Category Archives: Baja

7th Annual BAJA BASH Coming Up!

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Attendees to enjoy Baja-inspired cuisine from top regional chefs, local craft beer, and live music while raising funds for coastal habitat and marine wildlife conservation

Baja Bash logo

On Saturday, June 22, WILDCOAST, an international conservation organization protecting some of the most beautiful and biologically significant coastal areas in the Californias and Latin America, will hold its 7th annual Baja Bash to support the organization’s important conservation programs. Held at the Coronado Cays Yacht Club from 5pm-9pm, the event always puts the “fun” in “fundraiser”, and will be a celebration of Baja California’s natural beauty and the opportunity for adventure it holds. The organization’s work preserving the peninsula’s most beautiful and wild beaches, islands, and lagoons will be spotlighted and the festivities will feature Baja-inspired sustainable cuisine, a silent auction, and music. Proceeds from the event will benefit WILDCOAST’s continued efforts to conserve the most threatened coastal habitats and wildlife in the California’s and Southern Mexico, and Latin America.

These days, everyone loves Baja, especially her beaches and coastal areas. In fact, people love Baja so much, that much of her once mostly-deserted 1900 miles of coastlines have fallen under targeted assault from increased development and industrial growth. Coral reefs and mangrove forests teeming with sea life, pristine beaches where endangered sea turtles nest, and bays that are the birthing areas for gentle California grey whales—all are in danger of disappearing, and the marine species and other fauna that depend on these fragile ecosystems are also in peril.

Luckily, 19 years ago WILDCOAST (aka COSTASALVAJE in Spanish) began working to watchdog and protect the marine ecosystems and wildlife on Baja’s coasts, as well as coastal areas in San Diego and other Mexican and Latin American regions.

Founded in 2000 by Serge Dedina, currently mayor of Imperial Beach, CA,. WILDCOAST has boasted many successes over the year. Some of these include helping to conserve:

  • more than 9.2 million acres of globally significant bays, beaches, lagoons, coral reefs and islands

  • 17,536 acres of Marine Protected Areas in Southern California

  • 1,125 acres of coral reefs in Mexico

  • 74,689 acres of mangrove forests undergoing protection

  • 5,720 acres of carbon-sequestering mangroves protected in Bhaia Magdelana and the Gulf of California

WILDCOAST’s programs benefit such species as sea turtles, grey whales, sharks and other sea life, as well as California condors and coastal birds, pronghorn antelope, and desert big horn sheep .

The pre-gala festivities for Baja Bash will kick off earlier in the afternoon, with an Electric Boat Fundraising Challenge, in which 6 teams will compete for trophies, and in the process raise a projected $45,000 to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and wildlife.

The Gala itself begins at 5pm, during which guests will enjoy delicious bites from several of Baja and San Diego’s most celebrated chefs:

Live music will be provided by Buena Vista SoCal Club (dancing is encouraged!!), and brews by Baja Brewing Company will help put everyone in the party spirit.

Tickets are on sale now! $95 per person or $700 for a table of 8. Purchase Tickets Here! or at the door.

If you love our coastlines, no matter which side of the border you favor, and the creatures that are trying to survive in and nearby them, please consider donating to WILDCOAST, even if you aren’t able to attend Baja Bash.

Colorado Cays Yacht Club is located at 30 Caribe Cay Boulevard, Coronado, CA 92118.

Celebrating Gastronomy in Baja Throughout October

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By Wendy Lemlin

Head South of the Border to Tantalize Your Palate

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I’m beginning to think that the 10th month of the year should be renamed Eatober. With several major food-focused events straddling both sides of the border throughout October, those who celebrate the culinary arts will have no problem indulging their passion for the finest food and drink in a vibrant social atmosphere. Head to Baja in October for some major food and wine events featuring rock star chefs and the best of local flavor, and see why the gastronomic scene there has positively exploded in recent years.

Valle Food & Wine Fest

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On October 5-7, Baja’s celebrated wine and cuisine destination, the Valle de Guadalupe, will play host to the celebrity chef studded second annual Valle Food & Wine Fest, detailed in a previous article. Guests will enjoy the offerings from 25 local wineries and 8 craft breweries to pair with the creations of 38

chefs from the USA and Mexico, including Netflix Chef’s Table stars Nancy Silverton and Dominique Crenn, Rick Bayless, Top Chef Jonathan Waxman, Michelin-starred Drew Deckman, Baja superstars Benito Molina, MiguelAngel Guerrero, and Javier Plascencia.

Tickets and info here.

Berry Good Noche

Berry Good Noche

For the past eight years Berry Good Night was a highly sought after by-invitation-only dinner and evening event, held on a beautiful La Jolla Farms estate perched atop the cliffs abutting Torrey Pines Beach. By bringing together local growers, ranchers, and producers, along with championing the ideology of sustainable food, the event has been a catalyst in uniting kindred spirits—the artisans, food activists, farmers, ranchers, winemakers, brewers, writers, chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary locavores—who feed the palate of the local conscientious foodie world.

This year, the Berry Good Night Dinner is taking its 8th anniversary south of the border to be reborn as Berry Good Noche, and any guest who purchases a ticket is welcome. The event will be held on October 18 in Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe (Guadalupe Valley), about 90 minutes from the border, at Troika, adjacent to Vena Cava Winery. The celebration will serve the dual purpose of highlighting sustainable gastronomy in our border region, and serving as an opening event for Baja Culinary Fest (more about that below).

The 6 course feast will feature an array of local wine pairings provided by the members of Provino, Baja California’s premier winery association. Celebrated chefs from both sides of the border creating culinary delight will include:

Cocktail hour will begin at 5pm with hors d’oeuvres prepared by Troika and the seated dinner will begin at 6pm.

100% of $150 ticket proceeds (**excluding transportation fee) will benefit Baja school garden projects. For those not wishing to drive from San Diego, round trip transportation fro Old Town Transit Center is available for $50 pp. Tickets and detailed info available here.

Baja Culinary Fest

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Dubbed “From North to South” and focusing on the theme of Sustainability, the 8th annual Baja Culinary Fest will celebrate the gastronomy, along with the wine and craft beer culture, of Baja California from October 18-20. With the exception of Berry Good Noche (see above) all events and dinners will be held in Tijuana, making it easy for guests from San Diego and Southern California to attend. Conferences, cooking workshops, demos, and an expo will take place at Club Campestre golf club, culminating with the Culinary Summit on October 20. There, attendees can sample the creations of an impressive roster of local and guest chefs from throughout Mexico, who will cook the best dishes of their kitchen at 30 food stations, showcasing products from Baja California. Pa

  • Festival Founder Javier Plascencia, Misión 19 – Finca Altozano – Jazamango

  • Aquiles Chávez, La Fisheria Playa del Carmen, Q.R.

  • Diego Hernandez, Corazón de Tierra Ensenada, B.C.

  • Gabriela Ruiz, Carmela y Sal CDMX

  • Guillermo Gonzalez Beristaín, Grupo Pangea Monterrey, N.L

  • Mao Montiel, Dolcenero CDMX

  • Oswaldo Vazquez, Comal – Chileno Bay Resort & Residences Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S

  • Tomas Bermúdez, La Docena Oyster Bar Guadalajara, Jal.

  • Yvan Mucharraz, Comal – Chileno Bay Resort & Residences Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S

  • Alex Branch, Hakkasan Group Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S

  • Julián Martinez, Sepia Cocina del Mar CDMX

  • Matthew Beaudin, Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey, Ca.

  • Ruffo Ibarra Oryx Capital Gastro Pub Tijuana, B.C.

Multi-course dinners prepared by teams of some of the top chefs in Baja California and beyond will be held each evening. The most difficult decisions will be choosing which one to attend on each night!

See the full chef lineup for each dinner here! Contact the individual restaurants for prices and tickets for these very special dining experiences.

Tickets for all the festival events are found here.

All-Star Chef Lineup Coming to Valle Food & Wine Fest

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by Wendy Lemlin

(photos courtesy of Valle Food & Wine Fest)

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Foodies take heed! Get out those elastic waist pants, because October is going to be a prime month in which to indulge your culinary and oenophilic obsessions in San Diego, Tijuana, and Baja’s celebrated Valle de Guadalupe. Several major food and wine-centered events will bring world renowned AND locally esteemed chefs and culinarians to the area, and if you are a gastronomy enthusiast, you won’t want to miss any of them.

Valle Food & Wine Fest

First up is the 2nd annual Valle Food & Wine Fest on October 5-7, a 3 day extravaganza of— yup, you guessed it— food and wine, held in Baja California’s Valle de Guadalupe, about a 2 hour ride south of San Diego. Expanding on last year’s success, the 2018 festival will attract about 2000 guests, and what is probably the most esteemed and badass lineup of chefs this area has seen. Although the visiting chefs are known for diverse styles and cuisines, they will all be cooking “Valle style”, working their magic with local ingredients and implements. The distinct culinary style of the Valle de Guadalupe reflects the land’s rugged terrain, where chefs spend long days smoking and grilling locally grown ingredients over Caja Chinas, barrel smokers, Santa Maria-style grills, and authentic copper vessels. These theatrical cooking techniques will be on display throughout the festival. To round out the experience, wines— from crisp bubbles and floral rosés to the acclaimed Nebbiolos and unique blends— will give guests a taste of the local terroir that’s becoming increasingly recognized on a competitive global scale. In the words of Wine Spectator’s wine guru James Suckling, “(Baja California) might be one of the last untapped great wine regions left in the world.” Continue reading

Valle Wine & Food Festival Benefits Farm Workers and Earthquake Victims

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By Wendy Lemlin

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   As anyone in the SoCal/Baja border foodie community knows, in recent years there have been a significant number of outstanding events in Baja California’s Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s smoking-hot wine region about 90 miles south of San Diego. But, the first annual Valle Wine & Food Festival, happening October 22, stands out as a must do, not only for the amazing quality of cross-border chef talent who will be participating —hosts Javier Plascencia and Nancy Silverton, and Michelin-starred Dominique Crenn, to name a few—but also because the event will be flavored with a welcome taste of altruism, i.e. the festival will benefit the area’s farm workers, as well as victims of the recent earthquakes in Mexico.

Nancy Silverton, Carolynn Carreno, Javier Plascencia

Nancy Silverton, Carolynn Carreno, Javier Plascencia

Continue reading →

Baja Bash to Benefit WILDCOAST

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by Wendy Lemlin

baja bash

Having fun and conserving our coastlines on both sides of the border..

These days, everyone loves Baja, especially her beaches and coastal areas.  In fact, people love Baja so much, that much of her once mostly-deserted 1900 miles of coastlines have fallen under targeted assault from increased development and industrial growth. Coral reefs and mangrove forests teeming with fish and sealife, pristine beaches where endangered sea turtles nest, and bays that are the birthing areas for gentle California grey whales—all are in danger of disappearing, and the marine species and other fauna that depend on these fragile ecosystems are also in peril.

Luckily, 16 years ago WILDCOAST (aka COSTASALVAJE in Spanish) began working to watchdog and protect the marine ecosystems and wildlife on Baja’s coasts, as well as coastal areas in San Diego and in other Mexican and Latin American regions. Continue reading →

Eating Up the Valle De Guadalupe

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Where to Dine in Border Baja’s Hottest  Wine  & Foodie Destination, The Valle De Guadalupe

By Wendy Lemlin

View of the Valle from Malva

View of the Valle from Malva

It’s no longer any secret that there is some fantastic food in Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe.  When I first started visiting this tranquil valley in 2005, there were maybe 2 or 3 “gourmet” restaurants being buzzed about in the SoCal/Baja gastronomic circles. These days, visiting wine tasting aficionados can indulge their tastebuds with memorable fine dining experiences at close to 20 eateries ––although, it’s hard to keep track as there seems always to be a new restaurant opening. And by fine dining, I mean the best of the Valle’s ingredients—organic produce usually grown in onsite gardens, locally made cheeses, fresh caught seafood from Ensenada, meats and poultry raised on small Valle ranches and farms—expertly and creatively prepared, and served, for the most part, in a casual, al fresco ambiance.  While many of the dishes themselves are worthy of the world’s top restaurants, in this slice of Baja Norte we’re not talking white table cloths and fine china, but more earthy surroundings that reflect the culture of the vineyards and the ruggedness of the surrounding topography, and where you feel totally comfortable lingering over your meal for several hours. In fact, be prepared to do so—there’s no such thing as “grabbing a quick bite” here, unless you’re patronizing the new crop of food trucks at such wineries as Adobe Guadalupe and Vena Cava.  I won’t lie—dining in the Valle might seem pricey if you were expecting $1 tacos and beer, but for the most part, I’ve found every culinary experience I’ve had there to provide excellent value for the quality presented.

So, fill your glass with one of the Valle’s excellent wines and pull up a chair at my virtual table. Join me for a mini gastronomic tour to some of the restaurants I recently visited on a three day Valle de Guadalupe getaway! Continue reading →

Celebrating Misión 19’s Fifth Anniversary

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By Wendy Lemlin

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When Misión 19 opened in 2011, the sophisticated, stylish restaurant was a game changer for the Tijuana dining scene.  The city was just beginning a rebound from some tough years—years when the crossborder tourist stream had slowed to barely a trickle and when even residents were less enthusiastic about going out and socializing at night. Now, five years later, Tijuana is widely acknowledged as a hot culinary destination, and chef/owner Javier Plascencia’s star is shining brighter than ever. Misión 19 has had a lot to do with that. Continue reading →

Sleeping Around: What’s New in Valle de Guadalupe Lodging

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By Wendy Lemlin

One of 4 casitas at Casa Mayoral

One of 4 casitas at Casa Mayoral

The first time I visited Baja’s lovely Valle de Guadalupe was in the fall of 2004, about 6 months after I moved to San Diego from Florida. I discovered it somewhat by accident, having driven down the coast with a visiting friend. In the spirit of adventure, heading back from Ensenada we decided to take the turnoff for Route 3, recommended as a scenic drive that would eventually lead back to the border crossing at Tecate. At that time, I knew nothing about the handful of wineries already established in the valley, but I remember that the two of us, both Baja newbies, were blown away by the beauty and tranquility of our surroundings as we drove, and the happy feeling that we were actually in another country with a pastoral ambience very different from the frenetic Gringo/Mexican border hybridism of Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada.

About two years later, while working on an article about the Baja coastal areas, I deliberately made a detour to the Valle and began in earnest my love affair with her mountain-lined vistas, and the growing food and wine culture that was soon to permeate the landscape.  I think that there were around 10 registered wineries at that time.  Now that number is approximately 150, most of which have popped up in the last 3 years or so.

All of which begs the question: what’s new in the Valle de Guadalupe? Of course, the answer is: plenty.  There are more wineries, more restaurants—some of which are now staying open year-round—and thankfully, more lodging options.  In the last couple of months, after not having been there in a year, I’ve made several trips to the Valle, checking out places I hadn’t been before—some new, and some just new to me, and revisiting several favorites to see how they’ve progressed. Continue reading →

October Food Events

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Eat Your Way Through October

by Wendy Lemlin

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What is it about October that always makes it such a busy month for food events? Is it because it’s usually one of the best weather months in San Diego, when temperatures start to cool down and skies are clear?  Is it because it fits so nicely between summer vacations and holiday frenzies? Or maybe it’s more about fiscal calendars and venue availabilities.  Whatever the reason, this will be every foodie’s dream month—just be prepared to splurge, both calorie-wise and money-wise, if you plan to go to everything! Here are a few events coming up. Continue reading →

Hacienda El Capricho: Heaven in the Baja Hills

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By Wendy Lemlin

Welcome to Hacienda El Capricho

Welcome to Hacienda El Capricho

For those of us in Southern California, a trip to northern Baja might entail heading to some coastal destination between Rosarito and Ensenada, usually to eat some tacos, drink some cold cervezas, maybe do some surfing or lounging on a beach, and then finishing off with a stop in Popotla to pick up some colorful pottery at the roadside “studios”. Or, maybe it’s a wine-tasting and gastronomic extravaganza to the now uber-popular Guadalupe Valley, where the numbers of upscale wineries, restaurants and flashy events have increased exponentially (along with prices!) in the last five years. Foodies and artists are discovering the culinary and cultural delights of Tijuana, and San Felipe is still a laid back-destination for sport fisherman, and gringo retirees. It’s all out there and readily accessible.

But, way, way off the beaten path, nestled in the Baja mountains several miles inland from

The road to Hacienda El Capricho

The road to Hacienda El Capricho

the coast near Puerto Nuevo, exists an amazing slice of Baja that few tourists even know exists. If you continue for several winding, bumpy, dusty miles on the dirt road that runs east uphill from Primo Tapia, past All the Pretty Horses of Baja Rescue, after about 30-40 minutes you will arrive at Hacienda El Capricho, the dream of Alberto Ortiz, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, but in the midst of abundant natural beauty and tranquility. It may not be easy to find, but it is certainly easy to love. At this elevation, the

The hills are alive on the way to Hacienda El Capricho

The hills are alive on the way to Hacienda El Capricho

hills, even in the heat of mid-summer, are greener and lusher than you would ever expect, covered in native oaks, flowering buckwheat, grasses, and a variety of vegetation, watered by natural springs and underground streams.

The sound of bird calls fill the air—the acorn woodpeckers that run through their impressive vocal repertoire in the oaks, the cooing of doves, the chatter of hooded orioles, the chirping of sparrows and the melodies of robins. Sometimes you’ll hear the mooing of cattle at a nearby ranch, or the whinny of a horse.  At night there’s the occasional yip of a coyote.  There are noises here in the Baja outback, but they are the noises of nature, which only accentuate the tranquility, rather than disturb it.

The entrance to Hacienda El Capricho

The entrance to Hacienda El Capricho

Continue reading →