If you haven’t had the chance yet to indulge your inner hippie in Tulum, the first Tulum Food Spirits & Wine Festival might be the excuse you’ve been waiting for.

Tulum has the most stunning beaches and a much better dining scene then almost any other sun destination.  Plus the local ingredients are irresistible – just ask Rene Redzepi. The Tulum Food Spirit & Wine Festival is an intriguing opportunity to experience the country’s deep-rooted culinary scene.

According to Vogue, here’s what’s on the menu: a Mexican contingent featuring Francisco Ruano of Guadalajara’s Alcalde; mole queen Liz Galicia of Puebla’s El Mural de Los Poblanos and Tulum chef José Luis Hinostroza of Arca.  The American line up includes Alinea executive chef Mike Bagale (number 21 on the S.Pellegrino list and three Michelin stars) mixing it up with local chef Luis Aguilar of Safari (famous for serving tacos out of his vintage 1970s Airstream) for an eight-course Mexican tasting dinner.  Charles Joly (Chicago cocktail den The Aviary) is on top of the beverage pairings.

James Beard Award winner Dean Fearing will cook up a Mexican-meets-southwestern dinner, and Ryan Poli of Nashville’s The Catbird Seat (a C100B favourite) will host a dinner at Pablo Escobar’s old den-turned-luxury-hotel Casa Malca. There’ll be tequila and wine tastings from Mexico’s best producers and vineyards, as well as mezcal, artisanal beers, local cheeses and charcuterie, plus supremely addictive Mexican street food.

The Tulum Food, Spirits & Wine Festival runs November 9 – 12.

Chefs Cooking for Cause will donate proceeds to the victims of Mexico’s earthquake.

Photos: Arca