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NEWS: Amaranta wins Best of Best, Baja wins much of Rest, a Tuna Steals the Show

November 12, 2015 MAG Leave a Comment

gourmet-awards-winners

W.C. Fields is credited with the old Hollywood saw: “Never work with children or animals.” The attribution may be questionable. The wisdom is not. That was on full view at the Press Conference for Travel + Leisure México’s Gourmet Awards on November 6 at the spectacularly beautiful Centro Cultural Riviera in Ensenada.

Press conference

As Baja California Tourism Minister Oscar Jesus Escobedo Carignan spoke about the importance and impact of gastronomic tourism in Baja a tuna crossed the stage. It did not swim and it did not make that crossing solo but it certainly did steal the show. Where a moment before the entire press corps had been focused on Escobedo’s words suddenly they only had eyes for tuna. Never mind that the fish was carried, in a plastic bag by Javier Plascencia and a line cook, that tuna eclipsed even Plascencia’s star power.

The star of the show

It was a fitting metaphor for the evening. As much as the event resembled a Mexican foodie Oscars, as much as it was about the words of men, what it was really about was that tuna: the bounty of Baja. There would be a non-Baja winner of the Best of the Best award (the “Best Picture” big one), the big winner on the evening was the host State: Baja California. And Baja took home some statues too.

Javier Plascencia

Plascencia was one of those. His Finca Altozano won the award for Best Concept over six other competitors (including the eventual Best of the Best winner).

Diego Hernandez

Another Baja champion was Diego Hernandez’s Corazón de Tierra, which won for Baja’s best restaurant.

Sabina Bandera

Perhaps the most important – certainly judging from the applause – was Sabina Bandera’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pablo Salas Best of the Best

That “Best Picture” statue – Best of the Best – went to Pablos Salas’ Toluca restaurant, Amaranta, about an hour from Mexico City.

Centro Cultural Riviera in Ensenada 2

But the big win was for that tuna and for Baja. And my modest bit of advice to Minister Escobedo is to echo Fields apocryphal saying: don’t let an animal on his stage.

Nominees

Complete list of winners:

Best of the Best:  Pujol

Best New Restaurant:  Aperi

Best Tasting Menu:  Le Chique

Best Concept:  Finca Altozano

Best Hotel Restaurant:  Aperi / Dos Casas San Miguel de Allende

Best Art of the Plate:  Alcalde

Best Sweet Experience:  La Postrería

Best Local Restaurant (Host State):  Corazón de Tierra

Lifetime Achievement:  Sabina Bandera

People’s choice:  Quintonil

Mixology:  Expendio Tradición

Best Regional and Traditional Cuisine:  Nicos

Best Casual Dining:  Cortéz

Americas, Baja, BajaMed/New Cuisine of Baja, By Region, Mexico, News, North America, Other, Restaurant Reviews, San Diego

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