The VIII Annual American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf was another resounding success of golf, gastronomy and the unmatched lifestyle that is the hallmark of Punta Mita living. With 200 players taking to the greens and hundreds more attending the weekend events, held from November 29th to December 2nd, this edition of the Gourmet & Golf was more memorable than ever. With an eye to local and sustainable ingredients and a nod to Mexican cooking techniques and traditions, unique culinary experiences were created by resident and guest chefs and sommeliers of distinction, while legendary professional golfers created unparalleled game experiences on our spectacular golf courses.
The event got off to an exciting start with The Punta Mita Golf Challenge hosted by Grey Goose. The wonderful Lorena Ochoa and Craig “The Walrus” Stadler played a 4-hole match challenge on holes 1, 16, 17 and 18 on our Pacifico Jack Nicklaus Signature course, to the delight of the crowd. Thursday continued with Opening Night sponsored by Aeroméxico at the Sea Breeze Beach Club at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort with more than 10 chefs paying homage to Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The resort´s talented culinary team, joined by guest chefs John Signorelli from The St. Regis Houston, Erik Guerrero from DOS Restaurant in Veracruz and Alex Branch from Hakasana Group in Los Cabos, wowed guests with a wonderful menu complemented with signature cocktails from Grey Goose and Tequila Patron.
Friday and Saturday brought out a record-setting 200 golfers out to compete for the American Express Golf Cup on the Pacífico and Bahía courses. Congratulations to all the top players.
Men’s Division
1st Place Juan Rosales & David Rosales
2nd Place Jorge Campos & Todd McKenzie
3rd Place Jose Seoane & David Gonzalez
Ladies Division
1st Place Lisa Mahoney & Katie Hollern
2nd Place Jeanette Orozco & Yolanda Villa
3rd Place Heather Garboden & Stephanie Quinn
Mixed Division
1st Place Ricardo Escamilla & Lucero Rosales
2nd Place Michael Reichman & Bryana Nguyen
3rd Place Hector Pérez & Jessica Pérez
Kupuri Beach Club and Chubb Insurance featured 3 guest chefs and 3 fun options to choose – restaurant, beach lunch or food truck, including recognized Mexican guest chef, Pedro Abascal, who served innovative and creative twists of traditional Mexican cuisine, Chef Abraham Salum prepared some of his favorite dishes from the grill accompanied with wines from Casa Madero and Chef Sergio Chavez from Mexico City presented traditional food truck fare with a sophisticated twist and the beats of our resident DJ Omar Covarrubias, all as part of the American Express Platinum House Experience.
In the later afternoon, Executive Chef Jorge González and Vegan Chef Leslie Durso hosted an entertaining Culinary Challenge at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, where Chef Ángel Vázquez was declared winner for his two innovative vegan dishes.
Life is all about options and the Gourmet & Golf delivered, with five incredible dinner options all with unique menus: Sufito Restaurant with Chef Antonio de Livier, Bahía by Richard Sandoval Restaurant with Chef Atzin Santos, Aramara Restaurant with Chef Ángel Vázquez, Carolina Restaurant with Chef Alexander Branch & Chef Erik Guerrero, and an exclusive American Express event for Centurion Members with Chef Andrew Ormsby creating an amazing 5-course menu paired with Tequila Patrón & Mexican wines held at Casa Tesoro, one of the latest additions to the Stellar Collection of luxury private homes in Punta Mita. To top off the night, guests headed to Sea Breeze Beach Club to dance to music from Resident DJ Manolo.
Saturday began under perfectly blue skies for the second day of the event. The Tequila Patron Awards Luncheon toasted the winners while all enjoyed live cooking stations and craft cocktails from the culinary teams of Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita and The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort. While at Sufito, Chef Alfredo Villanueva prepared a mouthwatering menu on wood-burning grill perfectly paired with Bocanegra Beer and a gorgeous ocean view.
For dinner, Saturday night saw chefs Antonio de Livier, Yasuo Asai, Abraham Salum, Sergio Chávez, Andrew Ormsby, Betty Vázquez, Alfredo Villanueva and Pato Pérsico come together for an unmatched dining experience. The event closed in high style, with a sophisticated urban lounge playlist from RHYE, followed by dancing to the beats of DJ Mely Cantu under that stars until the wee hours, with fireworks lighting up the sky overhead. It was the perfect combination of sophistication, culinary art and toes-in-the-sand luxury that is so uniquely Punta Mita.
Riviera Nayarit sponsored the Sunday Farewell Brunch where Chef Betty Vazquez, the Riviera Nayarit Culinary Ambassador, and guest chefs presented brunch classics and some delicious seafood specialties at Sea Breeze Beach Club at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, for a relaxed end to an exceptional weekend.
Thank you to all participants, guests, sponsors and our wonderful guest chefs and golf professionals who helped make the VIII edition of the American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf another outstanding success. The challenge has already begun to create an even more spectacular IX edition in 2019.