TOUR: Discover Tecate Culinary Tour with A Gringo in Mexico

FEBRUARY 2019 TOUR(S) TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON.
FOLLOW A Gringo in Mexico on Facebook FOR DATES.

“I keep talking about this beautiful day and every dish we tasted during our Tecate tour. Now I understand why it was named a “Pueblo Magicó”. It was a great experience. Totally recommended!”

Sandra T., Rainbow, California

INTRODUCTION

In 2012, Mexico’s tourism board designated Tecate as Baja California’s only Pueblo Mágico due to its colonial charm and provincial character. But while Tijuana and Ensenada have gained international attention over the past decade as Baja California’s culinary gems, tranquilo Tecate has been largely overlooked. Until now.

During recent visits, I’ve been surprised to see that provincial Tecate’s culinary scene has grown up since my early trips there in the 1990’s when tacos and the town’s namesake beer were the order of the day. One reason for the gastronomic growth is the sheer volume of female talent sharpening their knives and skills in chef Denise Roa’s kitchen at La Cocina Que Canta at Rancho La Puerta. 

Additionally, many of the town’s chefs, trained in Europe and throughout Mexico, are choosing to work closer to home and capitalize on the current hunger for Baja California cuisine. Tecate-based traditional cocineras (female cooks) are preparing native Kumeyaay recipes as well as traditional dishes from around Mexico.

As the northern entrance to Baja California’s wine country, several boutique wineries have begun appearing in and around Tecate as well — positioning the hamlet as the “next Valle de Guadalupe“, albeit on a much smaller, more intimate scale.

I’ve grown to love Tecate, and I think you will too…hop onboard and let’s go!

W. Scott Koenig

FEBRUARY 2019 TOUR(S) TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON.
FOLLOW A Gringo in Mexico on Facebook FOR DATES.

ITINERARY:

The Discover Tecate Tour is hosted by the blog A Gringo in Mexico’s W. Scott Koenig, considered an expert in Baja California’s culinary scene. This daylong tour stops at several of our favorite restaurants for breakfast, comida (midday meal) and dinner. The cuisine ranges from traditional Mexican (Mallinalli) to rustic campestre kitchen (El Lugar de Nos) to French and European-informed cuisine made with regional ingredients (Restaurante Amores). We’ll also visit one of the vineyards outside of town (Vinícola Rosa de Castilla) for a tasting of five of their fine wines. We’ll experience the magic of the region’s indigenous culture and history as the tour begins with a traditional ceremony and blessing from Norma Meza, leader of the Tecate Kumeyaay tribe and includes a visit to the Tecate Community Museum.

9:00: MEET AT TECATE BORDER/US SIDE
9:30: Kumeyaay ceremony and blessing at Mallinalli
9:45: Traditional Mexican breakfast at Malinalli
11:30: Tour of Tecate Community Museum
1:30: Small plates and cocktail at El Lugar de Nos
3:00: Wine tasting at Vinícola Rosa de Castilla
5:30: 4-Course Dinner at Restaurante Amores
8:00: DROP OFF AT TECATE BORDER

NOTE: Schedule and specific stops are subject to change.

MEETING PLACE:
We will meet at the US-Mexico border in Tecate on the US side. It is about an hour drive from San Diego to Tecate. There are several secure parking lots that charge around $5 US to park for 24 hours. We will meet at a designated meeting point and walk across into Tecate together, where a comfortable 14 person van and personable driver will be waiting for us.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD DIRECTIONS TO TECATE & MEETING POINT.

BRING YOUR APPETITE. AND YOUR PASSPORT:
Our tour begins with a large breakfast buffet of hearty Mexican cuisine and continues from there — so arrive hungry! Bring your current US passport book or card. There is no SENTRI pedestrian line at the Tecate crossing, so your SENTRI pass won’t be necessary. Since we are walking across, the wait should be minimal, even on a weekend day.

TOUR COST:
Cost for the tour is $175 and includes transportation, three meals, wine tasting and donations to the Tecate Kumeyaay nation and Community Museum. All taxes and tips are included. Wine during dinner at Restaurante Amores is not included. I’ve added a $5 surcharge for PayPal. Payments for the tour must be made in advance. If you need to cancel after payment, no refund is offered, but you can reschedule for one of our next tours or transfer your reservation to an amigo.

If you have any questions, please contact W. Scott Koenig at scott@agringoinmexico.com or mobile at 619-787-9918.