Our Destination Through 5 Senses: Experience the Exquisite Flavors of Traditional Mexican Cuisine

Mexican food is one of the most interesting and varied in the world. Its exquisite flavor comes from the large number of ingredients involved in the preparation of any dish, from the most traditional to haute cuisine. These unique characteristics contributed to it earning a place on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

Fortunately, this delicious legacy can be enjoyed at Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit’s wide range of restaurants, some of which focus on the specialties of Mexico’s southwest.

Chef Fernando Aguilar explained the most important elements of this kind of cuisine are corn, coffee and chocolate. “The essence of Mexican food is that it is capable of delighting both those who taste it for the first time and those who have grown up with it. The legacy of these three ingredients has evolved to such a degree that we can now enjoy them in other exquisite presentations.”

Aguilar presented us the following specialty:

Cochinita Pibil Tortitas
Coming from Yucatecan cuisine, the base of cochinita pibil is shredded pork bathed in a complex sauce that includes ingredients such as axiote, tomato, onion, a little orange juice and lemon. It is served in bolillos (sandwich rolls) and is accompanied by parsley, radishes, red onion and a moderately spicy red sauce.

Otherwise, if you want to try something new, there is a selection of pre-Hispanic drinks including tascalate (from Chiapas), tejate (originally from Oaxaca) and pozol (native to Tabasco). Each of these shots is prepared in an artisanal way, and it is recommended you take the time to savor them, so you can appreciate each of their ingredients.