 |
|
|
 Vallarta Living | October 2006 
Culinary Jam Raises $180,000 Pesos for Charity
 Kathy Taylor - PVNN
| | $180,000 pesos were raised for four appreciative local charities. (Photos by Kathy Taylor) |
| | Culinary Jam Chefs are introduced. |
| | Master of Ceremonies Luis Fitch with Marriott CasaMagna Director of Public Relations, Josefina Naya. |
| | You can always count on Bill and Annette Semeyn to support a worthy cause and have fun doing it! |
| | "Day-O" Graham Ross, one of Vallarta's most versatile entertainers. |
| | Jam supporters Hervert R. Kunz Todesco and Betty del Rio Kunz. |
| | The Marriott's Executive Chef Fred Ruiz with certificate of appreciation. |
| | Chef Thierry Blouet brought his Cafe des Artistes brigade. |
Puerto Vallarta's 3rd annual Culinary Jam Session took place at the Casa Magna Marriott on Wednesday night, raising $180,000 pesos for four local charities.
Four of the hottest chefs in town invaded the Marriott CasaMagna kitchens to join Executive Chef Fred Ruiz in producing a collaborative menu of five outstanding courses for three hundred supporters of "An Event of Friends for Friends".
And what is a jam session without music? Pianists Antonio LaConte and Enrique Flores tickled the ivories during the lively cocktail hour before dinner, a finger snapping apertif for the feast for the senses that followed.
Cuban guitarist "Papo" Ulises took to the stage inside the starry Marriott banquet room to lead the happy crowd into the main acts of the evening's bill.
First soloist was Master Chef Thierry Blouet and his team from Café des Artistes and Cocina de Autor. A perfect slice of roasted vegetable and goat cheese terrine graced the plate, accompanied by an "Artiste" signature item, a shot of ginger cream. The terrine vegetables delicately wrapped the mildest of creamy goat cheese, the ginger shot a vibrant foil to the subtlety of the terrine. Sublime.
Next in the spotlight was Chef Luis Fitch of Los Xitomates, who, true to his reputation for "Alta Cocina Mexicana," brought the fruit of the land to the table in a soaring tasty tune called Shrimp Taxtihuil. Succulent shrimp napped with a sweet and tangy sauce made from tuna, the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, called out for an encore, but there were more acts to come...
Vista Grill/La Palapa headliner Chef Pedro Lira blew the notes off the page with his Red snapper with mashed potatoes and a few tender spears of asparagus, all drizzled with a sherry and soy reduction. A confetti of Spanish chorizo lent a jazzy chord to this delicious fish dish.
The European stylings of main man Andreas Rupprechter of Kaiser Maximilian were played to perfection by Chef Carlos Palomera. Roast veal with glazed vegetables, a potato albondiga and a creamy wild mushroom sauce set the crowd's taste buds wild and their feet tapping. Applause, please.
What is a great night of culinary showmanship without a sexy finale? And what is sexier than chocolate three ways? Mmmm. Host Marriott CasaMagna Chef Fred Ruiz crooned a tune with three luscious layers of chocolate mousse, bathed in vanilla sauce with a mouthful of fresh berries. Music for lovers...
Before the 300 diners could get too snuggly, the crisp conga beats, wailing sax and evocative vocals of Graham Ross, one of Vallarta's best jazz and blues musicians, brought them to their feet, and they didn't sit down again until it was time to introduce the Chefs:
Café des Artistes - Chef Thierry Blouet and team
Los Xitomates - Chef Luis Fitch
Vista Grill/La Palapa - Chef Pedro Lira
Kaiser Maximilian - Chef Carlos Palomera and Owner Andreas Rupprechter
Marriott CasaMagna - Chef Fred Ruiz
...and representatives of the local charitable organizations dedicated to helping the less fortunate:
AGAPE (Aid, Grace, Love, Pardon and Hope): Focusing on children who have been abused by their families, they provide food, shelter and loving protection. For more information, click HERE.
Arturo and the Children of God: This benevolent organization offers assistance to families of limited means and complete financial assistance for the disabled. Medical service is provided to families, transportation and expenses according to their needs; they also provide a home with food and medical services to five families of limited means. For more information, click HERE.
Becas Vallarta (Vallarta scholarships): According to Carlos Fergoso, longtime Becas Vallarta supporter, one of their mandates is to "educate parents on the value of education." Scholarships are granted to children of limited means from Grade 8 on into university, as long as they maintain an 85% average. Of the 360 students currently enrolled in the Becas program, 90 are attending university. For more information, click HERE, or send an email to becasvallarta@yahoo.ca
San Juan Diego Home for the Aged: The mandate of this relatively new organization is to take care of the aged. "Help us Build It" is the name of their campaign to collect enough donations to construct a permanent home.click HERE.
One hundred percent of the $180,000 pesos raised at Vallarta's 3rd Culinary Jam will be divided between the four charities, who wish to extend their thanks to the chefs, the Marriott CasaMagna team, Vinos Ferrer Asociados y los Vascos, Casa Pedro Domecq, and all of the other sponsors who made the 2006 Culinary Jam an enjoyable and successful fund raising event.
If you missed the 2006 Puerto Vallarta Culinary Jam, donations to these very worthy causes can be made at any time by contacting them individually. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us