The Foodcation trend is here to stay and the St. Regis Punta Mita is on top of it: world class culinary team, fresh local ingredients and creative menus – Punta Mita did not disappoint.
Who doesn’t love a gorgeous beach, amenities galore and outstanding service while on vacation? Luxury hotel chains do not typically disappoint in these areas, but we have a new breed of traveler demanding more. If your taste buds are your new travel agent, then step into the light at the St. Regis Punta Mita. This place has it all.
Punta Mita (translation: gateway to paradise) is a beautiful secluded 1,500 acre community of perfectly placed rooms and villas. It was an easy 45-minute drive from the Puerto Vallarta airport and we arrived ready to conquer everything the St. Regis had to eat, drink and lounge on.
Margarita? Don’t mind if I do. Upon arrival we were greeted at the gates of this lovely property with a cold, perfectly executed drink allowing us to soak in the views and walk into paradise. With subtle and very efficient service on the beach, at the pools and in your room, there is no shortage of getting what you want, when you want it (think texting your personal butler).
The St. Regis signature cocktail is the Bloody Mary – invented at their New York property circa 1934 – and each individual resort puts their twist on the drink. The Mita Mary (you guessed it, tequila) was a creative spin on the morning libation.
I can’t mention the Mita Mary cocktail without giving a shout out to the lunch boat, Mita Mary Grill. For those ready to be roused from their post-breakfast pool snooze and feel like wandering down to the beach are in for a serious treat. Simply sit down and utter two words: LOBSTER TACOS. The charm of this beachfront grill is intoxicating with its chalkboard menus, beautiful palm trees providing shade, and drinks served in mason jars.
Executive Chef Gabriel Kolofon and his team have masterminded a menu for breakfast, in-room dining and lunch spots all over the property, but their signature restaurant, Carolina, is a true testament to the creative and authentic dishes they serve nightly.
Signature Chef Meza was kind enough to provide Chef’s Roll an exclusive, private tasting menu, paired with wines from regions all over Mexico. The service was professional, efficient, knowledgeable and welcoming, and the cuisine was flavorful, innovative and most importantly authentic to the Mexican culture with a modern twist. Every dish, every ingredient and every pairing was thoughtfully chosen to ensure a memorable dining experience. We started with an amuse-bouche to wake up our palates, then were presented with our first course, ceviche, created by Chef Meza from his interpretation of the rock islands in front of the resort just off the beach.
Course after course the creativity and attention to detail increased, while pairing the perfect wines to each bite. From the layout of the dish…
to the table side plating, it kept getting better.
We left this beautiful resort well rested, very well fed, and at a loss to find anything but positive things to say about the experience. If you aren’t picky about the time of year – St. Regis Punta Mita offers special values and promotions – just keep checking their website (and who doesn’t want to look at those photos over and over and go on a brain vacation?). No matter the time of year you visit – the food will be waiting and you will not be disappointed.
Learn more about Chefs Gabriel Kolofon and Jose Meza Arroyave on their Chef’s Roll profiles.
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