Oh wow! It sounds fantastic, and I agree, go back for a retry on the abalone chorizo. Can smell and taste it through your words. Thank you for taking us along for part of your unforgettable edible journey. Can't wait to see what of this ends up in your book!
I love today’s tour of TJ! Thanks so much. Cannot wait to explore! . I was able to Google some things for translation. I need to learn Spanish! Still, I couldn’t draw a satisfactory bead on the meaning of “hojas de mixiotes.” What are these and why are they illegal in some places.
I sure am hungry after reading your always interesting emails. I have been to San Diego a few times - next time there I will have to make an excursion to San Diego.
This sounds VERY different from the TJ 19 year old me visited in the 90s. Not to say all of this wasn't there, but for us the gluttony was getting smashed in dance clubs and waiting while my stupid friends made ill-advised visits to, um... professionals. Thanks for a vibrant description of a place I would now like to visit the next time I head to SoCal. In the meantime, there are a few solid quesabirria options near where I live and I think one of them is on the lunch menu in the next few days.
Man. Eight below centigrade here. Thawed over the weekend but then another ten or so centimeters of snow dumped in and the temperatures dropped. Upside is that the skies cleared into high April light. The river just cleared below the house. Swans arrived last week with the golden eyes and this morning the first geese. Just winter in its last twitches I guess. Tijuana sounds like a dream. Thank you.
Last summer while travel to and from Helena, MT and the Salmon River, I found an amazing place that makes the best Birria tacos. She always sells out and sometimes does before we can get there. She actually gave me her grandmas recipe in Spanish!! This will be one way I hope to learn Spanish as well as make some delicious food! I want to pair the Birria with some sourdough einkorn tortillas. Anyhoot…TJ sounds amazing since we’re about to go back to colder temps and frozen mix.
"if you are looking for trouble, you’ll find it. So don’t look for it and you’ll be as safe as you would in any large city.' - Basically word for word what I've said to every friend I've brought to TJ and Baja in general. Once I take those friends, they inevitably tell other friends who then want me to take them too.
I've heard some some insane things on the drive down (e.g. "wow I thought it would be all dirt roads"), but on the drive back everyone appreciates the food, the beer/wine, and the people, even if they might not like Baja overall as much as I do.
I’m not sure what to think… on one hand I’m so upset with myself that I didn’t brave the border crossing while visiting San Diego several years ago. On the other hand, this post has shown me that the limited hours I could have spent there wouldn’t have been nearly enough to even scratch the surface. Looks like I’ll just have to make a dedicated trip!
Oh wow! It sounds fantastic, and I agree, go back for a retry on the abalone chorizo. Can smell and taste it through your words. Thank you for taking us along for part of your unforgettable edible journey. Can't wait to see what of this ends up in your book!
I love today’s tour of TJ! Thanks so much. Cannot wait to explore! . I was able to Google some things for translation. I need to learn Spanish! Still, I couldn’t draw a satisfactory bead on the meaning of “hojas de mixiotes.” What are these and why are they illegal in some places.
Now I’m hungry, and nostalgic. Planning on some birria tacos soon.
Great trip report. Thanks for letting me virtually tag along! Really looking forward to the new book 👍🏼
Hank,
I sure am hungry after reading your always interesting emails. I have been to San Diego a few times - next time there I will have to make an excursion to San Diego.
Have a great week!
Tad
This sounds VERY different from the TJ 19 year old me visited in the 90s. Not to say all of this wasn't there, but for us the gluttony was getting smashed in dance clubs and waiting while my stupid friends made ill-advised visits to, um... professionals. Thanks for a vibrant description of a place I would now like to visit the next time I head to SoCal. In the meantime, there are a few solid quesabirria options near where I live and I think one of them is on the lunch menu in the next few days.
Man. Eight below centigrade here. Thawed over the weekend but then another ten or so centimeters of snow dumped in and the temperatures dropped. Upside is that the skies cleared into high April light. The river just cleared below the house. Swans arrived last week with the golden eyes and this morning the first geese. Just winter in its last twitches I guess. Tijuana sounds like a dream. Thank you.
Last summer while travel to and from Helena, MT and the Salmon River, I found an amazing place that makes the best Birria tacos. She always sells out and sometimes does before we can get there. She actually gave me her grandmas recipe in Spanish!! This will be one way I hope to learn Spanish as well as make some delicious food! I want to pair the Birria with some sourdough einkorn tortillas. Anyhoot…TJ sounds amazing since we’re about to go back to colder temps and frozen mix.
Unicorn tenderloin. I'm not sure how I'm going to start working this into common usage but you can be damn sure I will.
"if you are looking for trouble, you’ll find it. So don’t look for it and you’ll be as safe as you would in any large city.' - Basically word for word what I've said to every friend I've brought to TJ and Baja in general. Once I take those friends, they inevitably tell other friends who then want me to take them too.
I've heard some some insane things on the drive down (e.g. "wow I thought it would be all dirt roads"), but on the drive back everyone appreciates the food, the beer/wine, and the people, even if they might not like Baja overall as much as I do.
I’m not sure what to think… on one hand I’m so upset with myself that I didn’t brave the border crossing while visiting San Diego several years ago. On the other hand, this post has shown me that the limited hours I could have spent there wouldn’t have been nearly enough to even scratch the surface. Looks like I’ll just have to make a dedicated trip!