where to – baja
where to – baja
mexican wine country valle de guadalupe + cafe tropical returns
where to eat + drink in baja:
just a hop over the border, valle de guadalupe, baja california (mexican wine country!) is an ideal getaway from los angeles + san diego. shuttle with friends so no one has to draw straws on who’s the dd. bryan and i had our joint bachelor / bachelorette weekend in baja this summer and truly can’t recommend the place enough.
first things first when you cross the border: meson tkt for burritos to line the stomach for mexico’s finest grapes. as you drive towards valle, stop in tecate to taste with bichi. stay at encuentro guadalupe’s eco-lofts scattered across the rocky hills, overlooking their beaut infinity pool, or there’s always kindred / airbnb. make a reservation at bruma wine garden in the valle for an unreal farm to table spread with margaritas + natural wine on red checkered tablecloths under the twinkling lights. hit up bloodlust for probably the coolest (garlic shaped!) natural wine bar you will ever go to.
after a breakfast poolside and a hike along the property, head to troika for lunch at vena cava before your wine tasting. get a little afternoon pick-me-up with coffee at das cortez before taking a siesta back at encuentro’s pool. spend the eve down in ensenada for a bang bang: la bete noir + loca (two of the cooler bars with very good food and djs). if you can handle more juice, la bete noir has a downstairs natural wine speakeasy.
crossing the border from the us was a breeze but the way back can be a brutal wait. we even skipped la cocina de doña esthela for breakfast (unfortunately) to brave the wait as early as we could muster, which wasn’t quite early enough... there’s too many spots i want to hit up next time like: deckmans, fauna, finca altozano.
la openings + happenings:
cafe tropical - rumor has it silverlake’s og (+ my old fave client) is returning (!!!) with a soft open this weekend under new management but with familiar faces from tropical + its sis, el cochinito
neighborhood winery - natural wine in a sun soaked space in arts district where pali wine used to be
psychic wines salon - tues march 12th: $15 gets you a glass at the door to taste a bunch of winemakers who are in california for brumaire. afterparty at their chinatown sister cafe triste
dada bar - opening weds march 13th in echo park: will walk on over for drink(s) and report back
woon’s 5th anni party - sat march 16th: food + drink specials, karaoke + noodle piñata
good boy wine’s bar la cave - sat march 16th: good boy presents chardogay at silverlake lounge with new releases, drink specials + a midnight drag show. i’ll be in palm springs this wkend so have an extra glass for me please
rory’s place x botanica sunday supper - sun march 17th: ojai’s rory’s is popping up st. patrick’s day style at botanica
how to get THE shot:
after a few requests from restaurant owners i just launched a food photo 101 class, where i'll teach you how to shoot your food. we'll go over how to get the shot and make your food / bev look as good as it tastes – more info here
now playing:
james blake’s playing robots into haven (endel focus soundscape)
makes you feel like you’re at some underground dance floor in europe