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I think, ?This must be golf heaven? as we drive along paths crisscrossing fairways and gaze over the green turf to the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean.
At Mexico?s St. Regis Punta Mita Resort for the Golf and Gourmet Weekend last April, I?m standing in the middle of that beautiful shot you see on TV ? when it?s a howling minus 30 C in Canada ? showing celebrity golf tournaments at world class golf clubs in tropical climes where the ocean sparkles, the palm trees sway, the perfect grass carpet stretches into the distance and the pro hits a 300-yard drive into the sun.
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort offers two courses (designed by Jack Nicklaus) bordered by the Pacific Ocean and tropical jungle, but this resort is a great destination for the non-golfer, too.
The third annual G&G weekend is scheduled for next week ?April 11-14, 2013. During last year?s event, more than 20 chefs from around the world and their teams cooked up dream menus for a three-night/four-day gourmet experience. Every meal was a multi-course foodgasm, with a dozen or so sommeliers and vintners coaching guests through wine sampling experiences.
The G&G experience was created three years ago by Carl Emberson, general manager of The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort.
?Each destination needs to have a high profile event for which the area becomes known and should be still going on when I?m dead and buried,? Emberson says. ?This type of event puts the destination on the map and highlights what we have here, like beautiful golf courses. We are able to highlight area wines and tequila, providing a superlative gastronomic experience.??
Visitors this year can expect the same format I enjoyed last year. Festivities kicked off with The Grand Wine Tasting on Thursday afternoon. Products of two Mexican wineries were introduced, and since these vintages don?t often make it this far north, I was pleasantly surprised by their quality and the bold representation of Mexican terroir.
The opening cocktail party, held around the property?s stepped infinity pool, featured delicacies paired with cocktails by six chefs.?
Friday dawned bright and hot on a late April morning, with 91 of the guests hitting the links for the two-day tournament. Golfers received a putter and other gifts from the sponsors, as well as chances to win an Audi. Since this is a gourmet event, food and beverage stands were located throughout the courses.
Teams were made up of two players, and on day one, the tournament was a scramble style event with a shot-gun start. Day two changed it up with best-ball play for the same two-player teams.
I opted to explore the 1,500-acre property that stretches along 9.5 miles of Pacific coastline along the Riviera Nayarit peninsula.
I was impressed by the famous 3B hole (called Tail of the Whale and located on a small island a few yards from the tee on the mainland) and the private villas, each with its private pool overlooked by a palm-shaded patio.?
The culmination of the weekend?s gastronomic Olympics came on Saturday evening with a cocktail party and tapas buffet at the Four Seasons. As a beautiful sunset settled over the Pacific, golf awards and kudos to the chefs were handed out. Then the band serenaded diners as they enjoyed dishes, like thumbnail size sushi made from ocean fresh fish, grilled octopus and poached shrimp, filet of angus beef and red snapper tacos. Pastries and cakes were served with sprinkles and sauces all along a candy ?bar.?
Each of the 200 luxury suites at the St. Regis Punta Mita features an outdoor shower, adding a touch of the exotic. Most of the fully furnished balconies overlook one of three pools on the property, one of which is an adults-only facility with a hot tub at the beach?s edge.
The property?s three restaurants serve California and Mexican cuisine.
The resort includes tennis courts, horseback riding and a myriad of water sports.
The 10,000-square-foot spa is a bonus with nine treatment rooms including two for couples offering various types of wraps, massages and facials, spa patrons can be pampered from head to toe.
I opted for a 60-minute total relaxation body massage and have never felt more relaxed. Fully restored, I was ready to tackle more the gourmet fare lined up for the special golf and gourmet weekend.
Though the Pacific is rocky along the coast here, there are a couple of swimmable areas along the beach.?
An hour?s taxi ride from the Puerto Vallarta airport, this area of the Pacific coast is reportedly good for whale watching early in the year when the waters are still cold and it?s known for surfing when they warm up.
Source: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/04/03/from-golf-to-gourmet-food-in-mexico
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