Los Cabos: A Culinary Scene Full Of Surprises
It's called Los Cabos. Unfortunately, years of loud Spring Break partiers and tourists in oversized sombreros caused this grand corner of Mexico to become the oft-maligned "Cabo." But Los Cabos is not the frat boy nightmare it once was imagined as. It is a romantic respite. It is home to resorts and homes the likes of Jennifer Aniston and George Clooney. It is the site of glorious restaurants well worth the hard-to-get reservations. You can dine at the cliff's edge at El Farallon or at the water's edge at One and Only Palmilla.
What's so magical about Los Cabos and its newly emerging culinary scene? There is only one group of people to ask – the chefs of the region, honoring the old, reinventing the new, and creating a dining perspective well worth crossing the border for.
Guillermo Tellez, Executive Chef, Flora Farms
At the magical Flora Farms, guests dine among the flora where Chef Tellez offers local ingredients and new twists on classics Mexican and beyond for traveling foodies and locals alike in an atmosphere that feels like home, perfected.
1. What makes Los Cabos/Mexican cuisine so special?
It is the freshness of the products, the seafood, the farm grown organic vegetables, the melting pot of cultures from other states that have been transplanted to los cabos, bringing their own flavors and spices to create a cuisine combined with the local flare, resulting in a very unique and special cuisine that is a great representation of the baja region.
2. What are your favorite ingredients and/or styles of cooking to work with now?
My personal favorite ingredients are the ones that we grow in our farm, we plant and harvest everything that we need to make our menus, we also have our own ranch where we have all our own animals roaming free, this allows us to be creative with our style of cuisine that it is focus on the purity of an uncompromised flavor profile, I guess we can call our style "rustic yet uncompromised"
3. What do you wish people knew about dining in Los Cabos?
That Los Cabos has a combination of people from different parts of the world, they are bringing their own ideas to create a dining destination, and a chefs community that it is very unique to Baja region, don't be afraid to venture outside the hotels to explore and you will be creating your own enhanced experience of what is like eating in Los Cabos
4. What's your favorite thing to cook and what's your favorite thing to eat?
My wife and I like to cook at home, our favorite things are vegetables on the grill with a great olive oil , lemon and some spices simplicity at is best, along with a great chicken poulet rouge from our Flora Farms, it has a nice firm meat like a good piece of meat
5. What is it about food and cooking that inspires you?
I am very blessed and thankful for what we have grown in the fields here in the farm, the inspiration comes when you see the freshness and tenderness of the growing vegetables, the sweetness and texture when you take the first bite of it right off the vine, I start to think of flavor combinations without altering the flavors of it, then comes the protein to complete the idea
6. What makes Los Cabos so perfect for a romantic getaway?
An outstanding unique dining experience, a great bottle of wine and the perfect beach.
Larbi Dahrouch , Executive Chef, Aqua by Larbi at One and Only Palmilla
Tangiers born and French trained, Chef Dahrouch brings takes traditional Mexican cuisine up a notch by introducing Mediterranean ingredients without sacrificing the local authenticity of the dishes at the magnificent One and Only Palmilla, where guests are pampered in every possible way.
1. What makes Los Cabos/Mexican cuisine so special?
Local Seafood is very fresh from May through December plus we have abundant produce from local farms almost year-round with seasonal highlights and specialties.
2. What are your favorite ingredients and/or styles of cooking to work with now?
I love incorporating the freshest of seasonal ingredients in everything that I prepare, with a focus mostly on local seafood blending a fusion of Mexican and Mediterranean styles for a unique flavor profile that excites the palate. I love spontaneous cooking and whipping up special requests on a whim.
3. What do you wish people knew about dining in Los Cabos?
You could get the most sophisticated experience; we have an enormous variety of flavors and the most breathtaking views that must be discovered.
4. What's your favorite thing to cook and what's your favorite thing to eat?
Seafood, I love the whole experience of it, from waking up early in the morning heading down to the waters to greet the local fisherman with whom I've developed close relationships with over the years. From them I am able to receive an amazing variety of truly fresh catch of the day findings which I bring back to Agua by Larbi. I take great pride in ensuring all foods served here are top quality. I treat food with the same love and respect that I show to our guests.
5. What is it about food and cooking that inspires you?
My entire thinking revolves around freshly prepared food and aromatic fresh herbs, we use local products and flavors because I think is very important to have a regional prize that values and recognizes the environment where we are, this is what really help us to bring a unique experience to every one of our guests.
6. What makes Los Cabos so perfect for a romantic getaway?
The unbelievably beautiful ocean vistas at Agua by Larbi, there's not a bad seat in the house, with ocean views from every terrace and table. The open-air dining concept of Los Cabos sets a perfect stage for romantic ambiance and mood. It's a place where you can dine, drink wine, and snuggle under the stars all year round. Sand-under-your-feet experiences are also available by request. A favorite for couples.
Gustavo Pinet, Executive Chef, The Resort at Pedregal
Chef Pinet combines influences and flavors from across Mexico accentuated with classic, culinary techniques and inspirations from his international travels.
1. What makes Los Cabos/Mexican cuisine so special?
In Los Cabos, we have a really interesting combination because of the cultural interchange from local chefs, Mexican chefs from other regions and international chefs. In addition, we have available great fish, seafood, and organic farms.
2. What are your favorite ingredients and/or styles of cooking to work with now?
Fish, seafood as the main ingredient, something fresh and simple or any traditional recipe or dish that has a story behind it, like it could be from someone´s grandmother or a special place.
3. What do you wish people knew about dining in Los Cabos?
Cabo is growing in terms of gastronomic options, new restaurants, and new chefs. But for me, the most important thing is that Los Cabos really has authentic flavors to offer. So they should come and try them.
4. What's your favorite thing to cook and what's your favorite thing to eat?
I enjoy cooking simple and flavorful food like ceviche. I cannot say I have only one favorite thing to eat. I would think more about what I eat and enjoy according to the place I am.
5. What is it about food and cooking that inspires you?
The idea is to be part of someone´s special moment – a family reunion, a romantic dinner, a big celebration. When you cook you have the chance to join people you don´t even know and help them enjoy with their loved ones. I really love to know different traditional cuisines. For me, what people eat is one of the most representative expressions from a country or region.
6. What makes Los Cabos so perfect for a romantic getaway?
Beautiful sunsets, relaxing resorts with good privacy and great food offerings.
Angel Carbajal, Executive Chef, Fat Tuna
At Fat Tuna, Carbajal offers Japanese fusion, utilizing local ingredients to craft a completely new culinary experience, in which guests can taste his ,originality and creativity.
1. What makes Los Cabos/Mexican cuisine so special?
Mexican cuisine is very noble and very rich in flavor. It also allows you to make fusions with other country's ingredients and achieve maximum results!
2. What are your favorite ingredients and/or styles of cooking to work with now?
Citrus, roots, fruits, herbs. All fresh. No cooking needed. Asian / Mexican fusion is my favorite.
3. What do you wish people knew about dining in Los Cabos?
I wish they knew they could experience a gourmet option that would exceed their expectations
4. What's your favorite thing to cook and what's your favorite thing to eat?
Fish is my favorite item to cook and fish bones (cheeks, collar, fins, and ribs) are my number one meal. Steamed, grilled, fried, and pan seared! You name it!
5. What is it about food and cooking that inspires you?
Customer experience is my inspiration above all.
6. What makes Los Cabos so perfect for a romantic getaway?
Great beaches, water activities, romantic sites, gourmet restaurants all in one spot! Desert and sea for all your senses