Mini trip report-La Salina area-mostly food reviews
My wife and I spent Valentine's weekend (took Mon. off, too) in the La Salina area. Side trips to Ensenada, Pto. Nuevo, La Mision and Alisitos area.
Not as active as we would have liked as the rain lasted well into Saturday. But Sunday was beautiful.
We ate at five new places (for us) as we were determined not to eat anywhere we had been before. Here's a couple reviews:
Loncheria La Mision-really delicious huevos rancheros and equally good enchiladas. The huevos rancheros were done on a crispy corn tortilla.
Well-simmered ranchero sauce that was muy picante! Included rice, beans, slices of avo and tortillas. Two breakfasts, 3 beers=10.00US.
La Fonda del Rio's- this is a new competitor to the new owners at La Fonda. Prices are pretty high-the lobster feast is listed at 28.00US. We had the
seafood relleno plate and the pescado del dia. I opted for lenguado empanizado. Both came with soup and salad. Tortilla soup was XLNT, NE-style clam
chowder also very good....not too thickened with cornstarch. Very fresh salads. Relleno was good with langosta, camarone y pescado but unusual in that
there was no queso. Also no batter dipped but that is good in our book. The pepper seemed like a large pasilla that we felt was slightly underdone.
Delicious relleno sauce! Lenguado plate came with 4 huge pieces of fish (seriously, all were 4x4x1!) and a delicious, perfectly sauteed combo of
spinach, tomatos and onions. Spanish rice has some kind of tomatillo/cilantro sauce...pretty gourmet all around. Meals were about 12.00US each. Menu
not as extensive as the original La Fonda (who's is?) but features steaks, ribs (highly recommended, according to "regulars") and mariscos, as well as
a quail feast. Tortillas being made on site. Service was almost uncomfortably good; someone was checking on us about every five minutes. No credit
cards for another two weeks. That almost stopped us but Ignacio extended his own credit (honor system) so we did not have to hit an ATM in Rosarito.
Paid him later.
Pto. Nuevo Resaurant- we hit the one with the hideous orange streaks of paint on the inside on the southernmost street that is perpindicular to the
coast. Just up from the fancy Ortega's on the bluff. Six halves (chiquitas), unlimited beans, rice, guac, tortillas, and one margarita for 15.00US.
Whether on purpose or by accident, THE COOK FINALLY DID NOT OVERCOOK THEM BAJA-STYLE. Very common to have them overcooked in P.N. Discovered that
butter-dipping these oil-fried bugs is not necessary......just limon and sal was much better.
El Charro-well, this is one of our fav spots to eat in Ensenada, but we chose just to drink. They gave us the window seat we wanted, even though we
told them we would only be drinking. After a few shots, a few Tecate's and a few margaritas, it was great fun watching the cruise ship patrons dodging
the raindrops......and avoiding the "hawkers" from Papas and Beer! Amazing what passes as fashion these days......
Filetes de lenguado were fresh, white and 50 pesos/kilo at the Ensenada fish market. Bought 3 kilos and vacuum-sealed it all for return to US.......I
like lenguado!
Also brought home un docena ostiones......Hey, it's Valentine's Day and I'm over 50!
Toll road is in the worst shape I have ever seen it....many potholes in the right lane, but not the deep ones like we sometimes see down south.
Diesel 4.96 pesos/L at the Pemex in Cantamar. Exchange rates generally 10.9-11.00.
Tecate in botellas by the case at the main agencia was 160 pesos including a bag of ice.
It seems that every square centimeter between TJ and Ensenada is either for sale, being developed or occupied by poorer Mexicans trying to hang on.
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