Experience Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

¿Por qué no terminar esta semana llena de retos y objetivos alcanzados, con esta deliciosa receta. Consiéntase con esta copa de frutas, cortesía de Restaurante Emiliano de Casa Velas. ¡Que lo disfrute! / Why not endind this week with a fantastic treat and celebrate all your goal achieved!! We share with you this absolutely delicious recipe. Courtesy of Emiliano Restaurant, from Casa Velas!

 
SPA Fruit Plate with Grapefruit Confit and Beet Yogurt Parfait with Coconut Foam

Ingredients:

Papaya 25 gr. | Pineapple 25 gr. | Cantaloupe 25 gr. | Watermelon 25 gr. | Grapefruit 15 gr | Pitajaya (Dragon Fruit) 10 gr | Agave Syrup 5 ml | Beet 10 gr | Plain Yogurt 30 ml | Coconut Milk 10 ml | Coconut Cream 10 ml | Coconut Water 10 ml | 1/2 Cinnamon Stick | Water ¾ liter | Sugar 200 gr

Directions:

To make grapefruit confit, peel grapefruit and cut it into small strips. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, simmer grapefruit, sugar and water until it reduces by about 20%.

To make the coconut foam, heat coconut cream, coconut milk and coconut water with the cinnamon stick until it becomes light and airy. Pour into a siphon and allow to cool before adding to yogurt parfait.

In the blender, blend beet with yogurt and agave syrup.

Slice papaya, pineapple, cantaloupe and watermelon into equal-size, large flat squares and stack to form a tower on one end of plate.

Cube pitajaya (dragon fruit) into 1 cm cubes. Place small spoonfuls of grapefruit confit in a line next to the tower of fruit and place a cube of pitaya on top of each one. Drizzle grapefruit confit onto fruit tower and use to decorate plate.

Pour beet yogurt mixture into parfait, cocktail or champagne glass and top with coconut foam.

Place at opposite end of plate from fruit tower.

Enjoy! 

Plato de frutas spa y copa de yogurt de betabel y espuma de coco

 Ingredientes

Papaya 25 gr. | Piña 25 gr. | Melón cantalup 25 gr. | Sandía 25 gr | Toronja 15 gr. | Pitajaya 10 gr. | Miel de agave 5 ml. | Betabel 10 gr. | Yogurt natural 30 ml. | Leche de coco 10 ml | Crema de coco 10 ml. | Agua de coco 10 ml. | Canela entera ½ pza. | Agua ¾ litro | Azúcar 200 gr

Procedimiento:

Para confitar la toronja, deberá de pelarse y cortar en julianas, cocer en jarabe a base de agua y azúcar hasta reducir a un 80%.

Licuar el betabel con yogurt natural y miel, vertir en la copa. Para la espuma de coco, calentar la crema junto con la  leche y el agua de coco con la pieza de canela. Vertir en un recipiente para dejar enfriar antes de incorporarlo en la copa de yogurt.

Cortar la fruta en forma de láminas y montar en forma de torre. Cortar la pitaya en pequeños cubitos. Para montar, coloque pequeñas cucharadas del confite de toronja formando una línea, y coloque un cubito de pitalla sobre cada ‘gota’ de confite. A un extremo de la línea formada, coloque la fruta formando una torre, adornando con confite. Colocar la copa de betabel con espuma de coco en el otro extremo de la línea de confite. ¡Que lo disfrute!

by Julieta Del Toro

When one thinks of Puerto Vallarta, the beautiful and romantic sunsets immediately come to mind; blazing orange and pink streaks slowly submerging in the emerald waters of the Pacific. Imagine being able to enjoy this marvelous scene in the company of your partner on a luxury sailboat as it travels through the crystalline waters of Banderas Bay, delicately caressed by the breeze. Or maybe you prefer to walk hand in hand with this special person through the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta.  

Travel past the bohemian section that extends from both sides of the Rio Cuale, the most romantic area due to its cobblestone streets and beautiful view of the mountains and the sea. Admire the temple of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, with its lovely cupola (a replica of the crown worn by the Empress Carlota in 1860) and end with an enchanting evening in one of the many restaurants that offer delicious cuisine and wonderful atmospheres to make this a moment to remember.

 Whether celebrating a birthday, honeymoon or a simply a special time for you and your partner, we assure you that you will have an amazingly romantic experience in Puerto Vallarta.

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[English version see below.]

Cortesía de/Courtesy: Restaurante Emiliano | Casa Velas Hotel Boutique

Sorbete de Maracuyá

Ingredientes:

Pulpa de maracuya 250 gr | Agua 175 ml | Azúcar 125 gr | Hielo frapé lo necesario | Sal de grano lo necesario

Procedimiento:

Calentar el agua, al primer herbor agregar el azucar y mezclar hasta disolverse.  Retirar del fuego y agregar la pulpa de maracuya , colocar en un recipiente cilindrico y dejar enfriar.

Colocar como base , un recipiente de mayor tamaño que el que contiene la mezcla de maracuya, vertir el hielo y vertir sal para endurecer el hielo.  Girar el recipiente de encima mientras baja el liquido de las paredes, con una pala pastelera hasta que se forme la consistencia de sorbete. ¡Que lo disfrute!

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Passion Fruit Sorbet

Ingredients:

Passion fruit 250 gr | water 175 ml | sugar 125 gr | shaved ice as necessary | salt as necessary

Procedure:

Heat the water until it begins to boil, then add the sugar and stir until fully diluted.

Turn off heat and add the passion fruit pulp, stirring well.

Place the mixture in a cylindrical container and let cool to room temperature.

Pour the ice into a bowl or container large enough to hold the container of passion fruit mixture, and surround the ice with a layer of the coarse salt (salt helps the ice to stay firm and keeps it from melting).

Place the cylinder with the passion fruit mixture in the larger bowl.

Turn the cylinder while stirring the passion fruit mixture with a rubber spatula, scraping down the sides until a firm consistency is reached.

Scoop into small bowls or cocktail glasses, garnish with mint and enjoy!

One of the favorite activities of guests of Velas Vallarta is finding a beautiful spot at the hotel to enjoy a good book.
For this reason, just a few months ago, the guests themselves created a very interesting book exchange within the hotel. Near the pool area, at the towel station, a wide variety of books can be found. The books have been given to the hotel by guests so that everyone is able to take one and possibly leave one that they have already read, or even exchange the book with another person.

Velas Vallarta Suite Resort and Convention Center

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 This program has come about in a relaxed and informal way, with a great reception from lovers of the written word, who take advantage of their vacation time to read as they sunbathe and rest.

by Julieta Del Toro

November 13th is the official start date for the 2nd Half Marathon Riviera Nayarit, the only marathon in the region endorsed by the Federacion Mexicana de Atletismo (Mexican Athletic Federation), the International Association of Athletic Federations and the International Association of Marathons and Long-Distance Races.

This year, in addition to the 22 kilometers of the Half Marathon, a simultaneous 10 kilometer race will take place; both will cover beautiful natural scenery, golf courses, a marina, ocean views and 10 kilometers of sailable canals. A festive environment that combines celebration and sports awaits the runners.

The race is registered in the bulletin put out by the Federacion Mexicana and on their website. This year they expect to receive 800 participants, exceeding the amount from last year!

Supporting events such as these not only attracts a high number of tourists with low environmental impact but also serves to promote the destination through activities that both national and international athletes attend.

For more information please visit the Official Page.

by Julieta Del Toro

Without a doubt, a great way to have fun and enjoy the marvelous diversity of marine species that inhabit Puerto Vallarta is by participating in one of the activities that allows you to get close to them.

A favorite among tourists of all ages is the Sea Lion encounter. These funny mustached aquatic mammals known for their intelligence, playfulness and peculiar sounds, are relatives of seals. Similar to their seal relatives, they have external ears, long flexible necks, elastic limbs and tail fins that can be used to walk on land. They differ from seals because they have thin, short, coarse hair instead of smooth thick hair.

Most people do not have the opportunity to observe Sea Lions in the sea, and for this reason Puerto Vallarta offers unique tours that give people the opportunity to get close to and interact with them. In addition to being entertaining “Swim with Sea Lions” programs educate visitors. With the help of trained staff, participants get to know and learn all about these incredible creatures. This is a fabulous experience that can’t be missed on your next trip to Puerto Vallarta.

Black-bellied whistling ducks in Velas Vallarta

Taking into consideration that one of the main characteristics of our hotels is, besides providing the best of services to our very appreciated clients, to achieve an environment in perfect balance with nature, thus, it is a privilege for us to present the wonderful spectacle that occurs within the hotel Velas Vallarta, since year after year, we get visited by the Black-bellied Whistling Duck species, also known as “whistlers”, which come to hatch their eggs and have their offspring.

They can be observed within the beautiful gardens, whether they are alone or with their little ducklings, while our personnel looks out for them, providing them with time to recover and to enjoy the wonderful weather offered by Puerto Vallarta. Without a doubt, it is a privilege that only a few can brag about.

Interesting Facts:
• They form floaks of over one thousand of individuals and fly over 4,900 ft avobe the level of the sea.
•Its pairs remain together their whole life and can lay between eight to 18 eggs, mainly when summer starts (in North America)
• Incubation time varies from 26 to 31 days and ducklings are ready to fly after two months time. Plumage gets to its adult stage only after eight months.
• As the name implies, these are noisy birds with a clear whistling waa-chooo  call!

[watch the video/ver video] [watch the gallery]

Patitos Pichichi en Velas Vallarta

Tomando en cuenta que una de las principales características de nuestros hoteles es, además de proporcionar el mejor de los servicios a nuestros apreciados clientes, lograr un ambiente que se mantenga en equilibrio perfecto con la naturaleza, resulta un privilegio para nosotros el maravilloso espectáculo que sucede en el hotel Velas Vallarta, ya que cada año nos visitan los patos de la especie pichichi, conocidos también como patos chifladores, quienes vienen a empollar sus huevos y tener a sus crías.

Se les puede ver por los hermosos jardines, ya sea solos o con sus pequeños patitos mientras nuestro personal se encarga de cuidarlos, dándoles tiempo para que se recuperen y disfruten del maravilloso clima que les ofrece Puerto Vallarta. Sin duda, un privilegio del que pocos pueden presumir.

Datos curiosos:
• Se eleva a 1500 metros del nivel del mar.
• Regularmente se encuentran en bandadas de miles de individuos.
• Permanecen con la misma pareja por toda su vida, y crían una vez por año de ocho a 18 huevos, a principios de verano (América del Norte).
• La incubación dura de 26 a 31 días y los polluelos están listos para emprender el vuelo a los dos meses de edad, pero es hasta los ocho meses que obtienen el plumaje de adultos.

¡Únete a la celebración de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA Sudáfrica 2010! Si eres apasionado del fútbol y deseas mostrar al mundo tu pasión y apoyo a tu selección, te invitamos a participar en el concurso “Mi selección en la playa”. ¡Gana una estancia completamente gratis en nuestro lujoso resort todo incluido: Velas Vallarta!

Join the world celebration of 2010 FIFA World Cup! If you are a heart follower of your soccer team and you want to share it to the world, you are invited to participate in the contest: “My soccer team at the beach”. Enter to win a wonderful vacation for two people at our luxurious all-inclusive resort: Velas Vallarta!

Bases del Concurso | Bases for the Contest

1.    Para participar tienes que ser seguidor de la página de Velas Vallarta en Facebook.
2.    Sube una foto al muro de Velas Vallarta con el tema “Mi selección en la playa“.

Asegúrate de que:

• En la foto apareces tú
• La foto contiene un elemento relacionado con la playa; ej. Una piña colada, unos lentes de sol, flotadores, etc. ¡La creatividad está en ti!
• Aparecen los colores de tu selección de fútbol soccer favorita; ej. Ponte la camiseta de tu selección o integra en la foto los colores representativos del equipo, etc.

3.    Invita a tus amigos a hacer clic en  la opción “Me gusta”, en nuestro muro; para ello deberán ser seguidores de la página de Velas Vallarta en Facebook
4.    El participante que más clics a “Me gusta” acumule, será el ganador
5.    La duración del concurso será a partir del viernes 25 de junio y hasta el 11 de julio 2010
6.    El ganador recibirá Una estancia de 3 noches Todo Incluido para dos personas en Velas Vallarta.

¡Además! Un premio sorpresa a la foto más original. El ganador será determinado por el Comité de Comunicación de Velas Resorts y anunciado a través de nuestra página en Facebook y Twitter.

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Restricciones: Premio vigente durante todo el 2010. Sujeto a disponibilidad. No aplica para reservaciones ya existentes. No válido para colaboradores de Velas Resorts o sus familiares. No aplica con otras promociones.

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1.    You have to be a follower of our Facebook page
2.    Post your picture on our wall at Velas Vallarta page with the subject:  “My soccer team at the beach“

Make sure that in your picture:

• You appear on it
• There is at least, one element related to the Beach; e.g.: A pina colada, sunglasses, sun block, etc. You can be as creative as you want!
• You include the colors of your favorite Football team; e.g.: You, wearing the jersey of your team, or design a composition of colors of your team, etc.

3.    Invite your friends to “Like” your picture published on Velas Vallarta wall - they will need to be followers of Velas Vallarta on Facebook as well
4.    Participant with most “Likes” voted, will be the winner
5.    Posts of pictures and voting will be valid from Friday, June25th through July 11th 2010
6.    Winner will get a Three-Night stay for two persons All-Included at Velas Vallarta.

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Restrictions: Prize will be valid throughout 2010. Subject to availability. Not applicable for reservations made prior to the dates of the contest.  Not applicable for Velas Resort’s staff or family. Not applicable with other promotions.

http://www.facebook.com/velasvallarta
http://twitter.com/velasvallarta