Comida Mexicana

Most of us New Englanders think of Mexican food as fajitas, chimichungas and crispy tacos with ground beef. In Baja, those foods hardly exist, except in the few places that cater to gringos.
Here in Loreto there are lots of restaurants and Taco Stands, all owned and operated by the owners, usually, just one family. In the smaller ones, the father will greet and seat you while mom does the cooking, the kids will bus the tables and wash the dishes. While many menus may seem similar, each is different. I've had chile renenos in ten different places and each is unique.

With fish, shrimp and the local chocolate clams plentiful, there is always fresh seafood dishes on the menu.

Twenty miles to the north is a fertile valley with much agriculture as it is 50 miles to the west on the Pacific side. As a result, fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables are regularly available, which is great as trucking in fresh produce from any further away is impractical here on the Baja. So while you cannot always get what you may want, what you do get is fresh and inexpensive.

Local beef is free range, and while a bit on the tough side, tasty. Excellent beef from Sonora is also readily available.

Locals don't really seem to  eat breakfast, but more of an early lunch. With the influx of Americans and Canadians, several restaurants offer  usual breakfast fare with some tasty Mexican additions, and always a nice fresh fruit plate and fresh squeezed OJ. Lunch for the locals is usually tacos, made with soft corn or wheat tortillas. chopped beef steak, fish, shrimp or birria, which is stewed goat meat or mutton or beef, quite good!

The options for dinner are numerous, from wood fired pizza, home made pasta, bar-b-que, and a few gourmet spots to many traditional Mexican eateries. Enchiladas, empanadas, chili rellenos and seafood. Chicken is also plentiful, and especially delicious is the pollo with mole sauce, a mildly spicy chocolaty sauce made with over 30 ingredients. Queso Burros, which are large flour tortillas filled  with beef or chicken, cheese, peppers and onions are outstanding. Tostados, and Volcans, crispy corn tortillas topped with piles of meat and fresh vegetables. One favorite of mine  is the Papa Relleno, a huge potato, baked over a wood fire, then stuffed with chopped aranchera beef, onions, corn and cheese and wrapped in foil and baked over the fire again.

Mexicans love their sweets, flan, of course, and many pastries and the local home made ice cream is particularly excellent!

As you may imagine, it's a bit tricky to watch your diet down here on the Baja!