Best of 2008

PLEASE TAKE ONE FREE/GRATIS No. 20 - www.mexicoliving.info

January / enero 2009

6th Annual Taste of San Felipe Gourmet Cuisine of Ensenada Top 10 Outdoor Activities in Puerto Peñasco Holland American cruises the Sea of Cortez

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The Second Annual BEST OF Readers Poll brought out the campaigners and voters. In 2007 readers voted 731 times, however, this year readers cast an unbelievable 6,237 votes.

It was clear the game was on and many were out to win.

Some of the most unlikely categories were the most competitive. The Best Karaoke in San Felipe was an epic battle with three different groups battling it out for more than a month and Best Bar in Puerto Peñasco, with 27 votes cast, won by a single vote.

The Mexico Living BEST OF Readers Poll is an opportunity for visitors and residents of Northwest Mexico to have a chance to show appreciation for the many great products, services and people of Northwest Mexico.

Here are the results of the votes with comments left by voters.

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA Category

Winner

Voter Comments

Bobby’s Baja By The Sea Nicholas Santos

It is a wonderful haven away from the hubbub. The Bloodies are nice and strong, and the patio is great. The service is very warm and helpful. …some of the best seafood around.

Beach

La Mision

A favorite weekend destination for me in Rosarito. Great beach with easy access and lots of activity.

Breakfast

La Bamba

Everything homemade and wonderful. Breakfast, desserts, service, FOOD! Friday fish fry is out of this world! The restaurant is light and cheery and the personnel are always very friendly and efficient.

Cheap Eats

Yaqui Taco

Best tacos on earth! I read Vogue magazine rated them the best tacos in the western hemisphere. Yaqui’s is Rosarito’s best-kept secret. Twice a normal taco and three times the flavor.

Day Trip

Valle de Guadalupe

What a great day we spent searching out wineries and tasting rooms. The Napa Valley of Mexico. Worth the trip, the valley is beautiful and the roads are greatly improved.

Development

Descansos Home nice community, rented there once…very quiet. It’s not beachfront, it’s better. Excellent,

Bar Bartender

This guy earned it. Once a bartender and now the owner of Amigo’s Cantina.

Best value in the area, beautiful setting, harmonious community, affordable hoa dues. Very friendly and courteous security.

Alex DePue & Entertainment Miguel de Hoyos

The Underground Whispers CD is great. Miguel is probably one of the best guitar players in Mexico and Alex on the fiddle is unbelievable.

Fish Market

Vince’s Old Pier

A local secret it seems. Second generation seafood market and local pricing in the restaurant. This place is Rosarito history and an awesome restaurant too! Excellent seafood and service with really good prices.

Happy Hour

La Fonda ñ Taco Tuesday

Get there for happy hour on Tuesday and Wednesday for the giant fresh tacos. Best for the margaritas and view at happy hour.

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Local Artist

Excellent Wine and Tequila Gallery. A small market with a huge selection of the best and most

Mercado del Mar exotic liquor in the region.

One of the greatest land and seascape artists in the world. Such an amazing talent.

Juan Angel Castillo B

Service is professional and friendly whether you are a regular customer or only stopping by a few times a year. Click-on is not only a great mail service, they are also a great source of local information.

Mail Service

Click-on

Month New Business Pizza

August D’Groomer Peter Piper Pizza

Kids are back in school and the weather is perfect.

Place to Stay

Bobby’s Baja By The Sea

We have wonderful memories…on weekend getaways. I found Bobby’s to be reasonably priced. The staff was excellent as was the food! This is a very fun place. Great atmosphere, good prices!

Real Estate Agent Real Estate Broker Restaurant Mexican Restaurant Non-Mexican

Laura Miller

Just what was needed in Rosaritoóa certified dog groomer. The dogs of the area are in heaven.

Great food and atmosphereW…it was great.

…great agent, thanks.

MLS Baja Properties

Always responsive and available. These people work and have tremendous knowledge of the area. Thanks for all you help! …giving you the information needed to help you in relocating.

La Estancia

Great food, good prices. They offer a variety of dishes; the house specialties include mesquite-broiled steaks, rabbit, deer, lamb, quail and many more. …fine dining in Rosarito.

La Bamba

Great food and reasonable prices. Delicious home cooking. The menu is diverse; portions are generous enough to share comfortably. Great eats!!!

Sweets & Desserts

La Bamba

Best chocolate cake and hot fudge sundaes in Baja. All desserts are made from scratch each day from fresh-baked cookies to pies, ice cream, cobblers and cakes. …great pies and homemade ice cream.

WiFi Internet

Click-on

Good computers with easy printing. If you’re on the computer long enough, you may see half the town come through for coffee and mail.

Wine

Fuentes Winery

What a really great family. I was glad to see I could vote for Miguel and his wonderful winery.

ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA Category Bar Bartender Breakfast Development Happy Hour Home Furnishings Month Place to Stay Place to Take Out of Town Guests Restaurant Mexican Restaurant Non-Mexican WiFi Internet

Winner

Voter Comments

The Bahia Resort ...great drink specials. The hotel is at the heart of the town and fun without the crazy.

Bar Ruben at La Chulada Elegant dining in Ensenada. Great steak dinner. Romantic lighting and a fine-dining La Finca experience.

Restaurant Very nice place, just south of town. If you enjoy golf, this could be the best value in northern

Baja Country Club Baja. …beautiful countryside and gorgeous canyon.

Great margaritas during happy hour and a great bartender. Wonderful bar and incredible El Rey Sol French restaurant, definitely one of Ensenada’s finest.

Restaurant Fausto Polanco

Amazing furnishing store. This house store is more like a museum …We always go there when we visit, there is just so many beautiful things.

August

Wine, wine and more wine! So many concerts and events.

Wonderful place to stay, very accommodating. This hotel cares, they even have Eco-rooms

Posada El Rey Sol with water savers, energy-saving lighting, recycling and linen reuse program. Best stay in town.

La Bufadora

This can really blow! It’s nice to see the area being cleaned up. Great marine blowhole and the drive there was nice. Navigating the small shops on the way is an adventure of its own… fun with lots to see.

Magañas

Everyone is really nice there. Their BBQ Ribs are to die for. Worth the trip to the small town of La Mision.

Bambo Garden

This place is exquisite! We were able to order items not even on the menu for our dinner party. The owners are on site and help with service. Great ambiance. Real good oriental food.

La Vendimia

I’m usually there for the menu and wine, but used the internet on the patio and it was great.

Great people, food and welcoming atmosphere…and Katrina is awesome.

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COVER STORY

Liquor Store

SAN FELIPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA Category

Winner

Architect

Salvador Nunez Lugo

When we designed our home, he took all our ideas and concerns and turned it in to more than we hoped for. Great to work with; keeps to schedule and budget; has great ideas.

Art Gallery

Baja Nueva

Wonderful selections. Love them featuring artists every month.…more than an art gallery, more of a home gallery.

Bakery

PanaderÌa Especial

They make the sweetest breads and cakes. I could stand in there all day, just smelling all the baked goodies.

Bar

V Lounge

This new lounge is awesome. The guys are charming and the atmosphere is welcoming. One word…WOW! Great new place unlike anything yet to be seen in San Felipe.

Manny Vealasco

He’s awesome! Friendly! Cute!

Bartender

(V Lounge)

Beach

Cantu Cove, Best Beach 2007

Beer (Mexican)

Cucapa

Breakfast Camping

Voter Comments

A beautiful cove and beach, but don’t tell anyone how to get thereóit’s a secret.

OMG this stuff is sooooooo good.

Good food. Clean spot. Wonderful service. Great prices and consistency.

Juanitos in the Ejido, Best Mexican 2007 Extremely accommodating, very clean and friendly. Great people.

Kiki’s RV Camping & Motel The work they are doing has made a tremendous difference. His vision is critical in health, ZAPP (Zero

Charity

Additional Pupulation Project)

safety and economic development of our municipality… Thank you ZAPP for all you do.

Cheap Eats

Rancho Alegre Playa de Oro Bar & Grill Baja Java Sweitzer Construction Management

Good food, good prices…nice people who own the establishment.

Delicatessen

Sundance Deli

Great staff, six years in business, always try to get what the customer wants. Now they have more room and are adding more items every day. Nice and clean!

Dentist

California Dental Spa

The latest equipment and she takes classes regularly to keep up to date on everything.

Friendly, thorough and reasonably priced. Melina is the sweetest and most gentle dentist.

Development

Playa de Oro

Houses consistently high quality. Underground utilities, electricity and city water. Clean, 24-hour security.

Cocktails Coffeehouse Construction Management

I drink Long Island Ice Tea and they know how to make them just right!

Location at Playa San Rafael is stunning, a truly great coffeehouse. Love the new patio…

Honest, superior work, fantastic follow through. This company works hard to produce a quality home. Ms. Sweitzer is wonderful to work with. Honest, does beautiful work and takes care of all your needs.

Entertainment Vatos Locos

They are very good. The guitar player is fantastic. Rock, rock, rock on…had a blast!!!!! I was there visiting and I heard these guysóthey are worth my vote.”

Ruben’s Fish Market Fishing Tour Tony Reyes Fresh Produce Hipon Mercado

Freshest fish in town. Fast, convenient and good prices.

Gym

Squatts

Nice to have a place to do some lifting. I used to have an excuse not to go to the gym…now I have one in my backyard.

Haircut/Stylist Happy Hour Hardware Store

Hair by Nancy Lighthouse Maderas de San Felipe

Nancy is the friendliest hairdresser in San Felipe.

Arturo has it or he will getóif you don’t see it, ask for it. Arturo…Awesome guy, very helpful, good prices, super concern for his customers!

Home Builder

Sweitzer Construction

BJ and Carlos Mora rock! They delivered on time and took care of every detail we pointed out way after warranty. Built our house. Honest, reliable, trustworthy. High quality. Five years later and any small problem cleared up with a smile.

Home Furnishings

Baja Nueva

Beautiful art, decor and gift items. Baja Nueva has beautiful home furnishings, fine art and the most exquisite glass pieces seen anywhere.

Fish Market

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Amazing! A great man and company. …a pioneer. The most experience on the Sea of Cortez.

Good prices and fresh produce. Large selection and good prices; finding it is another adventure.

Best drink in town and biggest selection…

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I have gone to many of their shows over the years at different locations, always a good show.

Whenever we are in town we go the see Sherry & Barbie . They are awesome! They keep the audience entertained and have terrific voices to boot!

Landscaper

Singout Sisters and Chuey at The Lighthouse Restaurant Versoleil

Liquor Store

Licores Riviera

Good prices and easy in and out. The beer is sold in pre-packaged bags of ice-coldest in town.

Local Artist

Adrena Joyce

Firstly, I love all her renditions of the Dia de la Muerta. Secondly, she captures the spirit of Mexico, of life, of festival, color, design and spirit regardless of the motif. . . reinvents herself and improves each time.

Mail Service

SunRunner Mail

Excellent service. Recently this business was taken over by Sue and Ron Stephens—they are welcoming and most professional. Our mail is handled swiftly; incoming and outgoing…we feel very confident letters and packages are being handled in a professional manner.

Month

October Sand & Sea Market

Most beautiful weather.

Pizza

Fatboy’s Pizza

Great pizzas and good prices. I love the French dip sandwich and full bar. Bartender Pablo does a great job and the food is always good. …fresh salads.

Place to Stay

Su Casa Elegante Had a great time there. I would definitely recommend them. Stayed for three days and

Karaoke

New Business

Best in San Felipe. Responsible for the beauty of El Dorado Ranch.

Cutest decorations, sandwiches and they’re the friendliest people! It’s nice to have a Corona store north of town.

What a great place to stay! Very comfortable, close to everything and such friendly owners. everything I needed, they provided.

Al’s Backstreet and tacos on Sunday and Monday football.

Bar, Winner 2007

Real Estate Agent

Glenda Rohner, Winner 2007

Glenda is the most knowledgeable about the realities of real estate in Mexico. Friendly, courteous, considerate and willing to be of help to those who need it. Teacher, artist, truthful, responsible, hard worker. Terrific and wonderful person. She deserves to win.

Real Estate Broker

Amor Property, Winner 2007 Juanitos in the Ejido, Winner 2007 Los Arcos and Happy Jackass

When the going gets tough, the tough get going… Keep up the hard work. Really cares about the quality of real estate sales and service.

Restaurant Mexican Restaurant Non-Mexican

Now that they’re in the old El Colorado building, more people will find out how good they are.

Best all around food and prices. Great meals and service always with a smile. Nice family operation, clean and so yummy!

Cliff always tries the hardest, he really cares! The restaurant looks great. This year didn’t have a glutton category or I would have vote there too.

The Lions Club has helped the San Felipe community in many ways and had only been in existence for a short time. This club has supported our Flying Samaritans medical clinic in San Felipe. They are making great strides to help this community and support one another as well.

Service Organization

Lions Club

Spa

Lillyana’s Day Spot

…aways the friendliest. Good service and affordable prices. The girls do good work.

Sweets & Desserts

Baja Chocolate Lovers

Bob and Yolanda run a clean place and can also help you with specialty items. Great people and great chocolate! Sinfully delicious! They’re so generous and everything is so unbelievably good.

Waste Management

San Felipe Disposal Fandangos, Winner 2007 L.A. Cetto

Definitely numero uno, in the numero dos business. I’m glad their business keeps picking up.

You do so much more for the community than people know.

WiFi Internet Wine

Still the best! Internet, cold beer, full bar and now foodówhat else is there? Drink a cold beer on a warm day while on a working vacationóworks for me.

The best wines from the region. Good selection and quality.

PUERTO PEÑASCO, SONORA Category

Winner

Architect

Wilfredo Montenegro

He is the best at visualizing the use of a lot. And he can build the house, too!

Voter Comments

Bakery

Tito’s Bakery

Located on Blvd Samuel Ocana. Try their pan relleno…breakfast rolls stuffed with cream cheeseóyum!

Bar

JJ’s Cantina

One of the Rocky Point legendary places. Good times, times 10; we can’t wait to come back.

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You haven’t been to San Felipe until you’ve been to Al’s. Always a good time. Fifty cent beers

Place to Take Out of Town Guests

Martin Gomez at The Thirsty Parrot Tucson Beach, Cholla Bay Aladino’s Restaurant Larry Large Foundation

Makes the best margaritas in Puerto Penasco, plus 15 Fat Tuesday Frozen Drinks. Great addition to Old Port.

Cheap Eats

La Carreta

Great taqueria located on Blvd Josefa Dominguez across the street from the southernmost Circle K. Tacos filled with pork, roasted with pineapple are the best! And cheap!

Cocktails

Al Capone’s Pizza Best pour in town, best price in town, great place to enjoy a drink, especially happy hour.

Cheap for what you get. and Beer

Coffeehouse

Mario’s Coffee

Mario is great! Mario is a daily routine and my first stop each morning. Entering or leaving Old Port, you have to stop at Mario’s. Best coffee in Old Port or Penasco.

Day Trip

Magdalena de Kino

Take the highway south to Caborca, Santa Ana, then lunch in Magdalena de Kino, visit the tiny museum, see the cathedral, visit San Francisco in the chapel, see the mausoleum with the bones of Father Kino, and shop. Then follow the mission route home (take theback way” to Tubutama) to see more missions…great roads, lovely scenery and nearly no traffic at all!

Beach Breakfast Charity

Dentist Development

Dr. Arturo Yamamoto, Dr. Jesus Cota Bella Vista Homes

. . . beautiful, quiet beach. Good beach for swimming, snorkeling.

Penasco’s best breakfast for under $3. Found it at the Hotel Paraiso del Desierto by accident and it was great.

The Larry Large Foundation continues to do so much for Penasco, and in eight years has contributed nearly two million dollars to the community.

Dr. Yamamoto is wonderful…the best dentist I know, and no pain! Another dental category for”endodontist”” and that award should go to Dr. Jesus Cota, who does a root canal, after which you leave his office wondering why you dreaded the procedure!

Really a little gem of a development! Bella Vista is a wonderful gated community, centrally located on the east end of Sandy Beach with homes from $139,000 to $299,000.

Entertainment Alex Zantyllan

Great musician! Plays keyboard and sings old and new Mexican songs, rock and roll, romantic, country, jazz. Now produces CDs for himself and other local musicians. Wish I could sing like you brother.

Fish Market

Federicos

Honest fellas and fresh products.

Fishing Tour

Seafari Tours

Always have a great time, lots of experience, good service, friendly and helpful crew. Top notch boat, most able-bodied crew, trustworthy and loads of fun.

Home Builder

Plinio Rivero Architects & Builders

Great architects, but also construction management and building. Plinio is creative and a really nice guy.

Home Furnishings

Casa Bonita

Original furniture store with furniture made right here in Penasco. Great service, outstanding design. We love our furniture! Great designs, wonderful people to work with!

Month

October

Water is warm, the sun sets in the ocean with amazing colors, temperature is perfect; October is the best month to be in Puerto Penasco!

New Business

Consign and Design

Beautiful articles at cut-rate prices. Friendly helpful staff. Has everything you need to furnish your home completely and if they don’t, they’ll find it. Friendly folks, beautiful things, great service, they will even pick up and deliver.

Pizza

Al Capone’s Pizza Unbelievable Pie! Kicks ass. and Beer

Place to Take Out of Town Guests Real Estate Agent Real Estate Broker Restaurant Mexican Restaurant Non-Mexican Spa

Kayak Rocky Point Bill Memo Barvitski Heidi Wosak, Century 21 Sun & Sand Hacienda Las Fuentes

The Estuary Morua Tour ROCKS!!! Get over and meet Roland & Tammy, the owners of Kayak Rocky Point, and let them hook you up with one of their pedal-drive Hobie Kayaks. Great place with cool owners; can’t miss the yellow building entering Old Port.

Nice guy worth winning…Bill’s been around and knows Penasco and the region.

A pleasure to work with…driven with high-standards…Accomplished so much in four years.

Wonderful seafood and atmosphere. The menu has everything and the Old Mexico feeling is so inviting. Truly the best Mexican restaurant and it’s even a bed and breakfast.

The food is great, not the normal Mexican bar food. Check out the view! Best shrimp dishes

The Thirsty Parrot in Puerto Penasco, and try the lobster Caribbean crisp - awesome!

Rita Pizarro

Best Massage Therapist. Very professional, friendly and gives a superb massage. A pleasant addition to our visit. Very helpful with facts about Puerto Penasco and friendly! Go Rita!

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COVER STORY

Bartender

SAN CARLOS, SONORA Category

Winner

Voter Comments

Architect

Luis Osuna Zatarain

“Luis’s castles” are among the most uniquely designed and beautiful of homes that grace San Carlos. His “Laird’s Castle” in the Bahia is the most photographed home in San Carlos, and has become literally a tourist attraction.

Bar

The Soggy Peso

The Soggy Peso is a great bar with food, outstanding location on the beach and great service.

Their Full Moon Party once a month with a buffet spread of food and entertainment is a must!! Owner Lisa Armano has also done an outstanding job of decorating with the beautiful broken tile table tops, counter tops and bano’s.

Beach

Pilar

The beach at Pilar in front of Bahia Delfin and Pilar Condos is spectacular with its view of Tetakawi. Sunsets are magical from Pilar. The beach is always clean and kept up. Plus the welcome addition of the dolphin pods hanging out there in the water, make swimming, kayaking, etc., an extra treat.

Breakfast

Embarcadero Restaurant has a great Sunday brunch at a reasonable price and the regular Embarcadero Restaurant in the menu is excellent with great prices. My favorite is Eggs Benedict. The food is very good, the service great and the patio overlooking the Marina makes for a great atmosphere.

Marina

Charity

Case de Hogar Orhanage

Not only does Case de Hogar take care of nine children and are taking on nine more, but they feed over 400 people on Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Not unusual to stop by the orphanage and find Jennie Navarro cooking and feeding 20–30 people who have no money or food or place to go. Jesse and Jennie Navarro also do marital counseling and family counseling free of charge.

They also bring in medical teams from Canada and the U.S. twice a year to do medical/dental/eye clinics FREE for the poor in the area. Casa de Hogar is more than an orphanage, it’s two people with a servant’s heart to reach not only the orphans but those in need.

Cheap Eats

Ernie’s

Ernie’s is not only one of the cheapest places in town to eat, but one of the best. Everything is fresh, homemade and delicious on a daily basis.

Cocktails

Ruby’s Wine Bar

Ruby’s Wine Bar is a classy, upscale little wine bar with a premium wine list. Tapas and delectable finger foods available along with your favorite alcohol imbiber. Located on the Marina, is great to sit outside on warm evenings in the comfortable wicker furniture and listen to their premier pianist, Omar Arriage, on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Great staff to boot.

Entertainment Omar Arriaga

A brilliant young pianist who plays on Wednesday evenings at Ruby’s Wine Bar, Saturdays at Evies, Sunday mornings at Evies. He plays classical, jazz, contemporary, etc., and his special twist on traditional renditions is always a treat. Great entertainment with class and flair.

Haircut/Stylist Maru’s

Maru is a great person who does a good haircut and all the rest and low prices.

Happy Hour

La Palapa

I love happy hour on Friday and Saturday evenings at La Palapa because of the sunsets and view of Tetakawi and balladeer Eric Holland’s great music to enjoy it with.

Home Builder

Gabriel Osuna Zatarain

One of San Carlos’ premier builders, Gabriel Osuna Zatarain makes building your home a joy with his amicable sense of humor and beautiful workmanship in the completed product. His unique style has become famous with his exquisiteLairds Castle” in the Bahia becoming a landmark for photographers and tourists.

Home Furnishings

Muebleria Decoracion Tesoro

One of the classiest and finest furniture stores anywhere in Sonora. Owners Emma Sezzi and her daughter, Adriana, not only have a wonderful selection to choose from, but also offer a host of their own personal talents of faux painting, rag painting, etc., to enhance the beauty of your home.

Karaoke

Captains Club

Sunday evenings, and randomly other nights, this great little bistro hosts karaoke, live entertainment other nights, and great food. Charming and quaint with its ìfishermanî decor, staff and service top notch.

Motel/Hotel

Paradiso Resort

Paradiso Resort has gone through many renovations and has much to offer at reasonable prices. The great restaurants, beautiful beaches and the staff tip top. A wonderful ballroom and staff to do a super job.

Nightclub

Froggy’s

Froggy’s hosts Utopia, talented rock group with singer on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Balladeer Eric Holland plays on Tuesday evenings.

Real Estate Broker

Karen Stuart

Long’s Seaside Reality is tops for real estate dealings. Known for their honesty, integrity and “customer first” policy, can’t beat the “A” team at this great office. Broker Karen Stuart is hands above anyone else.

Restaurant Non-Mexican

La Palapa Greek Restaurant

La Palapa rates high in quality food, service and moderate prices. The location is outstanding on top of it. Also hosts entertainment Wednesday through Saturday evenings that is excellent.

Restaurant Non-Mexican

Piccolo

Piccolo, one of the best restaurants in town. Focuses on Italian, chicken and fish dishes that are quite good. Fish, vegetables, etc., are fresh daily. Service is excellent, and owner Magua is always a joy.

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- The ONLY Monthly Guide to Northwest Mexico