The 7th American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic – RECAP

A Weekend to Remember: The 7th Annual American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic

 

The 7th Annual American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic was another outstanding success, bringing together golf, gastronomy and good fun for Punta Mita guests and residents in one of the world’s most beautiful resort destinations. Over 400 guests attended the gala weekend, held November 30 to December 3rd, to enjoy what has become one of Punta Mita’s most anticipated and unparalleled experiences of the year.

 

Culinary experiences were curated by over 20 leading chefs and sommeliers, showcasing regional and international cuisine, fine wines, Tequila and mezcal throughout the weekend, accompanied by exceptional golfing with some of the world’s most legendary professional golfers.

 

The weekend kicked off with the Punta Mita Golf Challenge presented by Golf Digest at the Punta Mita Golf Club with special guests Lorena Ochoa and Craig “The Walrus” Stadler, who provided tips and a four-hole mini challenge. Following the challenge, Aeroméxico and Delta Airlines hosted an opening cocktail party at Las Cuevas Beach at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, featuring epicurean delights from the resort’s culinary team, accompanied by guest chefs Richard Sandoval, Atlanta´s renowned Chef, Ford Fry, Vegan Chef, Leslie Durso and Chef Nicolás Díaz from the awarded Elena restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires. Sommeliers, Tequila experts, and craft beer makers kept the party atmosphere going with the stars overhead and the sound of the ocean waves licking the shore.

 

Friday and Saturday brought out more than 160 golfers to compete for the American Express Golf Cup on the Pacifico and Bahia courses, vying for bragging rights and prizes. This year winners were: Mikel Ngo and Quyen Trinh in the men’s division, Claire McConnell and Angela Potts in the women’s category, and Sean and Cathy McCarthy in the mixed set, who were awarded hand-made glass awards by Studio Orfeo Quagliata.

 

For those not golfing, a gourmet luncheon was presented by Chubb Insurance at Kupuri Beach Club, with a 4-course feast created by guest chef, Matthias Fong from the River Café, Calgary. Chef Abraham Salum brought a special “Fish to Fork” menu, a tribute to the fishermen of the region, accompanied by Casa Madero wines, Tequila Patrón, and beer from Bocanegra and Stella Artois.

 

Friday dinners were nothing short of spectacular with highlights including a Sunset Tapas and Wines vegan experience presented by Chef Leslie Durso and Sommelier Mónica de la Torre, a four-course dinner featuring regional ingredients by Chef Nicolás Díaz Rosáenz at Bahía restaurant, a contemporary take on North American cuisine by Chef Ford Fry at Aramara Restaurant, a Nayarit-inspired menu paired with Casa Madero wines by Chef Betty Vázquez, Gastronomic Ambassador of the Riviera Nayarit, hosted by Residents’ Beach Club. Like the Food Network come to life, there was also a culinary battle, where two outstanding St. Regis Resorts chefs went head-to-head, as Jesús Durón, Signature Chef of the AAA Five Diamond restaurant Carolina at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort and Miguel Navarro, Signature Chef of the Michelin Star restaurant Es Fum of The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, put on an exciting exhibition of bold flavors and culinary creativity to the delight of diners. Villa Palmasola, one of Punta Mita’s most emblematic residences, was the perfect space for an exclusive dinner that, along with Patrón tequila, was served by Australian Chef Andrew Ormsby.

 

The final night of the event saw a gala dinner hosted by Travel & Leisure, held at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, where chefs Miguel Navarro, Erick Guerrero, from Restaurant DOS, Joaquín Cardoso, Executive Chef at Hotel Carlota in Mexico City, and Executive Chef Manuel Peruyero presented the “Mexican Kitchen Collection”, a culinary journey through Mexican cuisine. And to close the wonderful weekend, Kupuri Beach Club held a Farewell Brunch hosted by the Riviera Nayarit and led by Punta Mita resident chef, Pato Pérsico, and guest chefs Betty Vázquez and Marco Valdivia, chef of Emiliano Cocina y Vino de Tepic, selected by Mexico Gastronomic Guide as one of the 120 most outstanding restaurants in the country.

 

Event organizers DINE, the master developer of Punta Mita, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita and the Convention and Visitors Bureau of the Riviera Nayarit wish to sincerely thank all the special guests and local talent who came together to create this memorable event in support of the Lorena Ochoa Foundation, supporting low-income children through education and sports. And, of course, the warmest thanks to Punta Mita guests and residents, who each year make this event an incredible success and a highlight within our community.