Riviera Maya Food And Wine Festival

We know Cancun for its beaches, nightlife, resorts and swimming with dolphins. However, there is now a new reason to know Cancun: the annual Riviera Maya Food and Wine Festival. This isn't a food truck and street vendor appreciation of the rustic dishes we all know so well and love even more. This festival is centered on worldwide celebrity chefs who have made a major difference in the industry. Talented individuals considered rock stars among their peers. The 2012 Riviera Maya Food and Wine Festival was a major success, at least according to organisers, and they have gone ahead to plan another memorable event for 2013.

Yet, the Riviera Maya Food and Wine Festival is about more than just food. A portion of proceeds of each year's festival will go to the help those in need, as organisers have pledged to designate a local charity to help at each years event. The 2012 charity was Fundacion Ciudad de la Alegria, an organisation that supports three major groups. Support for very underprivileged children is given through educational opportunities; elderly persons without a family structure for support are given help, as are women who have been victims of abuse (in the form of protection and independence).

For 2013, the Riviera Maya Food and Wine Festival has chosen to set up educational grants for qualifying students attending Universidad del Caribe and UT Universidad Technologica de Cancun. Programs in hospitality, tourism and gastronomy are well known disciplines on offer at both universities. Internationally acclaimed Spanish chef Ferran Adria is the man behind the choice of charities. Adria has long been a supporter of education and research, even going as far as to enter a research agreement with Harvard University into molecular gastronomy.

For anyone not in the know, Ferran Adria is acknowledged to be one of the best chefs in the world. He was called up for military service at 19 years of age but he had already begun his culinary career as a dishwasher at a small hotel in Spain. Even during his time in the army, Adria retained his desire to cook. After completing his mandatory service, Adria joined the team at El Bulli as a line cook. With his talent, enthusiasm, drive, and perhaps a little help with having the right circumstances, Adria was head chef at El Bulli just eighteen months later.

Adria's food is a scientific exploration of the chemical possibilities of raw ingredients. One will not find burgers, steak and pasta at a meal prepared by Adria. He makes his dishes with science as his guide, and thus the food is far more delicate in flavour. Adria has created a place for himself as a leading world chef, in part due to his lifetime of research in molecular gastronomy. Meet him personally at the 2013 Riviera Maya Food and Wine Festival in Cancun!

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