NAVIGATION

THE FESTIVAL

This year’s Festival presents another banquet of culinary indulgences, all with a distinctive Mexican point of view. Celebrity chefs Michael Symon and Marcus Samuelsson and wine expert Mark Oldman join Mexico’s foremost masters of cuisine for an authentic exploration of local flavors. Sample traditional dishes with a modern flair and for a special highlight, dig into avant-garde street food that will have you oohing and ahhing down the embarcadero. Don’t miss classes, exclusive house tours and a catamaran cruise past quiet fishing villages — reminding you what makes gorgeous Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo so delectable, all by itself. Buy tickets now or visit AlaskaAir.com to book your flight.

ABOUT IXTAPA AND ZIHUATANEJO

With 340 days of sun per year and a stunning tropical coastline, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo will gratify the most discerning traveler. Miles of beaches and boardwalks create a Mecca for surfing, diving, fishing, shopping, and relaxing – with abundant opportunities to unwind at local spas. Choose from an array of accommodations during your stay here, from affordable boutique-style hotels to five-star resorts. At a moment’s notice, you’ll have access to diverse cultural sights and of course, outstanding regional cuisine.

GETTING THERE

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is a traveler’s delight, with direct flights from the U.S. courtesy of Alaska Airlines. For more information please visit www.travelixtapazihuatanejo.com/accessair. Your plane will land in the small, yet modern Zihuatanejo airport where you will find plenty of taxis and car rentals.

Our guest stars

Michael Symon
Chef Michael Symon es el típico ciudadano de la región norte-centro de los Estados Unidos, salvo por un pequeño detalle: el hecho de que posee un CV de clase mundial. Desde el momento en que fue nombrado “Best New Chef” por la revista Food & Wine en el 1998, Michael y sus restaurantes han recibido numerosos galardones, entre ellos, un lugar para B Spot en los “Top 10 Best New Burger Joints” en la revista Bon Appètit; el galardón por “Best Chef Great Joints” otorgado por The James Beard Foundation Award en el 2009; y su restaurante Roast fue nombrado “Restaurant of the Year” por el diario Detroit Free Press. Es una presencia reconocida en el Food Network, en donde reina como Iron Chef y ha presentado más de 100 episodios del programa The Melting Pot. Además de preparar platillos que tocan el alma en un tiempo récord, su público lo adora por su estilo de cocinar accesible y su risa contagiosa.

Marcus Samuelsson
Chef Marcus Samuelsson didn’t take long to make his mark the culinary world. At age 24, he became executive chef of Aquavit, and soon after became the youngest ever to receive a three-star restaurant review from The New York Times. In 2003 he was named "Best Chef: New York City" by the James Beard Foundation. The same year, he started a second New York restaurant, Riingo, serving Japanese-influenced American food, and most recently launched a new restaurant called Rooster in Harlem. Chef Samuelsson is also an award-winning cookbook author and continues to dazzle food lovers with passionate dishes inspired by his Swedish and Ethiopian roots.

Mark Oldman
Passionate about helping wine enthusiasts jostle the jaded, slay the snooty, and drink bravely, Mark Oldman is one of the United States’ leading wine personalities. He is an award-winning author, TV judge for PBS’s “the Winemakers,” wine expert for Pottery Barn, and wine columnist for the Food Network. He’s also a regular on Martha Stewart’s “Living Today” program on Sirius Satellite Radio and makes sought-after appearances at prestigious venues like The James Beard House. His signature style was best summed up by Bon Appètit magazine as “winespeak without the geek” and by Publishers Weekly as “the ideal mix of wine connoisseur, showman, and everyday dude.”

Itinerary of Festival Food & Wine in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo