The 2nd Annual Baja Culinary Fest Begins Today

Last year, the Baja California Culinary Fest held its first-ever event with the participation of more than 27 chefs, sommeliers and mixologists that highlighted the ever-growing culinary scene of this diverse Mexican state. An all-out success, today marks the beginning of Baja’s second food festival, which continues through Sunday, October 14^th with a showcasing of the many ingredients and styles that define the streets of Tijuana, the seas of Ensenada, the wineries in Guadalupe Valley, and the sandy shores of Los Cabos. If you’re in San Diego this weekend, make sure to cross border for what Mexican President Felipe Calderon has called the “Best Gastronomic Tourism Product.”

Featuring competitions, conferences, demo classes, special dinners, winery tours, and of course, a host of tastings, the weekend offers something for everyone. Kicking off with an inaugural event tonight, the Baja Culinary Festival will pay tribute to the Caesar Salad, which is said to have originated in Tijuana, and each participating guest chef will create their own personal interpretation of the iconic dish. Throughout the weekend, you can visit the local wineries in the of-the-moment Guadalupe Valley, experience Ensenada’s seafood-heavy culture, explore the tenets of farm-to-table sensibilities, take a tour of Tijuana’s thriving dining landscape, or get to know the visiting state of Sinaloa’s regional cuisine and culture. Partial to particular chefs? There are chef dinners on Friday and Saturday in multiple locations. Timing and tickets for individual events vary, but prices begin at $5 for the general tasting and max out at $150 for special dinners.

A wealth of culinary talents call Baja their home, and many of those marquee names are participating in the Festival including Benito Molina and Solange Munis of Manzanilla, Javier Plascencia of Misión 19, Jair Tellez and Andrés Blanco of Laja, Drew Deckman of Deckman’s San Jose and Deckman’s en el Mogor, and Diego Hernández of La Villa del Valle’s Corazón de Tierra.  Need some help figuring out which events to attend? Here are our picks for the weekend:

Friday:

A host of special chef dinners are taking place throughout the region all weekend, but Friday’s highlights include Benito Molina at Ensenada’s Manzanilla and Jair Tellez at Guadalupe Valley’s Laja. In Tijuana, Drew Deckman is cooking at La Caza Club, and Javier Plascencia at Misión 19. (Prices vary; $50 – $120)

Saturday:

The Taste and Aromas of Baja’s Wine Country visits three wineries, followed by a farm-to-table feast at the region’s newest design hotel confection, Encuentro Guadalupe. ($100)

Shellfish on Board is a round-trip boating excursion and feast on Ensenada’s divine seafood bounty, followed by a return to the uber-popular La Guerrerense, run by Sabina Bandera. ($150)

Sunday:

The Tijuana Gastro Tour visits the border town’s street food spots, including Caesar’s, where the honored Caesar Salad was born. This tour ends at the Tijuana Food Festival’s grand tasting at the Plaza Galerias Hipodromo Shopping Mall. ($20)

For tickets to all Baja California Culinary Events, click here.