MAYAN RIVIERA - COOKING CLASSES

by Anne Dimon

In keeping with the current trend of cooking classes as the hot new resort activity, I donnned an apron at the Culinary Center at the Ritz-Carlton Cancun for a class on Spa Cuisine. There are five “student chefs” in this two-hour class and each of us has his or her own personal work station and kitchen tools for slicing, chopping, mixing and blending.

The sleek, spiffy kitchen – completely outfitted by Viking – is crème-de-la-crème. “It’s the ultimate dream kitchen,” says Chef de cuisine, Rory Dunaway, who moved to Cancun from the Ritz-Carlton in Panama Beach Florida to head up the Culinary Centre last November. No doubt he was chosen for the job because of his engaging charm, upbeat personality and contagious passion for food.

Following a few pleasantries and introductions, he gets right down to business. “The focus behind spa cuisine,” he explains, “is using fresh products, less oils and staying away from processed ingredients”. We begin with a cantaloupe, orange and tofu smoothie. Tofu instead of yogurt, he explains because it has more protein. It’s surprisingly good. Today’s menu also includes chilled avocado soup with mango crab salad, grilled salmon with golden raisin and almond couscous served with caper grapefruit relish and, for dessert, basil-marinated mixed berries with vanilla yogurt sorbet.

During the workshop Chef Rory dishes out dollops of culinary tidbits such as the fact that Mexican bees can harvest more honey due to their lack of stingers. Who knew? We also learn how to cut fresh herbs, the proper ways to cut an avocado, and how to wield a kitchen knife. It’s a fun, interactive and information class and at the end all “cooks” get to dine on the day’s creations.

The hotel offers two classes a day and various themes. Along with Spa Cuisine, guests can sign up for workshops such as the Real Mexico, Best of Barbecue, A Tuscan Dinner Party, Treasures of the Sea and a number of others. This is the first Culinary Centre for Ritz but four more are, shall we say, in the “cooker” for later this year.

Also on my Mexican vacation menu was a couple of night’s stay at the all-inclusive Eurostar Blue Tulum. With its inviting infinity pool, beautifully decorated guest rooms and exceptional spa, it rates “gourmet” for more than just the taste buds. But that too. The surprisingly young and talented chef de cuisine Jonotan Gomez-Luna literally performs magic in the resort’s theatre-style kitchen. He can, for instance, extract and mix the very flavours of foods and turn them into airy foam and served as a delightfully light appetizer.

One mid-day I sought shelter from the Mayan Riviera sun while lapping up Chef Jonotan’s secrets to making a good Ceviche. Culinary classes at Azul Blue are more demo than workshop and scheduled less frequently than those of the Ritz. But are as popular and enjoyable especially for those who can’t get enough of the scrumptious all-inclusive meals served in the boutique resort’s three restaurants.

The terms “bon voyage” and “bon appetite” have never been so well paired.

For more info: Ritz Carlton Culinary Center