It’s getting easier for people with dietary restrictions to enjoy mouthwatering cuisine in Mexico. From coast to coast, hotels both large and small have upped the ante with creative vegetarian and vegan menu options.
This year, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit unveiled new vegan menus, curated by vegan chef Miguel Batista, co-founder of Vegan Planet, a restaurant and store in Cancun. Dedicated menus at each of the hotel’s restaurants feature four to five traditional dishes of French, Italian and Mexican cuisine as well as comfort food, all adapted for vegetarian and vegan specifications.
Also new is Ceviche & Tequila Bar, which recently opened at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. The venue offers a vegetarian ceviche made with chopped jicama, cucumber, roasted pineapple, carrot, cauliflower, mango, avocado, tomato and onion, all tossed in Chamoy sauce, lime and orange juices, cilantro and Tajin chili powder.
Nearby, the adults-only Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel & Romantic Getaway satisfies vegetarian palates with dishes such as its Asparagus Orchard, made with two types of mushrooms and tomatoes as well as asparagus, celery and toasted peanuts.
In Baja California, Rancho La Puerta, a wellness-oriented hotel that specializes in holistic therapies and other programs, offers vegetarian and vegan options — made with ingredients from its organic farm — including veggie burgers, mushroom enchiladas and Mexican corn chowder.
In Guerrero, vegetarian and vegan menus are part of the overall philosophy at Viceroy Zihuatanejo, which has designed a “Way to Wellness” program that aims to promote healthy eating, stress reduction and an active lifestyle. What’s more, the resort offers a Vegan Market Excursion with executive chef Jorge Ildefonso, and from Nov. 20-26, the property will host lectures by wellness expert Dr. Edward Taub.
In the state of Yucatan, the upscale new Chable Resort & Spa is home to three restaurants, all of which offer vegetarian, vegan, lactose- and gluten-free fare. Options include delicacies such as enchiladas de Jamaica, which are hibiscus flower enchiladas with green sauce and macadamia-nut-based cheese.
Guests at Excellence Riviera Cancun can savor tasty vegetarian dishes at Basmati, the on-property Indian restaurant. Among the choices at the venue are pakora (vegetables in green chutney) and dal tadka (yellow lentils with garlic and cumin).
The adults-only Hyatt Zilara Cancun, meanwhile, offers gourmet vegetarian Mexican cuisine, including chiles en nogada — a pepper stuffed with fruits, vegetables and toasted walnuts — and portobello mushroom fajitas.
At Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort, the guests' experience can include specialty recipes such as a vegetarian roll with soy leaf and sushi rice; sauteed mixed mushrooms with chipotle puree and shallots; and vegetarian guacamole with avocado and lime. Also worth noting in the region is Thompson Playa del Carmen, which is home to C-Grill. The venue serves dishes including cauliflower steak, fava bean hummus salad and “veggie tacos dorados” topped with ceviche and red cabbage.
To assure they get the food they want, guests at Palace Resorts can actually set up their own “food card,” a feature that helps travelers with food allergies and other dietary restrictions. A hotel concierge helps each guest draft the card, so he or she can show it at all the property’s dining locations.
Travelers will find numerous options at various dining venues at Iberostar, which has 10 properties in Mexico. Vegetarian specialties include tofu sushi with carrots and cucumber, which is served at Playa Del Carmen’s Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso. There’s also sauteed vegetables with mojo and cilantro mayonnaise at the Mediterranean restaurant in all Iberostar Premium Gold hotels.
Foodies with specific interests and requirements should also consider Mexico City, which is the nation’s most sophisticated culinary hub. At Intercontinental Presidente Mexico City, for example, the chic eatery called Chapulin serves dishes such as black mole and a traditional noodle soup called sopa de fideos chapulin. At Xanat Bistro & Terraza, located at JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City, guests can sample stuffed ancho peppers and vegetables cooked in vanilla oil. Meanwhile, Hotel Carlota features the delicious work of chefs Joaquin Cardoso and Sofia Cortina, including creamy corn polenta and roasted asparagus salad.
