The third annual Valle Food & Wine Festival kicks off one week from tomorrow with an impressive lineup of all-star chefs, including Wolfgang Puck, Michael Cimarusti, Rick Bayless, and Nancy Silverton. There will be a Chefs Welcome Dinner at Deckman’s en el Mogor on Friday, October 4, but the main event takes place Saturday at Finca Altozano, owned by Chef Javier Plascencia, who happens to grace the cover of the current issue of Food & Wine En Espanol. Get there early to enjoy unlimited food from more than 40 tasting stations, plus wine, craft beer and Mexican spirits tastings until 6:30 pm. Mosey over to “Talks Under the Tree,” culinary conversations moderated by Saveur Magazine’s co-founder, Colman Andrews. Stick around for great music from Baja’s Takon Machine and (YES!) Ozomatli. A portion of the festival proceeds will benefit the Corazon de Vida Foundation. According to a nice write-up in today’s Union-Tribune, attendance will be capped at 2,500 and the event is very close to a sellout, so if you don’t have tickets yet, get on it! Team EatDrinkBaja had a great time last year; we look forward to this year’s Fest, as well as “glamping” on a friend’s land adjacent to the Fest! Always an adventure.
Getting to the Fest early pays off!Early attendees with happy feet share the “dance floor” with one of Finca’s artsy cows.The incredible chef, cookbook author and TV show host, Rick Bayless.Cooking over open fire is a Valle tradition.. . . more goodies on the grill.Team EatDrinkBaja at the 2018 Valle Food & Wine Fest. Salud!
What a fantastic Baja festival season! We’ve got a lot of memorable eating and drinking to share; let’s get on with it!
Cocina La Baja – July27
This third annual all-seafood fest was new on on our radar screen, but what a winner! Held at the lovely Estero Beach Hotel & Resort just south of Ensenada, it sold out this year. Cocina La Baja spotlights super-fresh local and sustainable seafood from folks who truly care. Well-organized and beautifully presented, more cervecerias were on hand than wineries. We loved being in the presence of Baja royalty: Chef Javier Plascencia led a cooking demo of farmed totoaba, and Chef Drew Deckman made the rounds. Tix: less than $16 U.S. for a full afternoon of gastronomical delights. Incredible! We’ll definitely be back next year.
Beautiful setting at the Estero Beach Hotel & Resort!One of the many yummy offerings at Cocina La Baja.Smiling chefs Drew Deckman and Javier Plascencia.Several Baja craft breweries were represented, including Agua Mala.
Concurso de Paellas – August 18
I was fortunate to first attend the fledging but still popular Valle de Guadalupe Concurso de Paellas de Ramon Garcia Ocejo way back in 1996. It has grown, but remains a wonderful way to spend an August afternoon! With 92 paella-producing teams and 62 wineries to sample, how can you go wrong? We congratulate “paelleros” Los Chatos and Vivencias on their wins this year!
A lovely August afternoon under the oak trees of Vinas de Liceaga.WOW: Just one of more than 90 presentations of paella at the 2019 Concurso.Loved seeing Natalia Badan and her Mogor Badan colleague at the event . . . . . . as well as Victor Torres, patriarch of Vinicola Torres Alegre. So special!
Sabor de Baja – August 28
Bo Bendana and Dennis Sein recognized Baja’s culinary potential back in 2013, when they launched Sabor de Baja. And, the event keeps getting better year after year, with careful pairings of many of Baja’s best restaurants, wineries and craft brewers in the beachfront gardens of the lovely Rosarito Beach Hotel! Congrats to Tecate’s Amores, matched with wine from Monte Xanic, on taking first place in this year’s competition. But we attendees were the real winners! I’ve said it before: Sabor is a true labor of love by Bo and Dennis. It shows, and is much appreciated! Check out this cool video by Rosarito’s Scot Richardson.
A highlight for me: chatting with RB Hotel’s Hugo Torres and his lovely wife at Sabor. Dennis Sein presided over the formidable task of judging the dozens of pairings.
Como siempre, gracias to Bob Gove for the fine photos.
