Looking for a mood boosting dining experience? Guests staying at the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Rivera Maya can now order food geared to elicit specific moods. The available mood menus include Calming, Energy Boosting, and Happiness. These special menus are available in-suite for lunch and dinner or, additionally for lunch, at its oceanfront Bistro restaurant and Chaka restaurant with views of the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Jungle. The Mood Dining menus are included in the resort’s all-inclusive rate.
The Calming menu features asparagus salad and penne pasta with fine herbs, mussels, and parfait of red fruits and Greek yogurt. Asparagus contains high levels of tryptophan which is the basis for the creation of serotonin as well as folic acid which promote happiness. The mussels are full of vitamin B12, zinc, iodine and selenium, all vital elements for the proper functioning of the thyroid, the regulator of the body’s mood. Greek yogurt contains high calcium content which activates the body to release neurotransmitters to feel good.
On the Energy Boosting menu is ginger and vegetable soup, fish fillet in a crust of walnuts in yellow curry and mashed cauliflower with roasted garlic, and chocolate fondant. Full of nutrients, ginger is one of the best natural stimulants and helps maintain a good mood and energy. Nuts are rich in tryptophan, which helps boost mood and energy levels. Bitter chocolate helps concentration and mood, improves blood flow in the brain and helps boost energy.
The Happiness menu includes a pollen salad of Swiss chard, spinach, cherry tomatoes and honey mustard vinaigrette; lamb rack with citrus crust, brown rice and blue mashed potatoes; and lemon and coconut macaroons stuffed with banana. Pollen provides great vitality, elevating mood and spirit. The lamb has high levels of CLA Conjugated Linoleic Acid, in addition to heme iron, which influences the state of mind positively related to memory and the perception of happiness. Citrus foods dislodge depression and whole grains fight the feeling of courage, produce serotonin and improve mood. Blue potatoes contain anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant that fortifies the memory and reduces the inflammation that spoils the state of mind. It is also high in iodine that regulates the thyroid – the “master of mood regulation.” The lemon-rich macaroon contains brain-protective flavonoids and is loaded with coconut that contains medium-chain fats that nourish the mood.
Executive Chef of Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Mario Lopez, developed the Mood Dining foodie experience for the resort. The initiative is just one of many at the resort's specialty restaurants with food, creativity and presentation comparable to that of top restaurants in world capitals placing Velas Resorts in the vanguard of gastronomy.
Gourmet meals and premium branded beverages are included in the all-inclusive rate at Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Also included are luxury suite accommodations, 24-hour in-suite service, nightly entertainment, taxes, gratuity, and more.
About Grand Velas Riviera Maya The AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya is an ultra-luxury all-inclusive resort set on 206 acres of pristine jungle and mangroves and with the finest white sand beach in the Riviera Maya. Guests can choose among three separate ambiances, including adults-only oceanfront, family-friendly ocean view and a Zen-like tropical setting, embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula’s jungle.
The resort offers more than 91,000 square feet of meeting space and outdoor areas for events inclusive of a 31,000-square-foot Convention Center, able to accommodate up to 2,700 guests. The resort has won numerous awards from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today and several other magazines and major companies worldwide, including Virtuoso’s Best Spa and TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame.
All 539 designer-like suites are exceptionally spacious, more than 1,100 square feet each, all with balconies, and some with private plunge pools. All feature fully stocked mini bars, L’Occitane amenities, artisanal tequila, and Nespresso coffee machines. Bathrooms deserve special mention with walk in glass shower, deep soaking Jacuzzi tubs and marble interior.
Eight restaurants, including five gourmet offerings, present a tour through Mexico, Europe and Asia. Cocina de Autor, at the hands of world renowned celebrity chefs Bruno Oteiza, Mikel Alonso and Xavier Pérez Stone, holds the AAA Five Diamond Award, the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to win this prestigious distinction. Se Spa is the region's largest spa sanctuary at more than 90,000 square feet, known for its authentic Mexican treatments, offerings from around world and signature seven-step water journey.
Other features include 24-hour Personal Concierge; 24/7 in-suite service; three swimming pools; two fitness centers; water sports; innovative Kids’ Clubs and Teens’ Club; baby concierge; Karaoke Bar; Koi Bar; Piano Bar, and business center.
