PRESS RELEASES
Expanded festival celebrates the rich diversity of Mexican cuisine and culture
December 20, 2021
Riviera Maya, Mexico – After a brief hiatus, Rosewood Mayakoba presents the second annual Yo ♥ Mexico, a celebration of the country’s rich flavors and traditions. Previously a weekend event, Yo ♥ Mexico is reimagined for 2022 as a four-month festival honoring Mexican wine, cuisine, and culture from January through April. Surrounded by lush Yucatan jungle and shimmering lagoons, Rosewood Mayakoba is a luxury destination renowned for its sense of place. Under culinary director Juan Pablo Loza, each dining venue pays homage to Mexico’s diverse epicurean heritage. Throughout Yo ♥ Mexico, visiting talent—each with deep personal connections to the country—join Loza to present a fresh culinary experience representing distinct Mexican regions from coast to coast.
“Mexico is steeped in rich history and culture, and offers a blend of indigenous and immigrant influences,” says Loza. “We are always aiming to highlight this diversity at our restaurants and look forward to showcasing the ingredients and techniques that make this country so special, along with guest chef perspectives, throughout Yo ♥ Mexico.”
Yo ♥ Mexico launches the weekend of Friday, January 14, 2022, with a specially curated weekend of guest chefs and mixologists. The event, presented by Los Siete Misterios premium mezcal, begins Friday with The Festival of Yucatan Cocktails at Zapote Bar, Loza’s love letter to the Yucatan, with Texas-based and Mexico-born guest bartender Alba Huerta. Huerta is the author of “Julep: Cocktails Refashioned,” and the owner of Houston cocktail spot Julep, where both she and the venue have received esteemed accolades, such as Imbibe Magazine’s “Bartender of the Year” and Bon Appetit’s Top Bars in the U.S.
Friday evening continues with a collaborative multi-course garden party under the sparkling strewn lights of La Ceiba Garden & Kitchen. For the intimate dinner, Loza and guest chefs Diana Davila of Mi Tocaya Antojería in Chicago, who was named one of the top Latina powerhouses by Hola Magazine; Joshua Gil, the Michelin Star-awarded chef/owner of Mirame in Beverly Hills; and Claudette Zepeda, a Top Chef alum who San Diego Union Tribune recently named “Chef of the Year,” will source ingredients from the onsite garden and prepare dishes over an open flame, in keeping with Mayan tradition.
On Saturday, January 15th, the decorated chef lineup will join Loza and the Rosewood Mayakoba team for A Culinary Journey Through Mexico at Aquí Me Quedo, a relaxed evening under the stars with live music and lounge seating overlooking the beach. Each chef will serve a specialty dish, inspired by Mexican street food, at their own pop-up station.
February events include a spotlight on Mexican wines from Valle de Guadalupe, celebrating the region’s history as the oldest wine producer in the Americas, with vineyards dating back to the 1500s. Guests include Tru Miller of Adobe Guadalupe, Amado Garza of Vinas de Garza, and Drew Deckman, chef/owner of Deckman’s, one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Baja California. Come April, the resort plays host to Amigos del Mar, a special evening featuring guest chefs from around Mexico in support of sustainable seafood practices, an issue Loza champions as VP of gastronomy for Come Pesca.
Additional Yo ♥ Mexico guests and partnerships will be announced in the coming weeks and months, with artistic, wellness, and cultural events that further enrich the festival’s programming. A portion of the proceeds from various events throughout the four-month period will also benefit Centro Educativo K’iin Beh, a local bilingual school financed by the Rosewood Mayakoba community.
For more information or to make reservations, please call +1 (877) 737-7538 (toll free from U.S. or Canada) or +52 984 875 8000. Guests can also book online here, or learn more about Yo ♥ Mexico here.
About Rosewood Mayakoba
Rosewood Mayakoba sits in the heart of a 620-acre resort enclave in the Riviera Maya. Built along winding lagoons and a mile-long arc of pristine beach, this oasis of indulgence offers 129 newly renovated suites with plunge pools, butler service, garden showers, individual docks and an exclusive collection of Private Residences with the finest in-room design and details. Resort amenities include a signature Greg Norman championship golf course, award-winning dining destinations, Rosewood Explorers® for children, and Sense® spa, which is designed around a cenote, one of the sacred water wells of the ancient Mayans and sits on a private island. The resort is built to abide by the highest of eco-standards, offering indulgence with awareness, and has recently been awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certification and was named one of Travel & Leisure’s Top Luxury Resorts in Mexico in 2019.
For more information: rosewoodmayakoba.com
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About Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® manages 28 one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts, and residences in 16 countries, with 25 new properties under development. Each Rosewood property embraces the brand’s A Sense of Place® philosophy to reflect the individual location’s history, culture, and sensibilities. The Rosewood collection includes some of the world’s most legendary hotels and resorts, including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris, as well as new classics such as Rosewood Hong Kong. For those who wish to stay a little longer, Rosewood Residences offer a distinct opportunity for ownership or rent in extraordinary destinations within the brand’s wide-ranging portfolio.
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