TIJUANA STEPS to the Food Forefront

Although tacos have become Tijuana’s most famous food export, innovative chefs below the border are bringing the city to the forefront of culinary excellence by preparing such creative dishes as horse mackerel and totoaba ham or traditional artisanal egg pasta. As a result, foodies are flocking to Tijuana in droves.

Four new Tijuana restaurants with dynamic concepts, including one by well-known local chef Juan Cabrera, are getting ready to serve hungry crowds. They’re artistic, atmospheric, fun-filled and contemporary featuring Baja California ingredients and chefdriven food and beverages.

Casa Tijuana Project:

Casa Tijuana Project:

Reigning in the kitchen is talented Chef Juan Cabrera. His food at Casa Tijuana is very fresh, innovative and dramatically plated with much flair from aguachile de polpo to tiramisu. He attended the Culinary Institute of America in N.Y. with a pastry specialty. Internationally known, Cabrera’s career includes cook, professional chef, food and beverage manager at various high-end restaurants (Le Cirque in Mexico City, Kyo in Monterrey, Perse in Villahermosa, Fonda Fina, Cocina Mexicana Contemporánea, Los Compas and others), educator, sommelier training and stints with Ferran Adria at El Bulli and with world-famous chef Enrique Olvera. He was selected for the second season of Top Chef México and is included in the 6th Edition 2021 of Larousse’s “Gastronomic Mexico Guide, The Great Chefs of Mexico.”

Fin de California:

A “Caliterranean” sensory escapist experience, ingredients range from Baja specialty seafood to Americanstyle steakhouse entrees, vegetarian options, and house takes on bao buns and tacos. All the elements here deliver a “plunge into the ocean” with a comfortable modern interior design, large tables and velvety booths encircling the entire room along with exciting architectural elements such as charred wood, huge metal rings, soft light panels and alabaster accents. Chef Sergio Chavez’s surf and turf cuisine adds to the sensory adventure with textures, aromas and flavors from the ocean, valleys, multiinspired influences from Mexico, Asia, American steakhouse and the Mediterranean. Food is artistically plated on handcrafted Tlaquepaque ceramics and served with Mexican artisan cutlery.

Fin de California:

Opening later this spring, located on the rooftop of Fin de California, Banger will be relaxed but with a permanent preparty glamorous atmosphere featuring “Cataliano” dishes created by Chef Tano – think traditional artisanal egg pasta, white and red Neapolitan pizzas with fresh ingredients from Baja such as fungi, squid, tuna, horse mackerel and totoaba ham and charcuterie and in-house gelato. In addition to local ingredients, the restaurant also sources premium meats from U.S. providers including Creek Stone Farms, Niman Ranch and 1885 Black Angus Beef. Banger is the first in the city to have Vera Pizza Napolitana certification. It’s an exciting, sexy modernistic architectural setting that transports to the Italy of the pop years with geometric shapes, striking colors and white arches, enhanced by the spectacular background of iconic Tijuana edifices. Cocktails are an integral part of the mood – flavors, colors, whimsical shapes and taste intensities. Food and drinks are served on custom designed tableware by Mexican artists and the finest world-class glassware.

Banger:

“Keep Ensenada Boring.” Made with Love in Baja by Locals for Locals. The ambiance includes an artistic setting with rustic walls, old sound systems and DJs playing a wide variety of vinyl records – a venue designed for music events. The creative cocktails, in collaboration with The Art Cocktail Club, feature quaffs such as Baby Corn concocted with Alto Reposado Tequila, Nieta, Colin Dry and Baby Elite, along with Is for You, Bizz Nizz and Umami, all with intriguing ingredients. Carefully curated menu highlights include lamb meatball pita, raw shrimp with fried head, spider crab salad, confit pork belly, along with daily specials.

La Bete Noir:

Bae Tampa

Bae Tampa

Tampa Bay is more than Florida sunshine. It’s where fresh-air fun meets a diverse array of outdoor dining adventures filled with innovative menus and stunning waterfront views. Food halls, fresh seafood, award-winning local craft beer and spirits, and Native-inspired flavors are all on the menu.

Many of Tampa Bay’s must-try dining destinations and finest places to stay are conveniently located along the Tampa Riverwalk. With 2.6 miles of scenic waterfront views, you can walk, kayak, stand up paddle board, bike or even water bike to restaurants, parks and attractions.

Open-air Dining and Fun

One major highlight of the Tampa Riverwalk’s south end is Sparkman Wharf. This waterfront, open-air dining and entertainment destination is sure to satisfy any appetite. Among its 10 outdoor dining choices are Edison’s swigamajig divebar and fishkitchen, where the chef is a four-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist, along with the Detroit-style pizzeria Corners Pizza and more. After dining, head to the Fermented Reality outdoor biergarten to savor some of Tampa Bay’s many award-winning local craft beers.

Bae Tampa

Savor Native-inspired flavors with a twist.

Accessible from the Tampa Riverwalk and with a patio overlooking the Hillsborough River from the trendy Tampa Heights neighborhood, Ulele takes its name from a storied Native American princess. The menu includes an innovative mixture of Native-inspired flavors, many of which are cooked on a 10-foot barbacoa grill, with ingredients indigenous to local waters and farms. Look for loads of Gulf oysters, fresh Florida fish and locally grown beef. Then, top off your meal at the onsite Ulele Spring Brewery.

A food hall experience of historic proportions

Armature Works at the Heights is a feast for the eyes, mind, and of course, palate. This food hall is set in Tampa Electric’s old streetcar warehouse. While the building’s history stretches back to 1910, many of the original materials have been carefully recycled in Armature Works’ design.

The sheer variety of dining options offered makes Armature Works at the Heights a landmark in its own right. Barbecue, Mediterranean cuisine, wood-fired pizza, empanadas and more are all available, so you can mix and match your favorites before settling down to take in the view of boats passing by.

Ready for your taste of Tampa Bay?

Explore more of Tampa Bay’s many outdoor dining adventures and start planning your trip today. VisitTampaBay.com