With news that One&Only Resorts was throwing open the doors to its new Mandarina property in Mexico, our thoughts naturally turned to the culinary offerings. Plumped pretty along the undeveloped stretch of coastline along the Riviera Nayarit, this eco-haven is home to four beautiful eateries, each celebrating local cuisine and ingredients, curated by world-renowned celebrity chefs. Your sensory exploration will take you, in particular order, to Alma, a relaxed garden-to-plate eaterie serving al fresco dishes that fuses Pan-American flavours with Mediterranean flair, where you can expect to see innovative sea urchin paté, grilled Sarda with turnip confit and wood-fired flat breads vie for attention.
The Jetty Beach Club is a laid-back spot peaking out of the hotel’s bucolic vegetation, overlooking the pristine white beach, letting you connect with the waters beyond and sample seafood so fresh your senses will dip into overdrive.
Try the soft shell crab tacos with avocado mousse for something light and moreish. Now, onto the jewel in One&Only Mandarina’s crown, Carao. Suspended on the cliffside with jaw-dropping views of the ocean below, here acclaimed Mexican chef Enrique Olvera will take you on a sensorial journey as he combines ingredients in ingenious ways to create something daring, that celebrates his years of travel and experience.
A celebration of this food and the locale of Mandarina, its community and culture results in dishes such as horse mackerel ceviche, aged whole fish cooked Zarandeado-style (a regional cooking method using a marinade of chili paste and slow-roasted over hot coals, octopus served with celeriac, and grilled Amaebi with ginger salsa macha. Wash it down with a Mezcal for memories sake.