Taste of Playa is a new community based culinary festival set in the heart of the Riviera Maya. With inspiration drawn from the dreams of several local business owners, this event was conceived as a way to celebrate the extraordinary talents of chefs and restaurateurs who have chosen Playa del Carmen as their home and establish the Riviera Maya as a world class culinary destination.

The international food festival, a gathering and celebration of local chefs, is not a new concept, but a new event to Playa del Carmen. Food festivals are held worldwide, in Canada, the United States and Europe, with each host city lending its unique character to the event. The vision for Taste of Playa was inspired by Toronto Taste, an annual fundraising event held by Second Harvest to support their community food programs. Taste of Playa has adopted many of the same principles of this successful event and has added its own unique ingredients; the natural background of the Caribbean Ocean, the distinctive flavors of regional foods, and the unbridled talent of international chefs based in the Riviera Maya.

With the combined efforts of an Event Committee which consists of over 24 volunteers, local restaurants, business owners, the City of Playa del Carmen and its mayoral offices, along with the State Tourism Board, Taste of Playa has been embraced as a city wide event. With the launch of the 1st Annual Sampling on September 5, 2009 in the newly refurbished Parque Fundadores, everyone is working together to honor the diversity of this famous tourist city and to celebrate the heritage and traditions of Mexico..

On behalf of the Executive Committee, we are excited to unveil this event to the general public and invite all who wish to celebrate the Riviera Maya in this community effort.