San Miguel de Allende, Mexico – June 13, 2018:  San Miguel de Allende will host the 2nd annual 'Market of Arts & Gastronomy' (MAG) July 12-15, 2018 that will bring stars and leading players from the culinary and art worlds for four days of exciting events and activities in this celebrated colonial town.

“The launch of MAG last year was a grand success, drawing a who's who of high-profile participants including leading chefs, hotels, restaurants, food and spirits companies, wineries, artists and major media,” said Bruce James, director of San Miguel's Hotel Matilda, which is one of the principal sponsors and organizers of the festival along with Rosewood San Miguel. “For 2018, we're planning an even more dynamic MAG, from top-rated chefs to innovative culinary experiences.”

"We are excited to lead this second edition of MAG, this new edition promises to exceed any expectations of food lovers and luxury hospitality experts. We seek to leave a great aftertaste with each experience of art and gastronomy and surprise one more time the attendees with the quality and innovation of this series of celebrations. This year, with the participation of chefs with the highest profile and creative artists, we will continue to be at the forefront, pampering the palate, the view and the emotions of the visitors "- explained Alfredo Rentería, Director of Rosewood San Miguel.

Dozens of dinners, events and activities are planned over the four days including themed feasts, tastings, art exhibits and performances, and a grand marketplace of food, spirits and art. Paul Bentley, chef of Bovine, the acclaimed metro-chic brasserie in San Miguel de Allende, will be the Host Chef of the festival.

MAG will get underway on July 12 with a Kickoff Dinner in Moxi at Hotel Matilda  themed “Beyond Borders – Mexico.” The event will feature acclaimed Mexican chefs Eduardo Garcia of Maximo Bistrot, Alan Mendez of Pasillo de Humo and Francisco Ibañez of Moxi, along with exhibits by artist Eugenia Martinez and music by Los Rumberos de Massachusetts.

A series of themed dinners and lunches will celebrate the cuisine of different countries with noted chefs cooking and artists exhibiting their works. In addition to the Mexico-themed dinner at Moxi, there will be:

• July 13: Dinner at Rosewood San Miguel with Reylon Augustin, chef of One-Michelin-Star Madeira at Rosewood Sand Hills, and artist Adrian Gonzalez.
• July 13: Dinner at Casa Dragones with chef Norma Listman and Saquib Kebal from restaurant de Masalá in Mexico City, artist Pedro Reyes.
• July 14: Brunch at Moxi with chefs Eduardo Echeverria, John Gallo and Rene Reyes from PINCH based in Miami.
• July 14: Australia dinner at Bovine Brasserie with chefs Paul Bentley and Duncan Welgemoed from Africola, a restaurant in Australia
• July 14: Dinner at L'Otel with Chef Justin Smillie from Upland Restaurant in NYC
• July 15: Brunch at Fatima 7, Casa Blanca 7 with Chef Donnie Masterton and artists from Colectivo Hoja Santa.

A grand market of gastronomy, food, drink and art, the Marché, was a huge hit in the inaugural MAG last year and it will be back for three days, July 13-15. Held in San Miguel's beautiful Parque Juárez, it will feature some 100 booths offering tastings ‒ dishes by leading restaurants, tequila, spirits, beers, wines and cheeses, as well as an installation by artist Eugenia Martinez. In addition, colorful ribbons created by Martinez will be flying outside shops in San Miguel, indicating special places to shop during the festival.

Among the other activities will be:

• A 'Mixology Experience' during dinners.
• After Party on Saturday night, July 14, at Warehouse Casa Armida with an installation by artist Luis Fabian Flores.
• Talks in the Park with featured exhibitors.

In addition to Hotel Matilda, among the sponsors of MAG are Bovine Brasserie, Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, Cuervo, L'Otel, Casa Dragones, Jaguar, Moet & Chandon Lineal, Casa de Aves and Casa Blanca 7, B'ui.

Booking Individual Events:  The themed dinners and lunches, which cost between about $77 and $150 each, and the After Party can be booked at www.magmexico.com.  

Festival Package: Hotel Matilda is offering a MAG All-Access Package that includes accommodations for three nights and all the main events including the Kick Off Dinner at Moxi at Hotel Matilda on July 12, the dinner at Rosewood or dinner at Casa Dragones on the 13th, the brunch at Moxi on the 14th, the dinner at Bovine or the dinner at L'Otel on the 14th, the After Party at Casa Armida on the 14th, and the brunch at Fatima 7 at Casa Blanca 7 on the 15th. The All-Access Package, double occupancy, is about $2,675 in a deluxe room, or $4,091 in the Owner's Suite.  For more information and reservations: Toll free 855-MATILDA (855-628-4532), info@hotelmatilda.com, www.hotelmatilda.com.

Festival Package: Rosewood is offering a MAG All-Access Package that includes accommodation for three nights with guaranteed VIP access including Kick Off Dinner at Moxi at Hotel Matilda, VIP cocktail at Cava and Dinner at Rosewood on Friday 13, Brunch at Moxi on the 14th , Dinner at Bovine and After Party at Casa Armida on the 14th and closure brunch at Casa Blanca 7 on the 15th . The All Access Package is about 2,400 dlls on a Colonial Room and 2,550 in a Deluxe room. For more information and reservations: TEL: +52 415 1529700  https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/es/san-miguel-de-allende

Hotel Matilda is a dynamic contemporary hotel celebrated for its chic lifestyle-focused guest experience and one-of-a-kind art and culinary events. The 'Matilda lifestyle' guest experience combines an award-winning holistic spa; Bar Müi known for its creative mixology; designer rooms and suites; a vibrant art-gallery-like interior – the first contemporary ambiance in colonial San Miguel de Allende – filled with an eclectic collection of dramatic contemporary works by noted artists, many specifically commissioned for the hotel; and world-class dining in Moxi. Hotel Matilda  was named the #3 Hotel in Mexico in Condé Nast Traveler's 2017 Readers' Choice Awards, and the Best City Hotel in Mexico in Travel + Leisure's 2017 World's Best Awards.

With the annual Market of Arts & Gastronomy festival, Hotel Matilda's groundbreaking work on the Mexican culinary scene under the guidance of Mr. James is being elevated to a new level. He evolved Moxi into a leading restaurant and favorite Mexican foodie destination; it was named #24 on The Daily Meal's list of the 101 Best Restaurants in Latin America and the Caribbean. Many of the top chefs of Mexico have cooked at Moxi at the restaurant's grand culinary evenings called Supper Clubs that feature guest chefs from leading hotels and restaurants.

For more information and reservations: Toll free 855-MATILDA (855-628-4532), info@hotelmatilda.com, www.hotelmatilda.com