Gastronomy aficionados and connoisseurs attending the 30th annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the U.S.’s premier culinary festival, will have the opportunity to sample a taste of what Puerto Vallarta has to offer in the tantalizing delicacies prepared by Chef Kori Sutton, the Sous Chef at BOCADOSSTK, one of Puerto Vallarta’s leading restaurants and part of Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa.

Accomplished Chef Sutton has more than 10 years’ experience in all facets of cooking including tenures at Vallarta’s renowned restaurant Café des Artistes. While at the three day event Sutton will be offering Tomatillo Gazpacho with Mezcal, Lime Grilled Shrimp Season with toasted Gaujillo Chill Sea salt, Platano Macho Gorditas topped with Gaujillo Chili Rub Pork and Mango Confit, Baby watercress with Grilled Scallops, Aguachile Cream and Escabache Shallots showcasing the many flavors found in the dishes of Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta’s rich natural ingredients and beauty have been a source of inspiration for the creation of an exciting amalgam of flavors that blend traditional Mexican ingredients with contemporary tastes from around the globe. Visitors will find some of the world’s most fabulous restaurants, many of them Five Star Diamond Award recipients from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, offering menus that represent a combination of the destination’s unique mix of sea, mountains and colonial traditions.

Gastronomy is an integral part of Puerto Vallarta where Saint Pascual Bailon, the Patron Saint of cooks is a fixture in its infrastructure with a bronze statue of him is part of the destination’s waterfront boardwalk, the Malecon. The statue is engraved with the winners of the San Pascual awards, inspired by a Franciscan Friar and been give out since 2008 during Restaurant Week, held every year, during the last two weeks of May. The 2012 recipients were Chefs Guillermo González Beristaín, José Ramón Castillo and Juan Ramón Cárdenas Cantú.

In November of every year, Puerto Vallarta embraces its culinary scene with the annual International Gourmet Festival. Taking place from the 8th to the 18th of November, the 10-day festival features 30 star guest master chefs and participating restaurants offering special Chef’s Table and Winemaker dinners as well as cooking demonstrations, gourmet safaris, and cheese, wine and tequila tastings.
During the month of March visitors to Puerto Vallarta can enjoy the Vallarta Wine Fest, a yearly event that brings wines from Mexico, South America and beyond. Participating restaurants across Puerto Vallarta offer wine tasting and matching inside and out of their establishments some even provide outside entertainment.

Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s most popular destinations and Thomas Dale & Associates (TDA), a leading global investigative and security firm, found that the the international destination is one of the safest for American and Canadian travelers.

Travelers seem to be in agreement as the destinations’s hotel ocupancy for the first five months of the year has been 19% above last year for the same months. Consumers have also awarded numerous alcalades to the destination this years, including “Most Romantic Mexican Destination” and “Favorite Mexican Beach” from the readers of About.com and Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards have chosen Puerto Vallarta as the #9 Beach Destination and the number one overall destination in Mexico.

For Chef Sutton’s Bio, please click here. For Garza Blanca’s general release, please click here. For a print version of this release, please click here. For more information on Garza Blanca Preserve, Resort & Spa, pleasevisit www.garzablancaresort.com. www.blancablue.com, www.bocadosstk.com Restaurant Week: www.virtualvallarta.com/restaurantweek Food & Wine Aspen: www.foodandwine.com/classic International Gourmet Festival: www.festivalgourmet.com Vallarta Wine Fest www.vallartawinefest.com

For high resolution photos of Puerto Vallarta, please click here. For more information please visit: www.visitpuertovallarta.com

 Easily accessible from the US and Canada, Puerto Vallarta is a perfect summer destination providing a host of activities that all can enjoy. From strolling along Puerto Vallarta’s lively Malecón while enjoying free outdoor entertainment, to riding zip lines across tree tops or swimming with dolphins and sea lions, children and adults of all ages can share memorable moments in a fun-filled summer vacation.

Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s most popular destinations and Thomas Dale & Associates (TDA), a leading global investigative and security firm, found that the international destination is one of the safest for American and Canadian travelers.

This is a sentiment agreed by travelers as this year the destination has received numerous consumer-awarded titles, among them “Most Romantic Mexican Destination” and “Favorite Mexican Beach” from the readers of About.com and “Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice awards have chosen Puerto Vallarta as the #9 Beach Destination and the number one overall destination in Mexico.
Following is a list of some of the more popular activities to be enjoyed in Puerto Vallarta.

A Day in a Traditional Mexican Ranch: Ranches offer tours on horseback, by motorbike or hikes through surrounding ecosystems.

Sea Turtle Release Program Every night throughout turtle season, May to September, staff members from various hotels located along the beach gather the turtle eggs from the shore and take them for incubation. Once the hatchlings are born and are ready to be released into their natural habitat, the various hotels invite their guests to aid in the release of the newborn hatchlings on the beaches so they find their way into the water.

Las Caletas Islands Las Caletas is a secluded paradise, with a spectacular backdrop of the Sierra Madre Mountains, beautiful beaches, and even a tropical reef.
Los Arcos National Marine Park Famous for its 1600 foot underwater cliff “Devil’s Drop”, this protected park consists of towering rock arches, caves, tunnels, and reefs full of marine animals.
Yelapa & Majahuitas The small fishing villages of Yelapa and Majahuitas are two relaxing and unspoiled paradises that allow visitors to come in close contact with wildlife inhabiting the hills of the jungle.

Corbeteña Considered to be one of the best diving sites in Mexico. Its remote location is a benefit for those visitors desiring a secluded diving site, away from the typical diving tour destinations.
El Salado Mangrove Estuary The Estero del Salado lagoon is a paradise for birdwatchers; a beautiful expanse of white mangle, palm trees, mosses, ferns, and fauna.

San Sebastian This remote village has retained the charm of colonial Mexico while offering an impressive array of modern amenities and expansive views.
Canopy Tours: Canopy tours are an exciting way to see and learn about the varied tropical flora and fauna of the rainforest surrounding Puerto Vallarta. The adrenaline mounts as one rides from treetop to treetop, hovering over the canopy of the lush vegetation of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Water Parks Numerous water parks feature swimming pools, slides, toboggans, tube and thrill rides. Some water parks also offer dolphin, seal and sea lion shows as well.

By: Rodrigo López Becerril.

The National Chamber of the Restaurant Industry and Seasoned Foods (CANIRAC) and the Mexican Restaurant Association, along with more than 428 000 restaurants around the country, will participate in Gastronomic Week which will take place nationally from June 4th to 10th.

The CANIRAC of Puerto Vallarta, led by Alexander Desentis, encouraged its members to join the national initiative and to take advantage of an economic estimates of about 600 million pesos and the creation of 100 000 temporary jobs during Gastronomic Week.

According to the announcement, the exercise is to replicate the successful “Buen Fin” (Good Weekend) promotional event held in November of last year. Gastronomic Week will offer attractive promotions and packages for guests and families at their favorite restaurants and will increase sales in the sector to return the desired levels of economic growth and development.

To carry out the project, CANIRAC has 60 municipal offices in all states of the republic, where restaurateurs who want to participate may register and report the promotions that they will offer patrons.

Patrons can visit www.canirac.org.mx for a list of participating restaurants and their promotions. Participating restaurants will also display the Gastronomic Week logo. www.vallartaopina.com

[readon1 url="http://prensaglobal.com"]Source:Prensa Global - Translation by Suyapa Ajuria[/readon1]

By: Patrick Harrison.
Come dressed in your best traditional Mexican garb and join our Third Annual Season Close Mexican Fiesta while helping us raise funds for the Banderas Bay Women’s Shelter. Third Annual Season Close Mexican Fiesta

The first floor of the shelter will be completed this summer and your generous support will help them get to that exciting milestone this evening.

On Wednesday, June 13, from 7pm to 11pm, friends of the family will enjoy a complimentary signature Hot Chile Love Margarita to get the party started. We’ll also have live music, piñatas, a tequila bar, a 50/50 cash raffle, singing, dancing and other surprises as we say “mil gracias” to Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay!

In the NWJ! tradition, the person dressed in the "best" Mexican attire (as chosen by the family) will also enjoy a special No Way José! prize. Remember last year’s winner? Don’t hold back! Come enjoy our Tequila Bar that starts at 8:00pm for only $250 pesos per person. Our full bar and menu will also be available with all of your NWJ! favorites with a portion of all food and drink that evening going back to the Banderas Bay Women’s Shelter to help them “Raise da Roof!”

You will also have the chance to purchase bricks at $100 pesos per brick. For each brick purchased, you will receive a raffle ticket for some amazing prizes. Guests can also purchase a tile with their name or personal message. Tiles will be available in 2 sizes; a 4x4 tile for the shelter’s “Welcome Wall” for $1,200 Pesos/$100 USD/Canadian or a 8x12 floor tile for $2,500 Pesos/ $200 USD/ Canadian.

Tu Casa en Vallarta will also be saying “hasta la vista”, until October 15. But come by and see us Thursday or Friday, June 14 & 15 and everyone enjoys 50% off of food and drink… help us clean our fridge!

Don’t forget to stay tuned and follow us on our summer vacation adventures. We may be in your city soon. So watch for that “NWJ! Hot Chile Love Margarita Happy Hour Invitation”, possibly coming to a place near you wherever you may be this summer!

No Way José! is on the south side of downtown at 5 de Febrero 260, just over the Vallarta street bridge on your left heading south from the Malecon. Open Monday – Sunday, 4pm to 11:30pm. Seating is limited so make your reservations today by calling 223-2853 or online at www.NoWayJoseMX.com.  

Last week I talked about your summer of personal development. I want to continue that theme because, to me, absolutely nothing is more important!

You will become exactly, precisely and ONLY the person you decide to become.

Oh, I know, lots of people quibble about genetics and circumstances and "luck," and they do play a small role. Physical characteristics, like height and eye color and gender are controlled by genetics, and I understand tall, good-looking people have a small advantage. And, once in a while someone stumbles into the perfect job. Sure, that happens. But it's rare and not very important in the scheme of things.

Your choices, your actions and your skills play a vastly more important role in determining who you are and the life you live. How could it be otherwise?

There's lots of talk about "happiness" these days. It seems there's a new book almost every week, and that's a good thing. Who doesn't want to be happy? What confuses me is that I never knew there was so much mystery about it.

Happy people do certain things. They do work they love, and they are very good at it. They build supportive relationships, especially with family and loved ones. They save for the future, monitor their health, take time for fun, and invest in things that are worthwhile. When they need to get better at something--from learning a new skill, to talking with their teenagers, to saving for retirement-- they are pro-active. They find a mentor or read a book and learn the things they need to know and do to have a great life.

Where's the mystery in that?
Well, one mystery is that so few people actually do these things! I'm amazed at that!
In a world where health and wealth, pleasant entertainment and positive activities are so easy available, millions of folks sit in front of the television watching insipid comedies and horror movies! Our generation knows more about great relationships, great sex (tips can be found everywhere, it seems), saving for retirement and getting a bit of exercise than any generation in history.

And yet obesity and diabetes, heart disease, and general malaise are rampant. How can that be?
This is not for you! TIPS subscribers are the extreme "cream of the crop." We are the "best of the best." We are more aware, more intentional, more ambitious and wiser than 99% of the rest of the world. We read and think, we take classes, attend the seminars, and invest our time better than almost anyone.

That is true for you, personally, isn't it? Yes or No?

Gradually, over time, you will inevitably become the person you set out to be.

If you make conscious, intentional choices and pursue them actively, the results are virtually guaranteed. But, if you drift and wander, "go with the flow" and do what other people do, at the end of the day you'll get pretty much what other people get. And that is not for you!
This summer, become the person you truly are. Get up a bit earlier. Use these beautiful summer days for a bit of exercise. Read more, and better. Play with your kids (or grandkids) and volunteer some. Eat better. Plant some flowers and make the world a prettier place. And laugh, a lot!

Make a commitment that by September you'll be proud of how you spent your summer. By September, make sure you know a bit more, and have more of the life you truly want. Be a more loving, thoughtful spouse and parent. Be more daring, more courageous and more productive. Learn some new skills and create amazing memories. Make some money and use it well. Walk barefoot and eat corn on the cob.

There's very little mystery about "happiness." It's waiting for you! Claim it. Be who you are! Make this your summer of transformation.

 By:Brenda Montiel.
The Department of the Navy, Navy Mexico and the Puerto Vallarta Naval Sanatorium, will conduct a surgical conference for cleft lip and palate and burns for pediatric and adult patients.

The surgical conference will be held from July 9 to 11 and the Secretary of the Navy has designated Puerto Vallarta for these operations, but the surgeries are open to all citizens of Mexico who require them, and will be offered at the Naval Sanatorium free of charge.

There will be a census of patients until July 4 and on July 8 there will be preoperative assessments of candidates for surgery on the premises of Naval Sanatorium in Puerto Vallarta. Surgeons who will be performing these operations in Puerto Vallarta will come from Mexico City and the South Medical Hospital of the Navy of Mexico.

Not all persons will be candidates for the operations performed so it is stress that potential patients must attend the census before July 4. Those interested can visit or contact the Naval Sanatorium by calling 221 17 67, or sending an email request to the Eighth Naval District: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Vallartatoday.com shares with you the calendar and participating restaurants where you can enjoy life and culture with a glass or wine, in the most amazing portrails of Puerto Vallarta.

Thursday 22th Keynote "Wine and Women" Time: 11:00 am Venue: Convention Hall Hotel Friendly.

March 22th at 8:00pm, The Official opening of the Wine Fest 2012 will take place in the courtyard of the City of Puerto Vallarta (Downtown). There will be wine of honor for attendees, a brief presentation of the Municipal Theater Group and will be awarded to the winners of poetry contest.

Friday 23rd Dolores San Juan Show Singers and musicians will perform the Dolores San Juan Show in Los Arcos del Malecón. Time: 8:00 pm.

Saturday 24 March Wines of Northern Italy Great tasting-expo event! Come and try wine, breads, cheese and charcuterie. Will be conducted by professionals in hotel and restaurant industry. Pre-registration(essential) – 1:00 pm Pairing Demonstration (Alfonoso Cadena and Agustin Rodriguez) – 2:45 pm Tasting for couples – 2:45 pm Venue: Convention Hall of Hotel Velas Vallarta.

Sunday 25 March Verbena's Wine Fest a tradition in Puerto Vallarta,there will be rides, shows, dancing, wine sales at reduced prices and selling snacks prepared by participating restaurants, Time: 6:00 pm Location: Parque Lazaro Cardenas.

Monday 26 March Keynote "The wines of Italy" will be held at the Convention Hall of Hotel Friendly, Time: 11:00 am.

Tuesday 27 March "Pairing and Tasting" at Galerías Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta Time: 6:30 p.m Venue: Ground Floor Galerías Vallarta.

Participating restaurants: La leche, La dolche Vita, Porto Bello, La terraza di Roma, The river cafe, Blanca Blue, Le kliff Frascati, Prime 159 Porto Bello Bistro, La dolce Vita Nuevo Vallarta, Santa Marea, Los helechos.Note: The Festival starts on the 22th at participating restaurants with tastings and compatible food menus in about 6:00 pm until March 27th.

by William Harper

TO THE FRIENDS OF WAYNE McLEOD, editor Vallarta Today

For those of you who haven't heard, our good friend Wayne is fighting a (so far) winning battle with lung cancer. He has no insurance and his treatment up to now has more than drained any funds he had available. Wayne is looking at well over one-hundred thousand pesos in upcoming medical costs (mostly radiation therapy). Several of us have taken it upon ourselves to raise as much money as quickly as possible to help cover these expenses.

Wayne has given an awful lot to this community over the years via his fifteen-year editorship at Vallarta Today. Let's give something back. Time is of the essence.
Here's how you can help:

1. DONATIONS:

a. A direct deposit into his BANORTE account: Wayne Douglas McLeod, Accnt. No. 0805860029.

b. A peso or dollar check made out to Wayne. You can drop off the check at Lucy's Cucu Cabana - 295 Basilio Badillo - tel. 222-1220

2. ATTENDING THE "SILVER LINING BENEFIT FOR WAYNE McLEOD":

On Saturday, March 3, from 2pm to 5pm at Nacho Daddy's at 180 Basilio Badillo. Cost of entry: 250 pesos at the door, or 200 pesos in advance. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Lucy's Cucu Cabana. (See address above.) For the price of admission you will be given one meal and a drink. There will be a raffle, as well as a live auction and a silent auction of paintings.

3. HELPING WITH THE BENEFIT:

You can help us with the benefit by volunteering to gather raffle prizes, quality paintings, and BY SPREADING THE WORD.

For any questions, please feel free to contact Gil Gevins or Lucy Muniz. We can be reached at 222-4839 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

THANK YOU!!!

There wasn't breath in that land of death, and I hurried, horror-driven,With a corpse half hid that I couldn't get rid, because of a promise given;

It was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say: "You may tax your brawn and brains,

But you promised true, and it's up to you to cremate those last remains."

Now a promise made is a debt unpaid, and the trail has its own stern code. In the days to come, though my lips were dumb, in my heart how I cursed that load.

In the long, long night, by the lone firelight, while the huskies, round in a ring, Howled out their woes to the homeless snows - O God! how I loathed the thing.

And every day that quiet clay seemed to heavy and heavier grow; And on I went, though the dogs were spent and the grub was getting low; The trail was bad, and I felt half mad, but I swore I would not give in; And I'd often sing to the hateful thing, and it hearkened with a grin.

Till I came to the marge of Lake Lebarge, and a derelict there lay; It was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a triceit was called the "Alice May." And I looked at it, and I thought a bit, and I looked at my frozen chum; Then "Here," said I, with a sudden cry, "is my cre-ma-tor-eum."

Some planks I tore from the floor, and I lit the boiler fire; Some coal I found that was lying around, and I heaped the fuel higher; The flames just soared, and the furnace roared-such a blaze you seldom see; And I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, and I stuffed in Sam McGee.

Then I made a hike, for I didn't like to hear him sizzle so; And the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled, and the wind began to blow. It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled down my cheeks, and I don't know why; And the greasy smoke in an inky cloak went streaking down the sky.

I do not know how long in the snow I wrestled with grisly fear; But the stars came out and they danced about ere again I ventured near; I was sick with dread, but I bracely said: "I'll just take a peep inside. I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked";... then the door I opened wide.

And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, in the heart of the furnace roar; Ae wore a smile you could see a mile, and he said: "Please close that door. It's fine in here, but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm - Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it's the first time I've been warm."

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Artic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold; The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee

by William Harper

Over the next few weeks we will be posting selected poems from this great author.
Today, we will start with a short biography.

Robert William Service (January 16, 1874 – September 11, 1958) was a poet and writer who has often been called "the Bard of the Yukon".
Service is best known for his poems "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee", from his first book, Songs of a Sourdough (1907; also published as The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses). "These humorous tales in verse were considered doggerel by the literary set, yet remain extremely popular to this day." Songs of a Sourdough has sold more than three million copies, making it the most commercially successful book of poetry of the 20th century.

Robert W. Service was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, the first of ten children. His father, also Robert Service, was a banker from Kilwinning, Scotland who had been transferred to England.

At five years old Robert W. Service went to live in Kilwinning with his three maiden aunts and his paternal grandfather, who was the town's postmaster. There he is said to have composed his first verse, a grace, on his sixth birthday:

God bless the cakes and bless the jam;
Bless the cheese and the cold boiled ham:
Bless the scones Aunt Jeannie makes,
And save us all from bellyaches. Amen

Cuban born Lazaro Navarro defeated Rolando Vargas of Queretaro this past Saturday afternoon 6-4, 6-3 to win the professional category of the 21st Canto del Sol Cup Tennis Tournament.
The winners in the amateur catergories were:
Men's A - Levi Navarro (Los Mochis)
Men's B - Francisco Javier Macias (Guadalajara)
Men's C - Jose Quezada (Privadas)
Men's D - Jorge Romero (Colomos)
Men's Novice - Juan Carlos Solis (Puerto Vallarta)

Women's B - Rosa Elena Sevilla
Women's C - Edith Marquez
Women's D - Lorena Martinez
Women's Novice - Paty Rodriguez

Boy's 18 - Luis Dominguez (Jalisco)
Boy's 16 - Jorge Verea (Jalisco)
Boy's 14 - Adrian Betanzos (Jalisco)
Boy's 12 - Miguel Arevalo (Sinaloa)
Boy's 10 - Humberto Angulo (Sinaloa)

Girl's 16 - Ivette Lopez
Girl's 14 - Viridiana Valdez
Girl's 12 - Rebecca Aguirre

by Wayne McLeod

The Hacienda Palo Maria this past Sat., Mar. 26 was the site for the SPCA-PV/Asilo San Juan Diego old folks' home benefit "Gala Dinner," just part of a super weekend that also included a concert, a gourmet brunch, and a late night beachside V.I.P. party. The funds raised will go toward construction of an animal shelter, a longtime goal of SPCA-PV's Janice Chatterton.

The 300-plus crowd Saturday at Phil Stewart's southern shore palatial hacienda had payed 1,900 pesos each to dine on an exquisite menu by restaurateur Joe Jack (of PV and San Francisco, CA renown), which included a pyramid (the centerpiece of each table of ten guests) of fresh seafood – flown in from France the day before.

The preceding Friday evening concert at Teatro Vallarta, the newly-built worldclass auditorium featured Jalisco native tenor Jorge Jimenez and soprano Anna Maria Kaufmann. Alberta native Anna Maria Kaufmann is a mega-star in Germany, where she played the female lead in "Phantom of the Opera" at over 500 performances (the soundtrack sold more than 1.9 million copies). She also sang the composer's Music of the Night and Think of Me. In Yvonne's honor, she performed two of Yvonne's father Emmerich's arias Just shy of a sell-out in the 960 seat concert hall, the musical event created a critical "Bravo!" that continued all weekend.

Following the concert was a cocktail reception with open bar, canapes El Dorado Restaurant, Bar & Beach Club on Playa Los Muertos in the Southside area of Puerto Vallarta.

Saturday's elegant Gala Dinner Party and Auction – with a host of entertainers including the folkloric dance troupe "Fandango," opera's Jorge Jimenez and Anna Maria Kaufmann, Mariachi la Joya de Mexico, and the country rock Mark Odom band from San Antonio, TX – had guests enjoying the fruits de mer platter, roasted beet salad, seafood chowder, cucumber-melon sorbet (to cleanse the palate), and ancho braised short rib (accompanied by a trio of early spring vegetables and mashed potatoes), and finally a succulent dessert (with handrolled cigars for those who desired). With a finale of fireworks, guests had a plethora of visual and sensual delights to savor.

To close the "Charity, Culture and Champagne" weekend, a Sunday Brunch was held at Casa Yvonneka, where 200 guests enjoyed a wonderful view of Puerto Vallarta while being entertained by the classical popular favorites by the Peregrino Quartet. The astronomical offering by casa owner Yvonne Kalman included international specialties, Champagne and Patron Tequila. Her father was famed German opera composer Emmerich Kalman.

Coupled with the ongoing Fandango and the recent Frida production, Puerto Vallarta now has world-class theater to offer its residents and visitors in a comfortable large auditorium.

Funds raised from this event will benefit the SPCA de PV and Asilo San Juan Diego. The SPCA is a private non-profit organization dedicated to promote sterilization, adoption and pet care with the goal of eliminating the euthanasia of healthy and adoptable animals. Asilo San Juan Diego's Mission is to build a comfortable quality retirement home for the needy elderly of Puerto Vallarta.

Anna Maria Kaufmann

Jorge Jimenez