Casa Velas - Press Room

Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico (October 4, 2007) –Travelers and gourmets alike can savor food and wine pairings and delicious dinners prepared by chefs from all over the world during the 13^th annual Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. The event is taking place from November 8^th to 18^th, 2007 and Casa Velas, an adults-only, all-inclusive boutique hotel, and Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, are offering special culinary events for the occasion.

On November 15th at 1:00 p.m., the hacienda-style Casa Velas, located in Puerto Vallarta, is hosting the Cheese of the World & Monte Xanic Wine Tasting at its Emiliano gourmet restaurant. Guests staying at the hotel can taste artisan cheeses from Quesos Caprina in Atotonilco paired with the best national wines of Monte Xanic for a cost of $25.00 per person. In addition, Casa Velas Executive Chef Santiago Perez Ontiveros will be along side Special Guest Chef Gerard Dupont, President of the Academie Culinaire de France, preparing special delectable menus during the entire week for the enjoyment of the guests and locals. All-inclusive rates at Casa Velas start at $310 per person per night based on double occupancy, and $420 for single occupancy. For reservations, e-mail Casa Velas at info@hotelcasavelas.com, call 011-52-322-226-6688 or visit www.hotelcasavelas.com.

The 267-suite Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and its on-site gourmet French restaurant, Piaf, will be showcasing the talents of the exceptional Grand Velas Chef Victor Morales and Special Guest Chef Steven Harty, who is presently working with Wolfgang Puck as an Executive Chef for the Chicago market.  The special a la carte menu will be offered throughout the festival and it includes such delights as Terrine of Duck Foie Gras with Fig Chutney and Endive Salad with Roquefort Cheese, Nuts and Apples for appetizers. Entrees include Olive Oil Poached Halibut with Tomato Jam and Roasted Loin of Lamb with Eggplant Torte and Grapefruit Jus and for dessert, Mango and Passion Fruit Crème Brulée and Chocolate Tart served with Bananas sautéed in Rum and Coffee Ice Cream.  Rates at the all-inclusive Grand Velas start at $430 per person per night, based on double occupancy, and $810 per person per night, based on single occupancy. For reservations, call Grand Velas at 1-877-398-2784 or visit www.grandvelas.com.

For more information on the 10-day event, visit www.festivalgourmet.com.

Casa Velas is a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World and a recipient of the AAA's prestigious Four Diamond Award. The hotel's Emiliano a la carte fine dining restaurant is at the hands of one of the area's leading chefs serving Mexican and international cuisine. Casa Velas is located just five minutes from Puerto Vallarta Airport and only 15 minutes from the popular downtown area, art galleries, and "El Malecon" (the boardwalk). The hotel features 80 suites, some with private pools and Jacuzzis, and all with Bulgari amenities. The perfect vacation for golfers, Casa Velas is nestled on the greens of Marina Vallarta's 18-hole golf course and also offers golf privileges at two other top 18-hole golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf only 20 minutes away. Spa Casa Velas, a Leading Spa of the World, encompasses five treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy area, a fitness gym and a beauty salon.

About Grand Velas:

In Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and a recipient of the AAA Five-Diamond Award.  The resort offers five restaurants, three of which are gourmet, featuring stylish decor and a la carte choices for French, Italian or Mexican cuisine.  Located just 15 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta on Banderas Bay, Grand Velas features 267 ocean-view suites, ultra spacious Spa Suites in the resort's new tower and new three-bedroom and two-bedroom Imperial Suites.  The renowned Grand Velas Spa is the crown jewel of the resort and a member of Leading Spas of the World. The 16,500 square-foot spa features 20 treatment rooms, over 80 spa treatments, a high-performance gym and exercise room, spa boutique and a beauty salon. The resort also offers tiered three-temperature infinity pools with iPod minis, tennis court, 12,702 sq feet of meeting space and special entertainment for adults and kids.