{"id":451,"date":"2008-03-11T12:32:42","date_gmt":"2008-03-11T17:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/03\/gourmet-travel-events-in-honolulu-mexico-las-vegas\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T21:45:08","modified_gmt":"2016-12-18T03:45:08","slug":"gourmet-travel-events-in-honolulu-mexico-las-vegas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/03\/gourmet-travel-events-in-honolulu-mexico-las-vegas\/","title":{"rendered":"Gourmet travel: Events in Honolulu, Mexico, Las Vegas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Royyamaguchiflame2004\"<\/a>
\nBy Lena Katz<\/em><\/p>\n

I’ve been tracking Roy Yamaguchi<\/strong> since he was just one more up-and-coming Pacific Rim chef — and look at the guy now. Restaurants all over the country, more cookbooks than I can count, and he still doesn’t look a day over 35.<\/p>\n

Roy’s<\/a><\/strong> latest big move is actually more of a series of small jumps — from one city to another, as part of a 20-stop culinary tour<\/strong>. It kicked off in Orlando<\/a><\/strong> on March 5, and is next heading to Los Angeles<\/a><\/strong> on March 20.<\/p>\n

So what does this mean in foodie terms? A special five-course menu, a focus on locally sourced foodstuffs, and yummy pairings by Pernod-Ricard (including, perhaps, a few Argentine wine discoveries? C’mon Pernod … do tell.)   <\/p>\n

Though Roy won’t always be in the kitchen, he will helm the final Honolulu<\/a><\/strong> leg, dubbed the 20th Anniversary Spectacular and taking place October 4-5. He’ll be joined by Charlie Trotter<\/strong>, Alan Wong<\/strong>, Nobu<\/strong> and a host of other celebs. More details to follow about this travel-icious adventure.<\/p>\n

If you’re not doing anything March 19-23, take a Mexico vacation<\/a><\/strong> in Veracruz, for Cumbre Tajin’s "Festival de la Identidad<\/a><\/strong>." It takes place during the equinox — which coincides this year with Easter — and is a transformative cultural\/religious\/musical experience that makes the festivities at Chichen Itza<\/strong> look minor. More than 150,000 people are expected to travel<\/a><\/strong>  there this year, and 90 percent of them are from Mexico.<\/p>\n

The festival is held on the vast archaeological site of El Tajin<\/a><\/strong>, a World Heritage site famed for its many mystical pyramids. Cultural exhibits include everything from artisanal food demonstrations (where every nibble is for sale) to films produced by indigenous organizations, to drum circles and traditional\"Orb_img_vegas_2_250x280\"<\/a><\/em> Temezcal ceremonies and herbal medicine exploration. The live music area accommodates thousands of people, and artists range from traditional Mexican rock to Ozomatli. The nighttime sound and light show is a spectacle on par with Cirque du Soleil<\/strong><\/a> or Burning Man<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices are minimal ($20 entry fee per day, plus $15 to see the
\nevening light show). Basic or luxe camping is available onsite, and
\nlimited space is still available at hotels<\/a><\/strong> in neighboring towns.<\/p>\n

Las Vegas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Las Vegas hotels<\/a><\/strong> are charging headlong into summer, with March openings scheduled
\nfor several of the seasonal topless pools and all-day swimsuit parties
\nthat are their sunshine signature. Bare<\/a><\/strong> at the Mirage Hotel and Casino<\/a><\/strong> is opening March
\n13, and Palms Place Hotel<\/a><\/strong> is debuting its own version of a Turkish bath,
\nwhich will probably be a thousand times more decadent than anything the
\nOttomans ever dreamed up.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nThe Hard Rock Hotel and Casino<\/a><\/strong> entered the fine-dining fray with the March 3
\nopening of AGO<\/a><\/strong>, Robert De Niro’s sophisticated Italian eatery. Expect
\nsimilar mouthwatering pastas and seafood, specialty cocktails and
\ncelebrity sightings as at the West Hollywood original. <\/p>\n

The Palazzo Resort Hotel Tower<\/a><\/strong> is one of the newest Las Vegas hotels<\/a><\/strong> on the Strip, and several new restaurants will open there in March,
\nincluding Jonathan Morr’s Mainland<\/strong> and Wolfgang Puck’s CUT<\/a><\/strong>. Not to be
\noutdone, Morels French Steakhouse<\/a><\/strong> introduced the Enomatic, a
\nbells-and-whistles non-oxidizing wine dispenser that can store and pour
\nuber-high-end wines. Thus, Screaming Eagle \u201904 and Bryant Family \u201901,
\nplus 60-odd other boutique finds, are now available by the glass.<\/p>\n

Riviera Maya, Mexico<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nWhile we’re on the epicurean trail, travel<\/a><\/strong> to the Riviera Maya<\/a><\/strong> and say ole to the Maroma Resort & Spa<\/a><\/strong>, where
\nFreddy\u2019s Bar<\/strong> panders to our food-and-booze-pairing passions with the
\naddition of a tequila and ceviche service. This probably wasn’t too
\nhard to implement, since proprietor Senor Freddy is a known tequila
\nexpert. Six ceviches daily, 100+ tequilas all the time … now there’s a
\ndiet to rival South Beach.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n