Mexico’s Top Resorts Bring Cinco de Mayo Home

Posted by Tim Cotroneo
on April 29, 2020

Wouldn’t it be great to bring your favorite Mexican resort recipes into the privacy of your own home? Here is your chance to sample the best recipes from The Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, the Sofitel Mexico City Reforma, the Fairmont Mayakoba, Casa Kimberly, and LaPaz as they share some of their most popular dishes just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Enjoy!

Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Mexico

Nestled in what was once a small fisherman village about half an hour outside of Cancun, Grand Residences Riviera Cancun is a hidden coastal treasure full of incredible cuisine, luxurious amenities and breathtaking views of the coastal waters. While staying safe in their homes for the time being, future guests can recreate a few of the resort’s classic dishes together and virtually transport themselves to Grand Residences from the comfort of their kitchens.

Guacamole, Flor de Canela Style (One of the resort’s restaurants)

Ingredients:

2 Avocados
0.1 Kg. Onion
1 Serrano pepper
30 grams Coriander
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
¼ piece of Granny Smith Apple
½ a Pomegranate
¼ Lime
16 pieces of Tortilla
5 Grams Salt
20 Grams Cotija Cheese

Procedure:

Chop the onion, cut the serrano pepper in half, remove seeds and chop. Cut cilantro and green apple.
Cut two avocados, remove the pits and place the pulp in a bowl.
Mash the avocado, add lime juice, serrano pepper, coriander, apple, olive oil. Season with salt and present in a bowl with the avocado pit, grated Cotija cheese and seeds of pomegranate.
Cut the tortillas in Triangle and fry them in oil. Serve alongside Guacamole

*Serves 4 People

Tips on tasting tequila (from the resort’s in-house tequila expert):

“There are so many different flavor notes and blends of tequila, one for every kind of preference, yet tequila is rarely recognized for such,” said Javier Moreno Gomez, Tequila & Wine Sommelier at Grand Residences Riviera Cancun. “Many people believe the liquor is meant to be enjoyed only in a mixed drink and while this is one way to savor the beverage, tequila is also relished when sipped at room temperature. Similar to wine, the right tequila for each person can be found through testing out the different blends, techniques for drinking and what each one is best paired with. I believe that there is a tequila out there for everyone!”

Tequila is meant to be tasted in a wine glass, Riedel Ouverture is the official tequila glass, but also If you want to discover some of the subtleties of tequila, use a wine glass. You may even find a large brandy snifter helps you appreciate the aromas better.
Similar to the methods used for wine and other spirits, the basic tasting method includes:
- Swirl
- Sniff
- Sip
- Swallow

First check the glass for the color, there will be noticeable differences in a reposado or añejo. While color doesn’t affect the flavor, the density or hue can suggest the amount of wood in the tequila and hint towards its complexities.
Swirl the tequila. Look for the legs – the tears of the agave. These suggest essential oils in the tequila, and the presence of alcohol, if the tears fall quickly they are going to have less alcohol but if the tears fall slowly you will have more alcohol. Swirling the liquid also releases some of the molecules into the air for the next step.
Tequila has a lot more alcohol than wine, and alcohol rises quickly, there will be more alcohol at the top of the glass, so different parts will have different aromas. Try to sniff different areas of the glass to see what you can get.
If you use a brandy snifter to taste the tequila, you will discover there are three distinct places in the glass to test – the bottom (closest to the tequila) has the alcohol; the middle has the agave, and the top has the wood.
Tequila is known to have 600 different aromas. Citrus, mint, freshly cut grass, floral, honey, oak, almond, vanilla , butterscotch, chocolate, leather and caramel are all common aromas.
Then sip a small amount – and hold the tequila in your mouth for about 10 seconds, while sucking in a bit of air. Move it around a bit to get it over your tongue, and suck in some air over top of the tequila to bring the aromas up to your nose again. Breathe out through your nose before swallowing. There are different taste zones on your tongue – four specific areas for salty, sweet, bitter and sour. Try to be sure the tequila washes over the entire tongue.
Swallow, of course, so you can appreciate any finish or aftertaste.
Remember that everything you eat before a sip will affect the taste of the tequila.

Sofitel Mexico City Reforma

Sofitel Mexico City Reforma is the first luxury property in Mexico City in more than a decade. For a taste straight from the heart of the culinary destination, try recreating these recipes at home this Cinco De Mayo.

English Margarita

Number of people: 1

Ingredients:

40 ml Tequila Patrón white (Atotonilco)
20 ml Cointreau French orange liqueur
15 ml Giffard pear liqueur
20 ml sesame oil
1 green pea and pink salt to decorate

Preparation:

In a shaker add tequila, orange liqueur, pear, lemon juice and ice.
Shake hard.
Serve in a glass previously frosted with salt and add new ice.
Garnish with a pea branch and 6 drops of sesame oil.

Guacamole

Ingredients:

Avocado 1.5 KG (Peel it)

Tomato 250 G (cut into 5 mm cubes without seeds)

White onion 250 G (finely chopped)

Lemon juice 80 Ml

Olive Oil 10 Ml

Serrano pepper 150 G (small cubes 2mm without seeds)

Colima salt 20 G

Preparation:

Mash the avocado with the onion, tomato and serrano pepper.

Add lemon juice, olive oil and season with salt.

As in the photo, decorate with:

Chargrill sauce

Nixtamalized fried corn

Baby coriander leaves

Different colors of toasts

Drops of olive oil

Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Spice up your typical margarita this Cinco de Mayo with this recipe from Fairmont Mayakoba that will transport you to the beach.

Recipe – Cucumber Habanero Margarita

Ingredients:

1oz 100% Agave Tequila Reposado
1oz 100% Agave Tequila Reposado Habanero Infused*
1oz Fresh Lime Juice
.75oz Agave Nectar*
Garnish: Orange Peel and Half Salted Rim
Glassware: Double Old Fashioned 12oz

Instructions:

First rim the glass with salt by taking a lime wedge and rubbing the outside of the lip of the glass. Then by using a plate with kosher salt on it press the rim of the glass to the salt. Salt half the rim. Add all ingredients into a shaker tin then shake vigorously for 5 seconds. Strain over fresh ice into salt rimmed glass then garish with orange peel.

*Habanero Tequila:

Use 1 fresh habanero the size of a large strawberry. Slice is quarters then add to 1 bottle of Reposado tequila. Let rest for 24hrs. Tequila is ready for use.

*Agave Nectar:

Using the similar ratio in making simple syrup do the same with agave nectar. One-part agave nectar: 1 part water. Feel free to add the zest of lime and orange to the syrup for added flavor.

16oz Agave Nectar: 16oz Water

Zest of 2 limes

Zest of 1 orange

Casa Kimberly, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Casa Kimberly, a luxurious escape in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, played a pivotal role in one of the most romantic moments in Old Hollywood history, the legendary romance of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. In 1964 Burton gifted Taylor what was then a house on her 32^ndbirthday and it became their renowned love nest. Now, the restored and expanded property offers nine Mexican Colonial meets Hollywood glam-styled regal suites, pool, spa and an open-air rooftop restaurant and bar named The Iguana Restaurant and Tequila Bar. The Tequila Bar serves a wide array of top-flight tequilas and mezcals, all made within driving distance of Casa Kimberly in the legendary region of Jalisco. Its most popular drink is the Casa Kimberly Margarita. “Mexico’s most well-known cocktail is a simple combination of good tequila, a little orange liqueur with a splash of fresh lime and orange juice. This uncomplicated and classic cocktail pairs well with everything but I like mine best with some freshly made ceviche,” said Juanita Gutierrez, General Manager of Casa Kimberly.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Tequila Sauza Hornitos
1 oz Orange liqueur such as Cointreau
1 oz fresh Lime Juice
1/3 oz fresh Orange Juice

Instructions:

Pour all ingredients into a salt-rimmed glass with ice and stir or put all ingredients into a blender with a cup of ice and blend until smooth.

La Paz, Baja California Sur

La Paz combines an authentic Mexican ambiance with the high-quality services expected from a world-class beach destination. Tucked away on the southeastern side of Baja Peninsula, an approximately two-hour drive to the north of Cabo San Lucas. La Paz is ideally situated along the peaceful waters of the Sea of Cortez, one of the most diverse bodies of water on the planet and named “the world’s aquarium” by renowned French marine biologist Jacques Cousteau. There are countless activities to be enjoyed including snorkeling with sea lions, swimming with whale sharks, sport fishing, sandboarding and more. These activities are often followed by a relaxing lunch of fresh ceviche served right on the beach. For a taste of La Paz recreate the popular Baja ceviche recipe at home this Cinco De Mayo.