“A Taste of Veracruz”: Fusion of Flavors and Cultures.

 

Miami, August 27^TH, 2008- Mexico brings its delicious and authentic food straight to the locals of South Florida as the JW Marriott Miami Hotel welcomes the culinary festival “A Taste of Veracruz”. Regional succulent dishes from this State of the Gulf of Mexico will be served for lunch and dinner at La Terraza Cafe & Bar, from September 18th through the 21st.

Chef Jose Burela, a seasoned and renowned chef from Veracruz, will personally prepare and share some of the most representative dishes of this cuisine that is rich in flavors from the sea, blended with pre-Hispanic savors and spices and the influence of the Spanish gastronomy.

Throughout the four days of the food festival, La Terraza Cafe & Bar at the JW Marriott Miami Hotel will be decorated in the typical atmosphere of a quaint veracruzano eatery with regional music. Some of the specialties that people will enjoy are fried beans with shrimp pulp in garlic, tostadas de minilla (fried tortilla with shredded fish) fish ceviche (marinated raw fish), chipotle shrimp, shrimp tacos, veracruzana style fish and pescado empapelado (fish cooked wrapped in paper)  in green sauce.

“Gastronomy and regional food are an exceptional way to getting to know a country. To taste a dish, to know its origin and ingredients is a way to embrace a culture and discover its traditions”, explained Teresa Villarreal, Director of the Mexico Tourism Board’s office in Miami. “For us it is a great opportunity to reveal Veracruz through its flavors and aromas and to awake in people the desire to visit this extraordinary State”.

A Taste of Veracruz is part of the celebrations that commemorate the Mexican Independence month of September and will kick off on the 18^th at 6:30 pm with a reception at the JW Marriott Miami Hotel, 1109 Brickell Avenue in Miami.  The inaugural cocktail will be presided by Ivan Hillman, Secretary of Tourism of the State of Veracruz, Ambassador Juan Miguel Gutierrez Tinoco Consul of Mexico in Miami and Teresa Villarreal Director of The Mexico Tourism Board.

A master cooking class for media will take place on September 17^th at the host hotel, where the press will be able to learn and experience an interactive demonstration on how to cook a dish from that region, the recipe, ingredients and history behind it.   

“This will be the 10th Food Festival coordinated by the Mexico Tourism Board in Miami and we are very proud to have brought every year a little sample of the different regional dishes of the rich and varied Mexican Gastronomy to the community in South Florida”, comments Teresa Villarreal.

A Taste of Veracruz is organized by the Mexico Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism of Veracruz with the support of the General Consulate of Mexico. This year festival sponsors include: JW Marriott Miami Hotel, AeroMexico, Tequila Herradura and Corona.

Discover what Lies Beneath the Gastronomy of Veracruz.

Veracruz, a state with a tropical climate and impressive natural scenery, is located in Mexico’s eastern region along the Gulf Coast. Veracruz is synonymous of music, dancing, harps and marimbas, picturesque cities and towns with a unique local architecture. All together these elements conceive the “jarocho” culture.  

This state has a very appealing and diverse offering to delight all kind of interests. From the Port of Veracruz -the nation’s most important- famous for its festive atmosphere, well known for its “Carnival” a vivid and colorful celebration as well as its tiny magical towns such as the coffee town of Coatepec or the quaint town of Tlacotalpan alongside the Papaloapan River, declared a World Heritage Site.

For an amazing archaeological experience Tajin has no comparison. The archaeological site was built by the Totonacas civilization, with a unique architecture of carved relieves on the columns and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Veracruz offers beaches with calm waters that are ideal for doing all kinds of aquatic sports, amazing waterfalls at Xico or impressive rivers at Jalcomulco perfect for adventure sports and ecotourism activities.

Veracruz’s plazas are filled with life, in almost every single town people gather in the zocaloes, to drink a cup of delicious coffee from the region while watching couples dancing to the rhythm of danzon music. Veracruz is not just a destination; is the soul of the people who live on the coast, lively, joyful, the kind of people that enjoy dancing in the streets.

About the Mexico Tourism Board 

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. 

FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTB’s U.S. Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com, or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com.  To access an online warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visitmexicopress