y4pcT1JaIwGptQJPO6l_mZmgv34 tiffin unboxed: Baja Summer Trip - Dazzling Breakfasts

Baja Summer Trip - Dazzling Breakfasts

One of the biggest highlights of the Baja weekend for me were two supremely satisfying breakfasts. I most craved these meals once they ended. The first exravagant breakfast was at La Guerrerense.

Baja Ensenada Jul13_Ensenada flag

Established in the 60's and now run by the luminous Sabina Bandera,
also known as "La Guerrerense", they impressively churn out a high speed bounty of her seafood magic. The cooks and staff always refer to her as La Guerrerense, not by her first name. I'm sure this is to show their endearment and respect.

If there is a better Sunday breakfast, i am yet to find it. I've had their sea urchin and pismo clam tostada at the LA Street Food Festival, which you can find at this post.


Although I loved it, the feeling of being at the source with even fresher ingredients made a difference. Also remarkable was their speed and efficiency in serving so many people so quickly and with smiles on their faces. Their operations could be studied in MBA programs!

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense Sabina Bandera

Not only that but La Guerrense's ease with cooking, managing, greeting customers - even smiling for photos with her red lipstick, really blew my mind. Talk about grace under pressure.

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense back menu

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense b

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense seafood cocktail prep

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense salsas Andi pate de pescado

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense salsas a
A dozen plus organic salsas also sold and available for dressing the food
Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense erizo tostada clams sea urchin
sea urchin and pismo clam tostada with avocado
Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense clubtengohambre-bajaweekender_tostadas de pate de pescado y caracol
tostadas de pate de pescado y caracol (fish pate and sea snail tostadas - photo courtesy of ClubTengoHambre
Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense Caracol sea snail tostadas Sabina seafood prep

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense seafood cocktail mixto horchata avocado

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Guerrerense a lines horchata Kristin Sabina Antonio
A line of 40+ people upon opening

La Cocina de Doña Esthela

Our other soulful and equally satisfying breakfast began at La Cocina de Doña Esthela, a beautiful country eatery.

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela a road

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela a winery grounds

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela grounds cows

Before eating we spent quite some time comingling with the animals on the grounds.

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela chicks

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela pig

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela pigs rooster

I particularly bonded with the goats, not realizing that they had such vivid and sweet personalities. Their looks and voices alone were heartwarming.

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela goats g

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela goats f

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela goats d

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela goats e

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela goats c

Moving inside for breakfast, and I'm talking a huge, farmer style breakfast, we enjoyed steaming ceramic mugs of cafe de la olla , a traditionally prepared Mexican coffee. The coffee is brewed in earthen clay pots with cinammon and piloncillo, or cones of unrefined sugar. It truly is a magical way to kick off the morning.

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela La Cocina tortillas empanadas

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela cafe de la olla

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela Dave Leiberman Wasima cafe horse queso fresco

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela birria de res a

Baja Ensenada Jul13_La Cocina de Dona Esthela birria de res b

Did I mention, fresh corn tortillas right out of the stove, pumpkin empanadas and birria de res? Among this delicious bounty, I was most intrigued with the super fresh farmers' cheese. We scooped it up with fresh tortilla chips and a spicy, savory house made salsa. Just that and the coffee would have thrilled me, not to mention the rest of the meal.

We also ran into OC Weekly writer Dave Lieberman, at an adjacent table. He took some of us on a wonderful evening around Tijuana on a previous trip, which you can learn more about at this post.


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