Food. It fuels our daily activities and provides a healthy dose of enjoyment and pleasure to even the most challenging of days. Napoleon knew to keep his troops fueled and motivated, he needed to keep them well fed. Hotels have long known that providing food service to guests is not the most lucrative aspect of running an lodging operation. In fact serving food and drinks  on a schedule convenient to hotel guests can sometimes be a impediment to robust financial performance. However, like soldiers on a long campaign who look forward to quality meals to keep their spirits up, hotel guests often rate their hotel not on the thread count of their sheets, but on the quality of food, drink and hospitality. Something about a fresh hot meal, a well made drink and a warm smile resonates a bit more deeply with us than good shampoo and lots of cable TV options.

At El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana in Los Arboles Hotel, faces behind the scenes include Carlos Hernandez and Chuy Castaneda. Both from Guadalajara, Jalisco ... they continue centuries old food traditions of Mexico through the meals that come out of their compact kitchen.  Carlos is fast and efficient behind the line. Chuy oversees production and delivers the hand cut meats and fresh salsas that are the building blocks of any good cuisine. The warm, satisfying feeling you get after a great tasting meal starts right here.

Los Arboles is a small boutique hotel with an array of great amenities, comfortable rooms, a sparkling pool and piping hot jacuzzi. It is fresh, new and has ... good shampoo. But when a friendly face delivers a hot plate of artfully prepared Mexican food to your table, the power of a good meal to sustain and motivate is very hard to ignore.