In Baja California, a food fest takes shape

Officials in northern Baja California are throwing a festival for foodies and wine lovers Oct. 5-9, taking over venues from Tijuana’s Caliente race track to a cheese cellar near Ensenada.

It’s a tough job, winning over travelers daunted by ongoing border-area violence associated with Mexico’s drug wars. But Baja California state tourism officials are pledging that Baja California Culinary Fest 2011 will bring “five days of intense flavors, delicious aromas, ecotourism, adventure, romance and discovery.”

The events will include more than a dozen chefs from Mexico and the San Diego area, including Javier Plascencia (chef at Tijuana’s acclaimed restaurant Mision 19, which opened in January); a golf tournament; cooking contests and classes; tastings from regional microbreweries and wine tours of the Guadalupe Valley near Ensenada.

The event’s bilingual website and Facebook page have details.(If you’re calling one of the participating restaurants whose numbers are listed on the fest website, remember that before the 10-digit Mexican number that’s listed, you’ll need to dial 011-52.)

Among the events:

--An opening night dinner for 200 on Wednesday, Oct. 5, in Tijuana’s Terraza Via Corporativo. Local chefs will collaborate on the meal, which is to also include stands representing regional restaurants, wineries and microbreweries. Cost is 1,200 pesos, or about $96.

--Tours of three Guadalupe Valley wineries on Thursday, Oct. 6, followed by an outdoor dinner for 150 at the L.A. Cetto. Cost: about $76 (950 pesos).

--Dinners with guest chefs on Oct. 7 and 8 at several restaurants in Tijuana, Ensenada, Tecate and Mexicali, including Tijuana’s Mision 19 (about $92 or 1,150 pesos; Oct. 7); and Ensenada’s Manzanilla (about $58 or 720 pesos, Oct. 8).