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Cocina de Autor

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Cocina de Autor
Graphic logo with the stylized text "Cocina de Autor"
Several tables in the dining area.
The Riviera Maya restaurant in 2010
Restaurant information
Established
  • 2008 (2008) (Riviera Maya)
  • November 2016 (November 2016) (Los Cabos)
Owner(s)Grand Velas Resorts
Head chef
  • Nahúm Velasco (Riviera Maya)
  • Francisco Sixtos (Los Cabos)
  • Sidney Schutte (Los Cabos)
Chef
  • Mikel Alonso (Riviera Maya)
  • Bruno Oteiza (Riviera Maya)
Food typeCreative
Dress code
Rating
Street address
Postal/ZIP Code
  • 77710 (Riviera Maya)
  • 23405 (Los Cabos)
CountryMexico
ReservationsYes (both)[2][3]
Other locations
Cocina de Autor is located in Mexico
Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya
Los Cabos
Los Cabos
Other information
  • Adults and minors over 12 years old (Riviera Maya)[2]
  • Adults and minors over 18 years old (Los Cabos)[3]
Websitegrandvelas.com

Cocina de Autor is a Mexican restaurant brand within the all-inclusive resort Grand Velas Resorts. The restaurant marque is found at the Riviera Maya and Los Cabos Corridor establishments, in Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur, respectively. Cocina de Autor offers creative cuisine featuring dishes made with ingredients from various regions. In 2024, Nahúm Velasco was the head chef at the Riviera Maya location, while Francisco Sixtos and Sidney Schutte held the position at the Los Cabos resort.

Both restaurants have received positive feedback from food and travel reviewers. In 2024, each one received one Michelin star in the first Michelin Guide covering restaurants in Mexico. Grand Velas is the only all-inclusive resort brand in the world to offer two Michelin-starred restaurants. Additionally, both locations received the Five Diamond Award from the American Automobile Association (AAA).

History and description

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Businessman Eduardo Vela Ruiz owned Grand Velas Resorts, an all-inclusive resort company in Mexico, until he died in 2023. During his lifetime, the brand opened at three coastline locations: Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Riviera Nayarit, Nayarit, and Los Cabos Corridor, Baja California Sur.[4]

The resorts operate independently. Guests pay for their stay per night and can enjoy the amenities, such as pools, spas, and restaurants, at no additional cost. Grand Velas Riviera Maya has eight standalone restaurants, including Cocina de Autor.[5] It is also one of the seven diners at the Los Cabos resort.[6] The name translates to "signature cuisine", a concept that reflects a chef's culinary choices, with dishes that do not conform to a specific cooking style, country, or cuisine type.[7][8][9] Consequently, food and travel reviewers label the brand's cuisine as "creative".[10][11]

Both restaurants offer an eight- to ten-course tasting menu.[10][12][13] The Riviera Maya establishment welcomes guests aged 12 and older and has a smart casual dress code. The Los Cabos diner is open to guests aged 18 and older, with a business casual dress code. Both locations require reservations.[1][2][3]

When the Michelin Guide debuted in 2024 in Mexico, it awarded 18 eateries with Michelin stars.[14] Each location of Cocina de Autor was awarded one star, signifying "high-quality cooking, worth a stop".[15] Grand Velas is the only all-inclusive resort brand in the world to offer two Michelin-starred restaurants.[16]

The restaurant brand also received the Five Diamond Award from the American Automobile Association (AAA) at each location, becoming the first restaurant within an all-inclusive resort to earn the rating.[17][18][19]

Riviera Maya

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The Riviera Maya resort began operations in 2008 in Solidaridad Municipality, Quintana Roo.[20] Cocina de Autor debuted alongside the resort, with Xavier Pérez Stone serving as its first head chef.[21] Nahúm Velasco became the head chef of Cocina de Autor in 2024. He studied at the Centro Culinario Ambrosía in Mexico City and worked as a chef at Cocina de Autor, Geranium, and Passion before returning to the first one.[22]

Cocina de Autor Riviera Maya features dishes inspired by Mikel Alonso and Bruno Oteiza, chefs from Biko in Mexico City, who also collaborate at the restaurant.[23] Meagan Drillinger wrote for Travel Weekly that the restaurant's menu is replaced regularly, with options that have included spider crab with jackfruit; roasted pork with black garlic; and Cocina de Autor's own Melipona honey.[24] Isabel Leal from Robb Report México visited the resort during its Sensory Voyage festival. She was presented with gazpacho, smoked whipped cream, chicharrón, Australian wagyu with figs, Ossetra caviar, scallops, fricassee, and venison with a crust of raisins and coffee, served with a pine nut and cinnamon sauce.[25] The Michelin Guide mentioned that the menu "emphasizes novel flavor combinations and compelling textures".[15]

Los Cabos

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Grand Velas Resorts opened the Los Cabos resort in November 2016 in the municipality of the same name in Baja California Sur.[20] Francisco Sixtos and Sidney Schutte are the executive chefs of Cocina de Autor.[1] Sixtos was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and has worked at the kitchens of Le Méridien, Hyatt and Carlyle hotels.[26] Schutte is a Dutch chef and the head of Spectrum, a Michelin two-star restaurant in Amsterdam as of 2024.[27] Schutte also heads Loto, another restaurant in Grand Velas Los Cabos.[28] Schutte commented that his "cuisine is distinctive for its outspoken [flavors] that pop".[29]

Drillinger described its dishes, including scallops with miso butter, beef tenderloin with celery root purée, poached beetroots and maitake mushrooms.[24] Further, she mentioned that the restaurant "takes diners on a culinary journey, with a dimly lit, sumptuous dining room to set the scene".[16] Becca Hensley mentioned for Elite Traveler additional menu options like Australian wagyu with smoked parmesan and figs, oysters in its shell served in green apple aguachile, and fig and arbequina juice.[30] Alan Nájera wrote for El Universal that he enjoyed giant oysters from Comondú served with green apple aguachile, cucumber and a tempura crisp, longfin yellowtail served with daikon slices, accompanied by nixtamal and a cilantro-habanero sauce, shiitake mushroom, pecan, and jicama tetela, drizzled with corn velouté, and a piece of sliced beet in sauce, on a sourdough base, topped with smoked almond zabaglione and black sesame.[1]

CNN named Cocina de Autor Los Cabos one of the best new restaurants in 2017.[31] Forbes Travel Guide awarded it four out of five stars, noting that fine dining is typically rare in all-inclusive resorts, but the restaurant "redefines the art of vacation dining".[13] The Michelin Guide mentioned that the terrace "is a nice spot for bites and cocktails, and a few choice tables overlook a koi pond".[32] Nájera noted that the restaurant opened to the general public and no longer requires a resort reservation after receiving its Michelin star.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Nájera, Alan (26 July 2024). "Cocina de Autor, Los Cabos: el restaurante con estrella Michelin" [Cocina de Autor, Los Cabos: the Michelin-starred restaurant]. El Universal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Cocina de Autor Riviera Maya". Grand Velas Resorts. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Cocina de Autor Los Cabos". Grand Velas Resorts. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  4. ^ García, Jesús Alberto (25 November 2023). "Muere Eduardo Vela Ruiz, empresario de Tampico" [Eduardo Vela Ruiz, businessman from Tampico, has died]. Milenio (in Spanish). Tampico. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  5. ^ Ward, Amanda (19 February 2024). "Is Mexico's Most Expensive All-Inclusive Resort Worth the Price?". Fodor's. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Grand Velas Los Cabos". Condé Nast Traveler. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Best Restaurants in Cabos San Lucas". Elegant Mexico. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  8. ^ Ayling, Kim; Woodhouse, Ellys (19 June 2024). "The Best Restaurants in Los Cabos". Elite Traveler. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  9. ^ Flores Jurado, Julieta (November 2018). "Notas sobre la cocina de autor(a)" [Notes on Signature Cuisine]. Poligrafías (in Spanish). No. 4. National Autonomous University of Mexico. p. 2. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Avant-Garde Cuisine Highlights Mexican Ingredients During The Best of Cocina de Autor Riviera Maya". Houston Style Magazine. 3 November 2017. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  11. ^ "You Must Visit Cocina de Autor—a Michelin Star Restaurant While Visiting Cabo". Travel Insider Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  12. ^ Meagan Drillinger (13 June 2024). "This foodie-favorite Los Cabos all-inclusive resort shines bright with a Michelin star". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Cocina de Autor". Forbes Travel Guide. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  14. ^ Beaven, Katherine Alex (7 June 2024). "Mexico's First Michelin Guide Debuts With 18 Starred Restaurants—Including a Taco Stand". Afar. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Cocina de Autor Riviera Maya". Michelin Guide. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  16. ^ a b Drillinger, Meagan (7 June 2024). "11 Best All-inclusive Resorts for Foodies". Travel & Leisure. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Best of France Event Unites 4 Top Maîtres Cuisiniers de France At Grand Velas Riviera Maya, October 14-18th". Food & Beverage Magazine. Riviera Maya. 22 July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Top Mexican Chefs Unite at a Top Mexican Beach Resort". Robb Report. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  19. ^ Diaz, Aixa (26 August 2024). "California Wine Country Hotel, Cabo San Lucas Restaurant Earn AAA Five Diamonds". American Automobile Association. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Velas Resorts: pasión por la hospitalidad desde 1989" [Velas Resorts: A Passion for Hospitality Since 1989]. Forbes México (in Spanish). 6 May 2019. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  21. ^ Johnson, Brad. A (14 February 2016). "Best restaurants in Playa del Carmen". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Nahum Velasco". Concurso Nacional de Pinchos y Tapas (in Spanish). 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Cocina de Autor". Marco Beteta (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  24. ^ a b Drillinger, Meagan (5 June 2024). "Michelin stars rise at four Mexico all-inclusives". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  25. ^ Leal, Isabel (15 October 2024). "Cómo es la experiencia en Cocina de Autor, el restaurante de Grand Velas con 1 estrella Michelin" [How is the experience at Cocina de Autor, the Michelin-starred restaurant at Grand Velas?]. Robb Report México (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Chef Francisco Sixtos" (PDF). Grand Velas Resorts (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  27. ^ Durai, Abirami (15 July 2024). "Avant-garde European meals at new fine-dining restaurant Molina". The Star. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  28. ^ McFarland, Rob (3 October 2024). "This Mexico resort elevates 'all-inclusive' to new levels of indulgence". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Two Star Michelin Chef To Head Up Star-Studded Culinary Team at Cocina de Autor, Grand Velas Los Cabos' Signature Restaurant". Robb Report. 20 October 2016. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  30. ^ Hensley, Becca (20 September 2024). "The Mexican All-inclusive Resorts with Michelin-starred Restaurants". Elite Traveler. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  31. ^ Dwyer, Chris (3 January 2017). "The best new restaurants for 2017". CNN. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  32. ^ "Cocina de Autor Cabos San Lucas". Michelin Guide. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
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