At Apapaxoa GastroCultural Festival 2026, some of Mexico's most celebrated culinary talent and chefs from around the world gathered at Xcaret. But what stayed with us wasn't the Michelin stars (more than 70!), the awards or even the food. It was something much more powerful: a country increasingly proud to tell its own story.
It was a privilege to be invited to the gastronomic epicenter of Mexico for six days of dinners, conversations, celebrations and exchanges. After talking with chefs and producers, listening to their stories and asking a simple question: Why is it important for you to be here?—something began to emerge.
Again and again, the conversation came back to a confidence in what Mexico already possesses and a desire to share its identity with the world.
