JW Marriott Los Cabos has spent nine years working on perfecting the chemistry of music and food at its Relish the Heritage festival. Each year showcases a different slice of Mexico, reminding guests just how vast the nation’s culinary map is. This year spotlighted both Mexico City and Baja California Sur. Here’s a taste to see why it’s one of the most exciting food festivals in Mexico.
Street Flavors from Mexico City
The three-day Relish the Heritage festival began with a celebration of Mexico City’s street food scene. At the food stations there were offerings like tacos with suadero and al pastor, pambazos, pork crackling gorditas, and handmade bean tlacoyos. Other offerings included roasted elotes, roasted sweet potatoes, plantains, cotton candy, and bags of colorful gummies and chocolates. Award-winning Rayo, one of Mexico City’s 50 Best Bars served cocktails. From a Morroni, a pickled Negroni, to the Gallito, a smoky, tropical fusion of tequila, rum, Campari, and citrus.
Baja Sur Celebration
The following day attendees headed to the Pezgato sailboat and explore the Sea of Cortéz during the day. Afterwards guests had a few hours to reset before the Baja Sur Celebration in the evening. Some lounged poolside under palm trees, while others retreated to rooms or the Jasha Spa. The spa features sea salt steam rooms, cold plunge pools, among other amenities. There’s also a modern version of a temazcal, an ancient Aztec steam bath. Another option to pass the time was to lounge by one of the many gorgeous pools.
Finally for dinner, guests assembled at the outdoor dining space, MarHumo. Long tables were set for a family-style feast. The first course featured kale and lettuce salad with grapefruit, pecans, and parmesan. Mains had rosemary-lemon roasted organic chicken with garlic confit and crispy mashed potatoes. Also a daily catch, which was tortuga and baked with tomatoes, olives, fennel seeds, basil, and capers. Dessert was a vanilla panna cotta with local passion fruit, and a Mediterranean-inspired kataifi flower, with white chocolate orange blossom ice cream and a drizzle of dulce de leche. The night ended with the Tren a Marte taking the stage singing rendition of pop hits like Bruno Mars’ “Treasure.”
Gourmet Tour and Picnic at Organic Garden
While “farm-to-table” may be a buzzword in today’s dining world, in Baja, it’s simply how things are done. At JW Marriott Los Cabos, roughly 70% of the resort’s produce comes from a local farm about two hours away. Visitors walked the grounds, spoke with the farmers, and saw how ingredients go from soil to plate. The visit ended with a literal farm-to-table lunch: seasonal dishes featuring just-harvested produce such as sweet strawberries, and tomatoes. Paired with chilled white wine and a gentle Baja breeze, it was a midday meal that proved you don’t need much when the ingredients speak for themselves.
Star Chefs Night
The grand finale of Relish the Heritage, Star Chefs Night brought together some of Mexico’s top culinary talent for a dinner at Café des Artistes. The talented team was Thierry and Vanessa Blouet of Café des Artistes Group, Fabiola Escobosa of Cana, Mario Rodriguez of Café des Artistes Los Cabos, and Fer Prado of Cuina. Dinner began with “Perfect Egg,” filled with pink mole, kefir, and crispy grasshoppers. A brussels sprout tostada followed, paired with Scielo MX Pink, a Syrah rosé from Valle de Guadalupe. The third course brought a blend of heirloom tomatoes, corn, and sea urchin. Paired with RGMX Naranja, an orange wine made from Riesling and Palomino grapes.
Then came a white fish entrée in miso beurre blanc with green peas, served with RGMX Blanco. Next was muscat plums with hazelnut and Asiago, paired with Jardín Secreto, a smooth Tempranillo blend. The standout lamb course wrapped tender meat and morels in flaky filo pastry, plated with garlic custard and a balsamic sauce. It was paired with two bold reds, Gabriel and Serafiel. Dessert included a frozen hibiscus and rhubarb palate cleanser, followed by poached peaches with lavender cream and lavender ice cream, served with a glass of Scielo Riesling.
JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
Looks fun!!
I have been to Cabo so many times but never to any kind of food festival. This looks like a great event, definitely considering.