By Wendy Lemlin

Head South of the Border to Tantalize Your Palate

I’m beginning to think that the 10^th 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

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

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:

• Diego Hernandez, Corazón de Tierra

• Javier Plascencia, Misión 19

• Tomas Bermudez, La Docena

• Maribel Aldaco, Fauna at Bruma

• David Castro Hussong,Fauna at Bruma

• Davin Waite, Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub

• Flor Franco, Franco on Fifth

• Ryan Costanza, Dija Mara

• Elsa Olmos, Cercano Comedor

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

Dubbed “From North to South” and focusing on the theme of Sustainability, the 8^th 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!

• Georgina

• Oryx Capital

• Emma Baja French

• Cubo Bistro

• Los Compas

• Calafia Club Campestre

• Mision 19

• Club de Emprasarios

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.