Work is fast and furious on Chef Javier Plascencia‘s much-anticipated Bracero, opening at the corner of Kettner and Beech! Posts on Facebook indicate a July 7 opening, but my “walk by” last Friday indicates lots to be done. Will Bracero open July 7? Will it live up to all the hype and expectations? Vamos a ver!

Thank you, Casa Artelexia, for hosting the signing for Eat Mexico cookbook’s author Lesley Tellez tonight! Lesley took us on a journey from her job as a reporter at the Dallas Morning News to how she, a 3rd-gen Latina, landed in Mexico City (el D.F.), to researching and embracing the D.F. street food scene, eventually launching guided foodie tours, and now: the cookbook! The food she made and brought for us was delicious and plentiful, as were the palomas (tequila + Squirt, one of my faves, I must admit). I let Lesley know how the Baja scene is booming – hope she can visit and experience Baja at the end of her West Coast tour to promo Eat Mexico!

Always nice to support chefs, food writers and purveyors from the mainland when they’re in our SD/BC region. Opportunity tomorrow, Thursday, June 25, 6 to 8 pm at Casa Artelexia. Leslie Tellez of the Distrito Federal will be in SD to promo “Eat Mexico: Recipes from Mexico City’s Streets, Markets & Fondas.” Check it out, hope to see you there! http://bitly.com/1QzrZDm

The SD Union-Tribune hosted a free U-T Talks tonight, “Trends of Baja.” Here are a few of my key takeaways from this well-attended event:

“When I moved to San Diego, one of the things I found most fascinating was that SD is not only 15 minutes from Tijuana, but also just 15 minutes from the door to all of Latin America.” – Derrik Chinn, Turista Libre

 

“Through Rancho La Puerta, Deborah Szekely has given me the opportunity to accomplish the dreams of my life through food. And Baja’s varied terrain allows us to grow and catch any and all kinds of food locally.” – Denise Roa, Rancho La Puerta

 

“Although I set out to just do a fun show, Crossing South has provided a countervoice to the ‘what bleeds, leads’ mindset of traditional, mainstream media, which unfortunately, tends to play up the negative.” – Jorge Meraz, Crossing South

BRAVO, SDUT, for hosting this event!

We packed a ton of fun into this weekend! Arrived in Ensenada in time to hook up with family & see the trophy trucks start. Unfortunately, a Class 10 racer hit a utility pole on turn #2 – before he even got off road – which downed power lines, injured a few spectators & caused a race delay. Headed to Muelle 3 for lunch, but (bummer!) closed for special event. Landed at Mercado Negro for cocktel campechana, almejas gratinadas, fish & shrimp tacos. Wedged in a wonderful tasting @ Santo Tomas down IN Valle Santo Tomas with our fabulous host, David (and bought 3 bottles), then reunited with family just N of Santo Tomas to see the racers come through; dusty but FUN! Cleaned up @ Posada El Rey Sol & set off to find Restaurante Manzanilla in the port district. SUCCESS! Great place, wonderful dinner of shared abalone & yellowtail. Ensenada’s been called “Cinderella of the Pacific,” & Manzanilla is a hidden gem that I’ve heard about & longed to visit for YEARS; worth the search to find it! Topped all off with a great shrimp & veggie omelet poolside at Hotel Cortez/Las Bugambillas before our run for the border (SENTRI ROCKS!) TIP: Ensenada was setting up for a hongo (mushroom) festival on the main tourist drag when we left, looked like great fun. Maybe next year? And congrats to Carlos Lopez of Tecate, overall winner of the 2015 Baja 500!

We’ll be crossing south again this weekend to hook up with family for the Baja 500. We’ve been Baja aficianandos for decades, but never checked out the race until Bob’s sister Susie married a motorhead, and the entire family promptly latched onto the scene. It’s a ton of fun, so much energy, and Ensenada has always been my fave BC city. Gotta make the rounds to La Guerrerrense, Cafe Cafe, Hussongs, Boules, and we hope to visit Manzanilla this time. Some pics from last year, look for a report on 2015 festivities soon!

Isn’t it a bit ironic that Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe is finally getting much well-deserved attention (and seeing much growth), but is also dealing with being in its 5th yr of drought? How will this affect grape and wine production in this growing region? Read this informative U-T SD article by Michele Parente: http://bit.ly/1LG1wOj