BajaNomad

Meat for baja camping buy in USA or MEX?

vacaenbaja - 5-18-2011 at 06:59 PM

I have been seeing posts of people having and some not having trouble bringing things such as meat. They get the
"we can't let you take that in" Mad Cow risk excuse" and get the meat taken away. This used to happen around G Negro
check point with fruit meat and the like. Is meat and other
food items regulated coming in at San Ysidro?
If so where would one buy lets say ribeye or T bone steaks
in Ensenada or TJ? Is the price comparable to the USA ?

DENNIS - 5-18-2011 at 07:05 PM

There's good beef available in Costco, Ens. I don't buy much of it, as in none, but my neighbors say it's high quality.
I know without asking the price is high as well.

bajaguy - 5-18-2011 at 07:06 PM

I would buy meat at the COSTCO in Ensenada.....it comes from the US (I'm told)

irenemm - 5-18-2011 at 07:46 PM

Most all the meat even in many small markets comes from US and Canada. It costs a little more but no worries from customs. On Baja most things come from the states and if not a good brand from Sonora. don't bring it buy when you need it.

larryC - 5-19-2011 at 06:54 AM

Ditto on the Costco in Ensenada. Try the Arra Chera (sp?) It is the best meat I have ever had. It is a marinated skirt steak, so tender you can cut it with a fork. and has a very good flavor. I have never had a problem bringing any meats south, but I guess it depends on who your inspector is.
Larry

astrobaja - 5-19-2011 at 08:05 AM

I find the meat from Sonora to be far superior to that from US or Canadian sources. 99% of meat from the US or Canada is feedlot beef it is fattier and more bland. The meat here seems to be more free range has an actual beef flavour! You can get Sonoran beef at Wally mart or carniceria San Nicolas on Reforma in Ensenada.

bajafam - 5-19-2011 at 08:11 AM

nothing better than Baja Beef or BURRO!! I can US grade A force feed grain cows laced with steroids and antibiotics any other day. When in Baja I EAT Baja!!

durrelllrobert - 5-19-2011 at 08:37 AM

when we go to the US we bring US meat down every time. when we don't go to US we buy it here, but not at Costco because they have the most expensive meat in Ensenada. Commercial mexicana (pelican store across from Costco) has good tender steaks and will cut them any thickness you want. last week t-bones were 105 pesos/kilo ($3.78/lb) and ribeyes were 116 pesos/kilo ($4.18/lb)

Bajajorge - 5-20-2011 at 09:38 AM

Take your pick where you want to buy. I've crossed southbound into Baja mucho times and have never been asked about meat in the freezer in my 5th wheel, or cab over. At the military check points they only occassionally look in my freezer. At that point I usually offer them a cerveza. Going northbound out of Mexico into the USA is another story.

reneske - 5-20-2011 at 02:08 PM

My husband and I always stop at Costco in Ensenada on the way down and buy those things that we cannot find while at our home in Mulege. We usually purchase and entire NY strip as they are in cray-o-vac and then slice them and freeze them once we reach our home in Mulege. We also buy things like Parm cheese and other items that you just cannot find in Mexico. We have never been asked for anything except fresh fruit at the checkpoint in Guerro Negro. Costo meat is USDA inspected and we have always gotten great steaks. Hope that helps.:D

Bajahowodd - 5-20-2011 at 04:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
when we go to the US we bring US meat down every time. when we don't go to US we buy it here, but not at Costco because they have the most expensive meat in Ensenada. Commercial mexicana (pelican store across from Costco) has good tender steaks and will cut them any thickness you want. last week t-bones were 105 pesos/kilo ($3.78/lb) and ribeyes were 116 pesos/kilo ($4.18/lb)


I make no claim to be an expert. However, I do find it interesting that Costco in Mexico is majority owned by Comercial Mexicano ( the pelican store).

I have no idea as to whether, especially in Ensenada, where the Costco and the Comercial Mexicano are across the street from each other, whether better beef and other meat are to be found at Costco, although it seems to me that Costco in Mexico would not make a profit if it catered only to tourists and ex-pats. Although, just perhaps the complaints posted here about high prices actually does reveal that Costco is importing their beef.

That said, I do recall a time in the distant past when beef in Mexico was terrible. Not much different from Mexican wine of the day.

Times have changed. Mexico has developed a middle class, that is more discerning than in the old days.

Except, maybe for some very obscure food and or meat items, I personally can't see hauling stuff down from El Norte.

[Edited on 5-20-2011 by Bajahowodd]

Marc - 5-20-2011 at 05:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
I find the meat from Sonora to be far superior to that from US or Canadian sources. 99% of meat from the US or Canada is feedlot beef it is fattier and more bland. The meat here seems to be more free range has an actual beef flavour! You can get Sonoran beef at Wally mart or carniceria San Nicolas on Reforma in Ensenada.


Nothing beats Sonoran beef!:yes::yes::yes:

JESSE - 5-20-2011 at 06:20 PM

Sonora beef is just like american beef, it can be crap, or it can be sublime, it all depends on the producer. Costco sells very good american beef, better than 90% of most sonora beef you can find in Baja. If you do manage to buy Sonora (the good stuff), then i do agree that the favlr of the beef is far better than anything from Costco. And by the way, good Sonora beef, is just as expensive as Costco beef. The cheaper stuff is just not that good.

bacquito - 5-20-2011 at 06:36 PM

http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/05/20/give-squirrel-a-whirl/?i...

You might try squirrel-there are plenty around:light:

[Edited on 5-24-2011 by bacquito]