Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Mexico has ascended to the very top of the global culinary world, with 6 of the top 50 restaurants on the planet selected by the Gourmand Magazine 2011 Guide to Restaurants and Fine Dining.

Once again the distinguished Chef Thierry Blouet who, after his outstanding performance at Madrid Fusion 2011, is now also being recognized as one of the 10 most influential chefs in the world. His Vallarta restaurant, Café des Artistes, has now been honored as the Best Restaurant in Mexico, and his Cocina de Author as the second best restaurant in the country.

The list includes prestigious restaurants like Biko, Pujol, Market, Pangaea, Nectar, DO, and Paxia, among others. Other Banderas Bay restaurants honored include La Leche, Chef Alfonso Cadena; St. Regis Punta Mita, Chef Sylvain Desbois; Thierry's Prime Steak House; and Trio, Chefs Bernhard Güth and Ulf Henriksson.

The Gourmand Guide to Restaurant and Good Food 2011, chaired by Gourmand Cesar Calderon, contains over 300 reviews of restaurants in the country, making it an important guide for traveling "foodies." It reflects the conclusions of an eclectic group of gourmands, who visited each restaurant at least six times during the year.

The evaluative criteria considered for these awards are the following:

Kitchen: taste, presence, value, honesty, style

Originality: general conceptual design, contribution

Harmony, Rhythm and Balance: space, image design, atmosphere, comfort, music, amenities, execution of service

Wine list: selection, marriage, maintenance, delivery, price, inclusion of national wines

Service: reception, attitude, knowledge, execution

Congratulations to Chef Thierry Blouet and the Grupo Café des Artistes staff, and to all of the other Banderas Bay area restaurants honored by Gourmand Magazine, including La Leche, St. Regis Punta Mita and Trio.