Chef Gerardo Rivera shares his top signature holiday dishes with travelers looking to celebrate the holidays in Mexico’s most desirable destinations
Mexico City, Mexico (November 20, 2019) – The holiday season is a time when families celebrate treasured traditions and create new ones. Chef Gerardo Rivera, La Colección Resorts’ Corporate Chef, is a man of traditions himself, especially during the Christmas season. For this reason, the talented chef shares savory dishes that travelers should expect at La Colección Resorts properties. With 15 distinct resorts located in Mexico’s most sought-after destinations, Chef Rivera effectively blends timeless holiday traditions with a touch of Mexican charm to celebrate with those visiting and afar.
“At La Colección Resorts, we understand how important it is for visitors to get the best of both worlds during their holiday vacation in Mexico,” said Gerardo Rivera, Corporate Chef for La Colección Resorts. “While the destination has long been recognized for its impressive culinary offerings year-round, we’re excited to showcase our holiday creations that will range from a traditional turkey dinner to unique recipes that pay tribute to our culture.”
The Basics
While a traditional turkey entrée is a staple holiday platter, the second most popular meat consumed during this time in Mexico is pork. Pork is typically served as the center piece of the dining table complimented by colorful vegetables. Other classic holiday servings include different flavored tamales = from the diverse regions of Mexico; Pozole, a meat-based soup made from hominy and seasoned to taste with shredded lettuce, cabbage, chile peppers, onions, garlic, radishes, avocados, salsa and lime; or Romeritos, originally from central Mexico, that consist of tender springs of boiled seepweed and served in a mole sauce. For some added flavor, the dish can be topped with additional ingredients like boiled potatoes or nopales (opuntia cacti).
Chef Gerardo Rivera’s Favorites – Bacalao a la Vizcaína
A true coastal man, Chef Gerardo Riviera’s favorite traditional holiday dish is Bacalao a la Vizcaína, a specially prepared cod that melds different Mexican cultures and requires a unique preparation to achieve a perfect result. Chef Gerardo’s special recipe is broken up into three major parts:
– The Cod
To prepare the cod, begin by drying the skin of the fish and season it with salt and pepper while the vegetable oil heats up in a pan. Once at temperature, place the cod in the pan and fry until the skin is a toasted brown. Add butter, flip the cod and let it finish cooking. For the garnishes, Gerardo fries a rice sheet in boiling oil and cuts it into smaller pieces to sprinkle on top of the cod.
– The Sauce
To give the freshly prepared cod a taste boost, Chef Gerardo tops it with a special sauce. Start by chopping onions, garlic, tomatoes, capers, güeros chiles and olives. Then, scalp some peppers over direct heat and cut them into julienne without the skin and set all ingredients aside. Then caramelize the onions by adding garlic and let it simmer. Then, add tomatoes and lets them cook for ten minutes, slowly adding the julienne peppers, capers, olives and mix in some cinnamon, thyme, bay leaf and sauté with white wine. To top it off, add some tomato puree and season with salt before pouring it over the cod and voila!
– Duchess Potatoes
For a perfect side of duchess potatoes, Chef Gerardo begins by peeling and cutting the potatoes evenly and place them in a medium pot with a couple inches of water with salt. Once potatoes are cooked and tender, drain in a colander and put the potatoes back in the pot and being mashing, adding melted butter, cheese, sour cream and milk until the ingredients are perfectly blended. Once everything is incorporated, add salt to taste and egg yolks and continue to mash until mixture is smooth. Then, using a piping bag, pip the potatoes into a cookie sheet and bake until the potatoes are nicely brown.
A tasty holiday season awaits at La Colección Resorts, accompanied by a rich line-up of activities including tree lighting ceremonies and posadas at every property. The company is kicking off the holiday season with two special deals as a gift to guests in celebration of Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. Travelers can receive up to 50 percent off select bookings with a complimentary shuttle service between the hotel and the airport. The booking window for the Thanksgiving deal is from November 25 to November 29, 2019 and the travel window is from November 25 December 23, 2020. For the Cyber Monday Deal, booking window is from November 30 to December 3, 2019; travel window is from November 30 to December 23, 2020.
For more information and to book now, visit www.lacoleccionresorts.com/specialoffers.
About La Colección Resorts
La Colección Resorts is comprised of 16 distinctive resorts located in Mexico and the Dominican Republic,encompassing the brands Live Aqua Resorts, Grand Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts, Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts and The Explorean. Showcasing the best of the destination including warm culture and hospitality, guests are privy to unrivalled accommodations, amenities and entertainment that ensure a superior, world-class vacation experience. The resorts within La Colección include: Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun All Inclusive Adults Only, Live Aqua Boutique Resort Playa del Carmen, Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende, Live Aqua Private Residences Los Cabos, Live Aqua Beach Resort Punta Cana, Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive Adults Only, Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun, Ú by Grand Fiesta Americana at Coral Beach, Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos All Inclusive Golf & Spa, Fiesta Americana Cozumel All Inclusive, Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun All Inclusive, Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa, Fiesta Americana Cancun Villas, Fiesta Americana Acapulco Villas, The Explorean Cozumel and The Explorean Kohunlich. For further information, please visit: www.lacoleccionresorts.com/