Vegan Recipe from Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit's First MultiGen Wellness Week: Mexican Chocolate Love Bites

The "Beyond All-Inclusive, Beyond All Compare" Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit introduces its first annual multigenerational Wellness Week inclusive of top chefs, vegan menus, culinary workshops, fitness activities, and spa offerings from October 24-30, 2016. Prominent Mexican vegan chef Miguel Bautista and award-winning soulful vegan author Ellen Kanner will facilitate a myriad of health and wellness experiences - from vegan tastings, workshops on health and sensuality, and cooking and juicing classes, where guests learn to make healthy yet indulgent dishes. Kanner will guide guests through the process of making several original recipes, including Mexican Chocolate Love Bites, a delicious raw treat with Mexican chocolate, low notes of cinnamon, almonds and vanilla, with a pinch of cayenne to add a spicy kick.

Mexican Chocolate Love Bites (Yield: 2 dozen)

Ingredients
1 C raw almonds
1 C Medjool dates, pitted
3 Tbsp Dutch process cocoa
½ tsp cinnamon
pinch cayenne
¼ C cacao nibs
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp fresh brewed coffee
½ C powdered sugar for rolling the love bites
¼ tsp cinnamon for rolling the love bites

Preparation

• Pour the raw almonds into a blender or food processor. Process for a minute, or until nuts are coarsely chopped.
• Add pitted dates, cinnamon, cocoa, cayenne, cacao nibs, vanilla, and brewed coffee. Process again until everything just comes together as a coarse paste.
• In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Pinch off about a walnut-sized piece of the Mexican chocolate mixture (or use a teaspoon) and roll into a ball. Drop the ball into the powdered sugar and cinnamon mixture to coat.
• Continue with the remaining chocolate.

For reservations or more information, call 1-888-407-4869, email reservations(at)velasresorts(dot)com or visit http://vallarta.grandvelas.com/.

About Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, a Leading Hotel of the World, enjoys a privileged natural setting with flowering, landscaped gardens beside a long stretch of pristine beach and a dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountains. The centerpiece of the gardens is a three-tiered infinity pool, a preferred spot for catching the legendary sunsets. The AAA Five Diamond all-inclusive resort features 267 ocean-view suites, some with private plunge pools, and all with plasma TVs, wireless internet access, fully stocked mini bar, L'Occitane amenities and Nespresso machines. New Wellness Suites include a personal training session and massage in-suite in addition to other fitness amenities, such as a Lifecycle Exercise Bike, organic soaps, an Alchimia Apothecary Aromatherapy Kit, a Nikken Kenko pillow and comforter, and LED lamp with a clock and timer. Of the resort's five restaurants, three, serving French, Italian and Mexican gourmet cuisine, have received AAA Four Diamond awards for distinguished cuisine and presentation. An oasis of wellbeing, the resort's Leading Spa of the World offers 20 treatment suites, more than 30 spa treatments, many inspired by the native traditions of Mexico and a signature water journey. Other features include a fitness center, 24/7 in suite service, water sports, business center, tennis, baby concierge, Kids Club, and teen lounge during holidays. Puerto Vallarta is just a 15 minute drive away. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit features more than 25,000 square feet of indoor meeting facilities, including the Grand Marissa Ballroom, which consists of more than 6,000 square feet and is easily subdivided into five separate rooms. The resort's facilities also include four other rooms ranging from 681 to more than 1,954 square feet that offer several arrangement variations to maximize meeting productivity and efficiency. The resort has won numerous awards from Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, TripAdvisor, U.S. News and World Report and Forbes, which named it one of the Top Ten Coolest All-Inclusive in 2012. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit was built and is operated by Eduardo Vela Ruiz, majority owner, founder and president of Velas Resorts, with brother Juan Vela by his side, vice president of Velas Resorts.

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