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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
Member Is Offline
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MAMA ESPINOZA
Hey everyone, Gerardo at Mama Espinozas Restaurant has joined Baja Nomad and is waiting for his password. As soon as he gets it he will come on line
so you can give him some suggestions for the restaurant. Please be kind....
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Will do David - what is his username???
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LB
Junior Nomad
Posts: 74
Registered: 10-1-2008
Member Is Offline
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We met up with friends on our way down last winter for breakfast. I did
not eat the sauce on the eggs or the potatoes. Those that did spent a lot
of time along the side of the road with the runs. First and last stop for us!
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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
Member Is Offline
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Hi Ron Gerardos user name is MAMAESPINOZA...He is just waiting for his password and he will be up and running. I am having a great time here. Mamas
birthday is this coming weekend. 101 years old. She is still kicking strong. Take care Ron!
David
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
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Mama's was a Baja tradition and a landmark but I have had 6 friends in the last two seasons stop for a meal and ended up seriously sick. And of
course when they start to tell the story, then it seems that every one else has a number of friends with the same experience. That kind of word
spreads fast, especially in the land without regular health inspections. I suspect that botulism and warm storage temperatures are the culprit, so
MamaEspinoza needs to get real tight with thermometers and refrigerators to make sure this does not occur by storing things at the proper temperatures
and making sure food is at the right temp when prepared.
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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Caveat Emptor!
Yep! It happened to me two years ago. Bad food poisoning!!! I thought i was going to die. It is well documented by me in Nomad archives.
It is good they are setting up a Nomad presence. They need to hear it, not in a rude way but in a constructive way. Botulism is serious and dangerous.
I think we have a responsibility to forewarn travelers. The locals there already are fully aware of it. I know! I had to spend three days in El
Rosario, recovering.
Mama Espinoza is a nice woman. She has sponsored a lot of benevolent projects. Obviously, at 101, she is not in charge any more. It is not her fault.
It is commendable, David, that you remain a loyal friend to her.
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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I use to love to stop and eat at Mamas but for the last 6 or 7 years the food has gotten very inconsistent and we also had problems with getting sick
from poor food handling. I hope they take the criticism in the positive way that I intended and make the necessary changes, I would love to feel free
to once again stop for a good meal and visit,
[Edited on 10-14-2008 by Bruce R Leech]
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65297
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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It can be a good meal as well...
Have had dinner at Mama's only a couple of times, usually have had breakfast there with Antonio (Baja Cactus)... always good!
Thanksgiving 2004, Baja Turkey (aka Lobster)!
May, 2005, with Antonio and Lorenia (Baja Cactus). That's Mama's daughter 'Roli' who runs the place...
If you look straight up from Antonio's head, you can see the bottom of one of my Viva Baja stickers that Roli had me autograph to Mama a few years
ago...
Painting of Mama (Anita) Espinoza in her museum.
See more of the Anita Espinoza Museum at http://vivabaja.com/406
[Edited on 10-14-2008 by David K]
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dao45
Junior Nomad
Posts: 93
Registered: 5-21-2007
Member Is Offline
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We have stopped at mamas twice once we were ignored for 30 minutes not even asked if we would like coffee.
second time had breakfast and it was so so.Thankfully we didnt get sick.
On the other hand the baja cactus motel was one of the nicest we have found in Baja.Especially the staff they were great
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cabobaja
Nomad
Posts: 363
Registered: 9-19-2006
Location: South \"O\", Elias Calles, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Smiling
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Have eaten at Mama's for the past 30 years. Last time was July with the wife and two young son's. Have never gotten sick and the service has always
been attentive. Guess we were lucky....for 30 years! Sorry others were not so lucky.
Leaving for San Diego in a few weeks. Will be staying at Baja Cactus and eating at Mama's.
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tjBill
Senior Nomad
Posts: 516
Registered: 10-6-2007
Location: Tijuana
Member Is Offline
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Mama's sounds absolutely awful. 
Thanks for the warning.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
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I seriously doubt that Botulinum was responsible for your illness(es).
The symptoms suggest food-borne pathogens like those of shigella sp. or more likely clostridium sp.
Most common is the latter and found in many dirty kitchens. Tony it sounds like you had something even worse!
I got something last year from a quesoburro at a street vendor. I swear it was that damn mayo.
DK, YOU gave her an autograph?  How special!
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=20826#pid1844...
Give her a big hug for us!
[Edited on 10-14-2008 by Sharksbaja]
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy!
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I have read that a lot of Montezuma's Revenge can be explained by differences in bacteria in water sources; that is--different bacteria than what we
are used to. Mexicanos sometimes get the revenge when they drink our water too I'm told.
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Ken Bondy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3326
Registered: 12-13-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: Mellow
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When I returned from 6 months in Brazil in the late 60s I contracted something the docs called "amoebic dysentery". They said it was extremely
dangerous. It was the sickest I have ever been, completely debilitating. Took about 3-4 months to recover, with many trips to a specialized doctor.
I think I got it from eating something in Belem on the way home. I don't know what the scientific name of the bug is (was) but I wonder if it is
something that others in this thread got.
PS have eaten at Mama Espinozas several times in the last 7 years and have never had any problems with food or service.
[Edited on 10-14-2008 by Ken Bondy]
carpe diem!
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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
Member Is Offline
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Hey everyone yes it's true that Gerardo wants input from all sides. "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly." I told Rolli, Mama's daughter who now owns Mama
Espinoza's about people's complaints and they really do want your input. I am just the facilitator because I am Mama Espinoza's prodigal son who
returned home after 41 years. All I ask is that you give Gerardo constructive criticism and not be nasty. PLEASE. He will be online soon so give him a
chance to get acclimatized to Baja Nomad. I bought him a Baja Nomad sticker next door at Baja Cactus which he now proudly displays on his vehicle. I
finally got mine too. Ok I am off to Rancho El Metate where 40 years ago I helped build the house that is standing there. Take care. David
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baja-spirit
Junior Nomad
Posts: 82
Registered: 1-11-2008
Member Is Offline
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We stay at the Baja Cactus whenever we can and eat at MaMa's..
Have never had a bad stay at the Cactus and never a bad meal at MaMa's.
We have had good friendly service at both places.
Also thanks David, I never knew there was a musuem and I always enjoy your photos. You have been places in Baja that I will never get to see but I
get to enjoy them from your camera's eye.. Keep up the good work.
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Lobsterman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1776
Registered: 10-7-2008
Member Is Offline
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Never had a bad meal there in 30 years. Just the thought of getting to Mama's when coming or going would start my mouth watering 100 miles in
advance. I've even got my picture on their walls of fame. The lobster burritos are the best. And I should know!
Lobsterman
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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I've eaten at Mama's a few times through the years. To me the food has always been fair to good but a little over-priced.
I'd much rather walk a bit farther and hit one of the small little tacos stands or loncherias in town. To each his own...
I do look forward to having another Amigo aboard.
Zac
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flyfishinPam
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: gone fishin'
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I've never been to Mama Espinozas restaurant but we did stay in their three room hotel one night. Unfortunately the staff was very nasty to us when I
requested a factura for business expenses (it was refused) and if there were another hotel to stay at (that we knew about) we would have never checked
in there. The Cactus was not an option back then.
Since we were treated so poorly on check in at their hotel, we chose not to eat at the restaurant and found another place to the South that looked
like it was run by gringos. It was clean, their staff was very friendly and the food was excellent! (I don't remember the name but it looked like a
typical cafe) We went there two times during our one night stay (dinner and breakfast) and again on our southbound trip for dinner and breakfast
again and that night we stayed at Sinai motel which is nearby (they gave me my factura).
Mama's looks like a nice place and I've always wanted to try it but have avoided it, however I will fo and eat there if things improve so I'll be
watching this board for comments.
My input after 17 years in the restaurant industry is cleanliness if number one. If the outside area and the dining area, and bathroom are dirty then
the kitchen will likely be even dirtier. Here in Loreto I see glaringly incorrect food handling procedures that result in diners becoming sick.
Kitchens here tend to keep food around too long, they don't refrigerate things properly or heat them properly, they also don't wash their hands often
enough (sometimes not at all). If I owned a restaurant I'd have a limited menu that changes daily because ingredients cannot always be found here
consistently and maybe that's the case in El Rosario. Make specials that revolve around the ingredients of the season and change them when they run
out. During slow seasons, only make limited amounts so there is less waste and things are always fresh. I always like to see an open kitchen so that
I can peak in and look at how things are running and how clean it is inside. Maybe it can be partially opened so as to be viewable to the diners and
not a mystery. Keep all visible areas immaculate and keep the bathroom very clean and well stocked with paper towels, tp and soap!
good luck, I hope mama espinoza's takes the advice and its great to see that they care enough to improve their business. I hope to go there some
time.
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
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I was going to wait and post when Gerardo got on but I'll add my thoughts here instead:
1. Always wash your hands after using the restroom!
2. Use very hot soapy water to wash pots, pans and dining ware
3. Keep all counter surfaces cleaned with a bleach solution or the like.
4. Sauces should be fresh made daily or twice daily. Use Mama’s original recipes. Some of the food I’ve had there in the last 8 years should never
have been served.
5. Keep covers on everything cold or hot.
6. Everything fresh and hot
7. Mamas’ the perfect location to do very well. But I can’t eat there again until I hear that the food won’t make me sick. I’ve gambled and lost the
last 5 or 6 time I’ve eaten there and now hold out for burritos at Carmelas in Jesus Maria. I really wish Mamas all the best because of the long
standing tradition and for my own selfish reason...You are convenient going North and South for me.
This is a good thread and I'm sure we all hope Mamas get those of us back that have bad experiences. I also grew up cooking and later managed a few
Coco's/ Snack Shops
[Edited on 10-14-2008 by Russ]
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