Introducing: The world. By Kirstin Frieze. Los Cabos Magazine Issue #18 Fall 2008
There is no question we like to eat. Whether we eat to live or live to eat, our search for sustenance is as constant as the ebb and flow of the ocean’s tide. We may even say that for some people, eating has become more of a hobby than a necessity! As a society, we have gone from simply preparing meals in our homes, to watching ten-minute cooking segments on daily morning shows like Today and Good Morning America, and have even created a compelling demand so great that an entire television channel, The Food Network, was established to quench our thirst for all things food. The more we know about food, where it comes from, and how deliciously it can be prepared in any number of ways, the more we expect of the restaurants in which we dine. Enter: unbeatable international cuisine for all tastes and desires. Lucky for us, Los Cabos’ restaurants have responded to this order with such fervor that they often welcome “non-foodies,” feed them, and send them back into the world as certified food snobs.
And with restaurants sometimes listing page upon page of delicious, enticing, and even nutritious organic choices, food here in Los Cabos offers something for us all, and sometimes even under the same roof.
Despite the increasing number of international restaurateurs and chefs in Los Cabos, we have to remember that we are in México, after all. Los Cabos boasts some of the most scrumptious Mexican food around, and we’re not just talking tortillas. From national dishes to regional cuisine specific to Baja California Sur, it is sure to be found here. But, even with this rich and authentic Mexican cuisine, there are other international options for the palate. The beautiful setting, nearly perfect weather, and plethora of outdoor activities, draw international tourists to our area, and now an impressive number of skilled chefs and experienced restaurant owners are calling it home. Japanese, Chinese, French, Italian, and Spanish citizens are among the ever-growing list of Los Cabos locals, who were born and raised elsewhere, and who have brought their countries’ flavors with them. If you’re looking to eat with a fork, or chopsticks, or even your fingers, Los Cabos has just the place for you.
At Mexican restaurants or from a Mexican wait staff, “Buen Provecho “ is what you most commonly hear when your meal is being presented. However, you may use “Itadakimasu” when you begin your Japanese meal together, or be bid “Buon Apetitto” in Italian restaurants, or, believe it or not, “Dobar Tek,” in Polish! Each of which loosely translates to “Enjoy your meal.” A response of “Gracias” will do for any of these blessings. But upon seeing your fantastic meal presented and being eager to dive into it, “Thank you! Thank you” may be all that you can muster!
Spanish paella, pub fare from Ireland and England, and even exotic eats such as those offered in Israel, Iran, and Russia, can all be found in this eclectic dining destination. Olé Olé Tapas Restaurant & Bar prepares paella, as will some other restaurants, but this special and complex dish is often served only on certain days of the week, or it may require an advance order. Brennan’s Restaurant & Grill and Pub de La Chapu carry innumerable Irish and British libations, and serve the proper eats to go along with them. 12 Tribes Restaurant, whose name is inspired by the Bible’s 12 tribes, offers sensational food from Israel, Iran, Russia and other Middle East regions. Ethnic heritage peacefully co-exists right at your table. Several South American and Latin American countries, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Cuba, prepare their scrumptious cuisines and showcase their interesting cultures, at restaurants found in San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Their beats and treats will get you all fired up for your Cabo night!
Hoping to find a place where chopsticks are offered? You’re in luck, because some of the best of authentic Asian eateries can be found here in Los Cabos. In addition to sushi bars and hibachi tables, from sweet and sour pork to chicken satay to banana blossom salad, you’ll find it all here. Thai, Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, and other virtuoso dishes are prepared under one roof at Bohai Asian Bistro in Cabo San Lucas. Wonderful sushi restaurants have become quite the rage here as well, and at Arts & Sushi, the talented chefs conjure up some of the most original and finest dishes available. With our fortunate location on the sea, it’s quite possibly the freshest seafood available. Bring your tuna catch back to shore and have a trained and skilled chef at many of the restaurants and resorts prepare some of the best sashimi you will ever have! Pitahayas, at the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar resort, has created its menu combining amazing continental cuisine with its signature infusion of Pacific Rim flavors.
Although Mom may well make the best spaghetti and meatballs that you’ve always loved, we’re sure it’s got nothing on the authentic dishes found at Italian restaurants and trattorias right here, operated by proud and generous Italians. Representing many of the different cooking techniques and ingredients that create this popular and reliable cuisine, Italian restaurants in Los Cabos prepare pizzas and pastas, plus seafood dishes and unique appetizers, probably not found in the Olive Gardens of the world. Italian wine lovers will be happy to learn that imports from the homeland are readily available, too.
For those preferring to stick to what they know while on vacation, there are many fine eateries offering good ol’ American cuisine. Elegant steakhouses, such as La Bodega Steak and Wine House in San Jose del Cabo and Casa Raphael in Cabo San Lucas, serve the finest cuts of U.S. and Sonoran beef, catering to those with hearty meat-eater appetites. Burger joints, like Johnny Rocket’s, provide the classic standby of a cheeseburger, fries, and malts. All comfort food for many. There are also a few really great places for custom-made deli sandwiches, fresh meats and cheeses, fabulous fresh salads, and treats from home, if a simple but delicious lunch is what you want. Lenny’s Deli, Señor Greenberg’s, and Applebee’s come to mind.
And last but certainly not least, if you seek really great Mexican food, and your presence here tells us that you do, step out of your hotel lobby and head in any direction to find some of the best in the country. From the simplicity of the beef tacos sold in the taquerías and the fresh fish ceviche on many Mexican menus, to more elaborate dishes like chiles en nogada and tampiqueña, the traditional and authentic Mexican food available in this area will surely make it hard to try anything else.
So pick a place on the map, let your mouth water for what you crave, and head out to a restaurant that will fit the bill for your culinary pleasure. Los Cabos Magazine’s restaurant guide and the Los Cabos Guide can help you get there.
