virtual menu, Daiquiri Dick's Restaurant owners Peter and Tari Bowman have found a unique and exciting way to promote their popular Puerto Vallarta restaurant. more »»»
Hot Opener for the Gourmet Festival International
Kathy Taylor
 Fire. It is fitting that this most primitive and basic of cooking methods was the theme of the opening festivities of the Festival Gourmet International at the magnificent Mayan Palace in Nuevo Vallarta. more »»»
Dark Layers of Mystery
Barbara Hansen
 So rare and precious was chocolate centuries ago that the Aztec emperor Montezuma sipped it from a golden cup. Never would he have imagined that his elixir's prized ingredient would become an everyday luxury as it is today. more »»»
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