An Interview With Internationally Recognized Chef Thierry Blouet from The Famous Cafe Des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta, Tuna Blanca in Punta de Mita and Cafe Des Artistes Del Mar Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The Ceviche and Aguachile Festival is Coming to Lazaro Cardenas Park
The 8th International Charro Championship is Coming to Arena Vallarta
Hello fellow travelers, welcome this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico.
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That music you were just listening to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta’s Oldest Restaurant on the famous Los Muertos Beach, and The El Dorado Restaurant and
Beach Club right next door so you can enjoy that fantastic view of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors, or during the day in its grand splendor for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with our toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends.
This week I have a very special guest he is Chef Thierry Blouet, from the famous Vallarta Restaurant Café Des Artistes, but first, let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta the 25th of January 2019.
The 8th International Charro Championship will be held at the Arena Vallarta
The Charros are coming to town! It’s not the National Day of the Charro, That’s September 14th in Mexico, but it’s the International Charro Championship. Let’s read from the Facebook Page of Arean Vallarta….
The 8th International Charro Championship will be held at the Arena Vallarta from the 30th of January to the 3rd of February.
With the participation of the Best Charro teams in Mexico and United States and “Escaramuzas” (Charro Ladies) Tournament.
Live music throughout the event and the expected New car raffle on Sunday 03 among attendees showing your paid ticket in hand.
Food and drinks available throughout the event, variety of “Antojitos Mexicanos” (Mexican Snacks), seafood and Regional dishes.
Ambient 100% Family Friendly, Secure facilities with handicap access as well as an area of children’s playground with staff taking care of them.
Craft sale available, and unique accessories for charrería and memories of the event.
Enough clean bathrooms, Parking lot, Public Transportation and Safety throughout the event.
SEE FULL SCHEDULE ➡️ bit.ly/AV2019-eng
I have a link to the article and the Facebook page in the show notes for this Episode, so go there for more information. By the way, Uber fare is approximately $18 US each way out to Arena Vallarta, so use an Uber, get a ride back from a local in the back of their pickup like in the old days.
You know, that reminds me about a couple of things I found myself doing that I never thought I would be doing in Mexico having to do with taking rides, but I’m going to hold that story for a bit. And speaking of that story,….
The 7th Ceviche and Aguachile Festival Vallarta
The Aquachile and Ceviche Festival is happening this weekend on Sunday the 27th, so let’s go to Puerto Vallarta, and hear from my buddy Edgar Rivas. I caught up with him at El Rio BBQ So let’s go there now for some live music and have Edgar fill us in on the happenings this Sunday….
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Okay thank you Edgar. You need to get down to the park and partake in the food, drink, dancing and good times Vallarta style. Don’t Miss out this Sunday. Catch the festival.
Salvador the Candy-Man is the Marathon Man
Just an update on our friend Salvador Estrada the Candy-man slash marathon man in the wheelchair is getting ready for the
Puerto Vallarta Marathon as well as the Mexico City Marathon. He was ill for about a week or so when I was in town, and I finally got to see him before I left and he wanted to thank me and all of you for the help and the support you have given him, and are giving him for donations to get him to Mexico City to run the marathon. He really wants you all to know how touched he is. So, look, don’t stop now, when you see Salvador, tell him good luck in the marathon, and drop him some cash.
Gabino The Pull Tab Purse Man is Selling at the Farmers Market
Also, Gabino, the pull-tab purse maker is doing so much better after that fire caused by a candle left burning on his Dia de Los
Muertos Alter, anyway he tells me all is fine, but I want to encourage you to make sure to buy that extra purse or belt or handbag from him when you see him. Now, he has given up his table on the Malecon on the evenings, and only does the Farmer’s Market Circuit. So, he will be at the Saturday Market in Lazaro Cardenas Park, Parque de los Azulejos, then all the other markets along the bay from the Marina, to La Cruz, to Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias and all those markets, so look for his really cool booth, and buy a Gabino Sandoval Masterpiece!
I promised I would give you an overview of the US two places I stayed at this last trip, the Airbnb on the beach in Conchas Chinas, and the little one bedroom place I found for $22 a night downtown, but I’m going to get to those next week when I bring you the Meet and Greet number 2 from the rooftop bar at Kelly’s Pour Favor, but for now, let’s get on with the interview, shall we?
Cafe Des Artistes, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
I love to eat in Puerto Vallarta. It’s just my favorite thing to do here, and when I’m alone in Vallarta, gathering interviews and such, without the wife, I’m almost always eating at a taco stand or at a Cenaduria or a little fonda. But when my wife is in town, especially when it’s an important occasion, or we want to show off fine cuisine in Puerto Vallarta to friends, we head to Café Des Artistes.
Café Des Artistes is not a restaurant you go to for a view, but the inside of the place is spectacular. You don’t need a view my friends.
Depending on the season, like in the heat of the summer months,
you will find yourself eating in an elegant indoor dining area, with plenty of air-conditioning. During the cooler months you will find yourself in a fairytale forest surrounded by tiered levels set with tables where diners enjoy the chirping of crickets and the lovely violin and piano music. It’s really cool, the violinist roams from table to table, asking for suggestions for songs, and he takes the request, and plays the first few notes, like in that old TV show name that tune, and out of nowhere, a pianist begins to play the tune, and the violinist then takes off playing. Now the piano is a beautiful piano in the bar lounge, so it’s all live music, but it’s so good. So romantic, so Puerto Vallarta.
On some occasions, they have this incredible harp player who also goes from table to table and plays and sings his heart out. I really like the guy, in fact, when I was looking for a theme song for the show, I actually went looking for this guy. Seriously. Again, like the violinist, he goes to each table.
And look, the main courses and dishes are plated beautifully and all but if you are going to be celebrating a special occasion get ready for a pyrotechnic display right in the middle of your table. They build these architectural masterpieces of hand poured
candy lattice protruding from some sort of sweet I dunno, cake or something. These people know how to celebrate. How to make a plate look like a work of art. Can you tell I love this place?
Well, this last visit to Café Des Artistes I was leaving after a fantastic dinner, and I asked my waiter if I could talk with Chef Thierry, I gave him my card and he disappeared, then returned and told me to give the chef a couple of minutes and he would be right out. And so, it happened. I introduced myself and asked if he could come on the show and he was so nice. He got out his phone and his calendar and we made the appointment for the following week.
Originally, we were scheduled for earlier in the afternoon, but as it turned out, we both needed to make adjustments in our schedules that put the interview at around 8 in the evening. I came to the door of Café Des Artistes looking like a homeless guy. If you have ever seen me in town doing interviews, you know I dress down, and yes, really down. But the man at the door was on the lookout for me and escorted me through the restaurant to Thierry’s office where I set up, and had the most interesting conversation with someone you should know if you are a lover of fine food in Vallarta, Let’s meet Chef Thierry Blouet, of Café Des Artistes, Puerto Vallarta, Tuna Blanca, Punta de Mita and Café Des Artistes Del Mar, Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
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What a treat. What a lovely man and a voice, what a voice right?
Contact Information for Cafe Des Artistes, Puerto Vallarta
- Address: Calle Guadalupe Sánchez 740, Centro, 48300 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
- Phone: +52 322 226 7200
- Website: https://www.cafedesartistes.com/
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/cafedesartistes/
Contact Information For Tuna Blanca, Punta Mita
Address: Venida Anclote Lote 5 (1,232.15 mi) Punta De Mita, Nayarit, Mexico 63734
Phone: +52 329 291 5414
Website: http://tunablanca.com/
Tuna Blanca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tunablanca/
I have pictures of the three restaurants and of the beautiful food as well as maps and links that will take you to Chef Thierry Blouet’s restaurants in Vallarta, Café des Artistes, in Punta de Mita at Tuna Blanca, and Café Des Artistes Del Mar Los Cabos, in Cabo San Lucas.
Contact Information for Café Des Artistes Del Mar Los Cabos, in Cabo San Lucas.
- Address: Fracción Hotelera FH5-C1, Subdelegación de la Playita, Puerto Los Cabos, 23403 San José del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico
- Phone: +52 624 163 7600
- Website: https://cafe-des-artistes-los-cabos.negocio.site/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CafeDesArtistesLosCabos/
Chef Thierry’s Favorite Restaurants
Breakfast
- Fredy’s Tucan, Puerto Vallarta
- Memo’s Pancake House, Puerto Vallarta
- Tacos de Birria Alex Allende and Matamoros, Puerto Vallarta
Lunch
- Marisma Fish Tacos, Puerto Vallarta
- El Barracuda, Puerto Vallarta
- Ocho Tostadas, Puerto Vallarta
- La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta
- El Dorado, Puerto Vallarta
Day Trip
- San Sebastian Del Oeste
- Panga From Boca de Tomatlan to Yelapa or Qumixto
- In Qumixto Restaurant with Oscar and Martin For the Best Food and Service
And do yourself a favor the next time you come to Puerto Valllarta and treat yourself to a fine dining experience you will find yourself doing again and again, each visit to Paradise.
Well, this was long but worth it right? Don’t you feel like you know the chef now that we’ve had this little talk No? Oui?
Okay, that should do it for this week’s episode of The Puerto Vallarta Travel Show stay tuned for more on the ground reports
from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with travel tips, great restaurant and excursion ideas and more. Until then, remember, this is an interactive show where I depend on your questions and suggestions about all things Puerto Vallarta. If you think of something I should be talking about, please reach out to me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending us your message.
And remember, if you are considering booking any type of tour while you are in Puerto Vallarta, you must go to Vallartainfo.com, JR’s website and reserve your tour through him, right from his website. Remember the value for value
proposition. His experience and on the ground knowledge of everything Puerto Vallarta in exchange for your making a purchase of a tour that you would do anyway, you’re just doing it through him as a way of saying thank you. It costs no more than if you were to use someone else so do it. Really. And when you do take one of these tours, email me about your
experiences. Maybe you can come on-board and share with others what you liked or didn’t like about the tour. Again, contact me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending off a message. Don’t forget his maps, his DIY tours and his revitalized Happy Hour Board. I have links to all of those in the show notes.
And once again, if you like this podcast, please take the time and subscribe and give me a good review on iTunes if you would. That way we can get the word out to more and more people about the magic of this place. Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico. Remember I made it easy for you to do just that with each episode I create. But if you haven’t been to my website, you really need to have a look there. I have the links to the places we talk about, interesting pictures and the more all right there in my blog-posts and show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven’t already all-right? All right.
Thank you Edgar Rivas from the Aquachili and Cevichi Festival, go there this Sunday, and thank you to Chef Thierry Blouet from Café des Artistes, Puerto Vallarta, Tuna Blanca, in Punta de Mita and Café Des Artistes Del Mar Los Cabos, in Cabo San Lucas.
Do yourself a favor and get over to one of these fine restaurants next time you are in paradise, and thanks to all of you for listening all the way through this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is Barry Kessler signing off with a wish for you all to slow down, be kind and live the Vallarta lifestyle. Nos Vemos amigos!