DIY: Dry cherry/grape tomatoes

During the summer months, tomatoes seam to be an abundance at all the farmers markets.  Last year we purchased a crate of mixed grape and cherry tomatoes.  They were so sweet and juicy, we wanted to preserve as many as we could. My neighbor Martha taught me (who learned from her mom) an easy way of dehydrating.

Materials needed:

Window screen or tulle

cooling racks or baking sheets (the cooling racks worked better)

Long board or table to let them sun bathe on

knife and cutting board

Gallon size ziplock/freezer bag(s) or mason jars

1. Cut all the clean tomatoes in half with a knife on a cutting board.

2. Place the window screen on top of the cooling rack, then place the tomatoes on the window screen.

3. Once you have a layer of tomatoes on the screen (close but not touching), cover with another window screen. This is the most important step, because you don't want flies or bugs getting in there.*

4. Leave them outside for about 2-3 days, checking them frequently. We noticed the tomatoes on the baking sheets were beginning to toast, so we had to switch them around.  We checked them mid day and pull out the ones that were dehydrated.  The texture we were looking for was that of dry but still pliable (like a raisin)

5. Place them in large zip lock bags with a small unopened paper salt packet (to absorb moister).

taking it a step further- Valle style...

Dried Tomatoes Marinated in Herbs



Martha's mom places about a table spoon of dry (or 2-3 sprigs of fresh) oregano, equal parts of thyme and about a tablespoon of kosher salt.  Because the plant was just right there, we cut a sprig of rosemary as well. We placed all these herbs and salt in a 16oz sterile mason jar and packed in the dried out tomatoes. Once the jar was almost full, but not overly packed, we added in olive oil. Our olive oil was bought at a nearby farm, so I don't know if its extra virgin or not. Use which ever good quality olive oil you have at home. We placed the jars in a cool dark place, tasting the tomatoes every week, until they were to our liking (about 3-4 weeks).  We toasted some sliced baguettes and grilled some naan bread. Spooned the tomatoes with oil over the bread and added fresh cheese. yum... so good, I forgot to take pictures. This year when we re-make it, I'll be sure to add in the photos!

*Tip: we noticed a few ants began to crawl up the legs of the table. So I sprayed a paper towel with raid and rubbed it only on the legs of the table with it (no where near the top of the table. It was enough to keep them away.

Favorite Places in El Valle

El Valle de Guadalupe offers a variety of unique eating experiences, especially with famous chef’s growing, fishing and hunting their own ingredients.  In the past years, many different cultures have migrated to this Mediterranean-like valley and brought with them their spices, cooking techniques and wine-making styles.  I’ve tried to include phone numbers to the locations and I recommend calling in advance for reservations and scheduling tours as well as to make sure they are open.  In between each of these wineries and restaurants are smaller pop-ups that I recommend trying out.  Just because they are not listed, don’t mean they aren’t good, it just means, I haven’t discovered them yet!

First-Timer:

1. Santo Tomas (Rancho San Gabriel): There is 3 Santo Tomas, The large and original one in la Ruta Antigua de Vino (heading an hour or so South of Ensenada), las Bodegas de Santo Tomas (located in downtown Ensenada), and the one here in El Valle (at the entrance of San Antonio de las Minas). 
2. Vinos la Cetto:  This is a great place to visit as it’s been around since 1928 and has a long history here in El Valle.  +52(646) 155-2179 This vineyard is enormous!  Keep driving further in and you’ll find a friendly Kumiai Native Mexican-American Tribe.
3. Vinos Bibayoff:  Possibly the oldest wine making family in Baja.  Dating over 100 years, they were among the very first settlers in the Valle.  They have their own family museum near their wine tasting room area.   +52(646)16-1008
4. El Cielo Winery / Latitud 32: The food served here is Baja-Yucatan style.  The wine cellar is amazing.  Call in advance, as wedding season approaches, and tour buses arrive, it gets overly packed. Great place to enjoy an afternoon wine during the week. +52(646)155-2220
5. Encuentro Guadalupe Restaurant- When it opened, this place made it to the top 10 resort places to stay at in the world. Its famous beehive box rooms with spectacular views, have housed Beyonce and Alejandro Fernandez. If you can’t afford to refinance your home to stay there the week, don’t worry. The have a restaurant is just a few steps below and great hang out bar.
6. Deckman’s El Mogor: This location is great to visit on Saturday mornings because they have a farmer’s market on the ranch.  You can make local produce, jams, and bread.  Sometimes, you’ll run into famous chefs here.  The farmers market is open Wednesday and Saturday from about 10-2pm.  Afterward you can walk over and eat at Deckman’s. His menu changes often and you may need to call in advance for seating.  +52(646)188-3960 deckmans.com

 

Intresting Places to Try:

1. Adobe Food truck: This place was recently filmed in a popular zombie TV show.  The gourmet food truck scene finally made it’s way down to El Valle. The brightly colored gastro-mobile does an excellent job in keeping food fresh, and filling.  +52(646)117-0627
2. Hacienda Guadalupe, Restaurant and Winery- were also a filming site last year or so for a Mexican movie.  The view and scenery here is of what I considered iconic of the Valle.  It’s across the road from Museo de Vid y Vino.
3. Cuatro Cuatros- Don’t judge this tongue twister place by its name. It’s the closest Winery/Bar Tasting Room to the coast.  It’s a romantic place to watch the sunset.
4. Sanvil Baja Indian: Located in Rancho San Jose. From Indian and Mexican decent, this young chef graduated from Culinary Art Institute and has recently opened the only Indian-style restaurant in El Valle. It’s not traditional Indian cuisine, but rather combining the spices with the local produce and seasonal ingredients.  The best seat is on the bistro stools facing the chef; he enjoys talking about his new plates and is fluent in Spanish and English. I recommend the Ceviche! +52(646)198-2748
5. Bodegas del Valle: Great food, reasonable pricing and a huge assortment of wines, local and foreign. There is an atm machine there and a tourist info booth.  +52(646)688-1903

Eating/Drinking on a Budget:

1. Las Cabanas: Located in our same fraccionamento, it’s walking distance from the cabin. They serve Traditional-style Mexican and American breakfast and lunch.  They have indoor and outdoor seating.  Open Friday-Sunday from 8am-2pm.  +52(646)178-4357
2. Cocina de Lupita:  Located at the entrance of town, where the stop light is.  Just follow the signs, about 5 minutes from the main road. Also serve traditional Mexican and American breakfast, Lunch and dinners with indoor and outdoor seating. Open Thursday-Sunday from 8am-7pm.
3. Black Box Pizza- They have different specials throughout the week and deliver to our property.  Open every day, but Wednesday. 1pm-8:30pm.  +52(646)190-0123
4. Street Food: Tacos from Isaac located at the street light. Starts at about 7pm-10pm Thursday-Sunday. Hot dogs wrapped in bacon guy in front of a church.  Hours and days vary.  Mariscos Paez Food Cart- Every day but Tuesday just passing the Stoplight on the right side. I recommend Almejas de su concha, La Botana San Antonio y Tostada Especial.
5. Restaurant Sol de Media Noche: On Saturdays and Sundays they have an all you can eat buffet for 130mxn. They serve fruit, salads, menudo, bbq ribs and chicken, pizza, chille rellonos, lasagna, and more. Included with the price is the drink. (Located in Francisco Zarco- near the Sol de Media Noche Winery).  Arrive before 10am or after 12pm, to enjoy your meal as tour buses sometimes arrive.

Semi- Walking Distance from Las Lomas:

1. Las Cabanas – mentioned above.
2. Restaurante Ha’che- located in Villas Maglen. They also have a Cava (winery) there. Open Friday-Sunday +52(646)120-5372
3. Cava Maciel-  A local winery.
4. La Gotera- a new wine and beer lounge with an art gallery. There is Karaoke on Saturdays and art painting classes on occasion.  They serve appetizer and dinner here.  I want to say this is where the locals hang out, but the majority of “locals” live about 50 minutes away, near the buffadora, way on the other side of Ensenada. +52(646)121-8256
5. La Cafecleta- It’s a coffee shop on bike wheels.  Felipe is usually found near the Las Lomas entry.

Noteworthy Places:

1. Ochento’s Pizza:  This place gets outrageously packed, so make reservations (ask for balcony seating in the evenings- great sunset and views), arrive early for parking and be patient and enjoy the live band and locally brewed beer.  Open Wednesday-Sunday 1-9 pm +52(646)130-0651
2. Finca Altozano (Chef Javier Plascencia): Another great place that gets large crowds.  They have an oyster bar and a famous chef need I say more… Open Tuesday-Sunday 1-8pm.  +52(646)156-8045 www.fincaltozano.com
3. Laja Restaurant: Opened in 1999, it’s one of the oldest and among highest ranked restuarants in El Valle. Famous TV Chefs come here and interview Chef Jair Tellez.  Rvsp is highly recommended  +52(646)155-2556 www.lajamexico.com

Recreational:

1. Parque Jersey: The Jersey Milk Company created a park next to their cow farm. Recently, the cows have been “moo”ved to another location, but the park is a great place to go swimming, and picnicking.  They sell food and snacks there.  There is also a small zoo, included with the price. 
2. Museo de Vid y Vino: A great starting point to get to know the Valle.  It has incredible views and the museum structure is picturesque. Sometimes local wineries give free samples of the newest batch there, to see how the public like it.  +52(646)156-8165
3. Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (del Norte) #27, Baja Ca Museum Mission:  I’m crazy about missions.  In my bc (before children) days, I convinced my husband to join me on a 2 week Cali road trip tour. I promised a lot of wine tasting stops, from Los Angeles to San Francisco.  Fortunately enough, all the Ca Missions seemed to have wineries surrounding them (now I know why).  And it seems to be that way in Baja Ca and part of Baja Ca Sur.  Most people that visit the Valle rarely know that a mission was here. Local volunteers are trying really hard to preserve it.  So if you can, just swing by and show it some love! Open Wednesday-Sunday 8am-5pm. There is a Russian Restaurant (recommend trying the pan ruso), Museum nearby. 
4. Kumiai Native Mexican-American Tribe Museum: Keep driving further in La Cetto Vineyards and you’ll start to see signs to a Kumiai Museum.  The tribe is still a strong knit community and they encourage visitors. They have a museum and craft store. I recommend purchasing dry sage leaves, aside from their spiritual purpose, it has this incredible incense smell that helps improve sleep and repel mosquitos!  The Tribal community also has festivals and events to bring public awareness to their community, culture and customs.   +52(646)126-1399 www.sinawkuatay.com (sometimes the site works)

What are your favorite places to visit and eat at in the Valle de Guadalupe?