No Reservations Baja Airs on Monday, May 28th on the Travel Channel

 On Monday, May 28th, the much anticipated No Reservations Baja episode will air on the Travel Channel. To celebrate this monumental event, I'm heading down to Chef Javier Plascencia's Erizo Fish Market for a viewing party that will be a gathering of local food stars, Tijuanenses, San Diegans, and a few of us Angelenos. It's safe to say their will be a general fiesta atmosphere that MAY be somewhat memorable--I mean, the liquor will be flowing Tijuana style. I myself plan to give Javier a head shaker shot, Av. Revolucion style, and only drink from turned upside down bottles of cheap tequila.

Street Gourmet LA was a source for Zero Point Zero productions during their research for the Baja episode, for this I'm very proud.   

The No Reservations Baja episode is very personal to me. It's the fulfillment of a wild proposition I made as an unknown blogger back in 2009 to Jahdiel Vargas, then of Cotuco Tijuana, and Rodrigo Caballero then of the Crossborder Group. Over tamarind martinis I offered to lead a Baja FAM of LA bloggers, photographers, chefs, restaurateurs, and writers if they'd let me control the itinerary. I asked that we include places like Mazateno, Tacos Salceados, and Kentucky Fried Buches alongside Tijuana Gastronomic Zone stars like Villa Saverios, La Querencia, and La Diferencia. I insisted that we stick with Mexican cuisines, and that if they listened to me and trust me that Andrew Zimmern, Rick Bayless, and Anthony Bourdain would come.

I had no position to make this claim, but I believed so strongly in the then, TRULY undiscovered cuisine of Baja that I had been enjoying for close to a decade, that it was a guarantee. The FAM almost never happened; it was nearly cancelled 2 days before. We had many challenges during the trip and the powers that be in Tijuana were in constant doubt of my ability to do anything, but Jahdiel and Rodrigo got it right away and fought right alongside me.

Andrew Zimmern was the first to catch on, and led the way for the others to follow. Through our blogs we overcame negativity and imbalance from the local UT San Diego, that despite being right next door, completely missed the amazing cuisine right under their very noses--a handful of LA bloggers made this happen.

It's been an obsession to see this through. Why? Because I love the region, the people, and the life I've lived in Baja. And, just to see if it was even possible. Could a ripple from a small stone become a tidal wave? This is the power of the blog.

If you haven't been to Tijuana, Monday night is a great night to start. Come by and grab some local sea urchin shooters, or a chocolata clam with a cold Victoria, or a wine from the Valle de Guadalupe. Come see what Baja really is about though the wit and wisdom of Anthony Boudain--a man who gets to see it all, and has not stopped talking about Baja since he shot there earlier this year. Viva los chefs, los cocineros, y la gente Baja Californio. Salud!!

No Reservations Baja
Erizo Fish Market
north of Agua Caliente on Av. Sonora
Airtime is 6pm