Page 38 - San Diego Woman Amy Haber Issue
P. 38

TR A VEL

                                   with upon walking up the hill   dalupe. He promotes local   Lunario Restaurante at
                                   to the winery.  The base of the   products, from beer and wine   La Lomita Winery, young
                                   tree is inside the winery and   to meat and seafood. Two of   and upcoming chef Sheyla
                                   at the foundation of the barrel   his projects are Finca Altozano   Alvarez will dazzle you with
                                   and tasting room. The outside   and Animalon. Finca Altozano   her culinary skills. Their sister
                                   of the winery is made from   is an open-air restaurant with   property Finca la Carrodilla, is
                                   recycled pylons from the Los   a focus on campfire cooking.   where the vegetables (backed
                                   Angeles freeways. The staircase   Animalon, until recently a   by their organic certification)
                                   is constructed from recycled   seasonal fine-dining restaurant   and dairy, and some proteins
                                   metal- shovels, drills, left-over   under an oak tree, has just   are sourced.
                                   morsels, and even grills.  enclosed the patio and will be   Newcomer Primitivo will
                                       Another creative use of   open all winter.         dazzle you under the giant oak
                                   recyclables is Vena Cava win-
                                   ery where they have designed
                                   a ceiling from discarded boats
                                   from nearby ports. Lenses
                                   from a local eyeglass factory
                                   decorate their walls.
                                       Wander around the Escuel-
                                   ita where D’Acosta’s recycled art
           Las Nubes Winery (Nubes   is found throughout- from the
        translates to clouds) is perched   bedsprings wall to the basket
        on a hillside, in the clouds,   top wall.
        overlooking the valley. They
        are known for their Nebbiolo,
        which is a rich and robust red
        wine. They also have beautiful
        Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and
        Granache. Enjoy their large
        patio while watching the world
        go by down below.                                         Drew Deckman’s En       trees. Fully open-air cooking
           Vineyards and olive trees                          El Mogor (In the vineyard)   there are usually 2-3 menu
        go together hand-in-hand.                             Restaurant is a multi-sensory   choices, however, if you say
        Dotted throughout the Valley                          experience with the kitchen   you want the fish, for example,
        you will notice the groves   Restaurants              grills open-air. Dining is out-  you will get sushi, sashimi, fish
        flourishing due to the perfect   Valle de Guadalupe boasts   doors amidst hay bales. Drew   head, fish steaks, and even the
        Mediterranean climate. Many   some of the finest restaurants   does not disappoint. Make sure  tail, if you desire. The menu
        wineries and bodegas offer   in Baja California. Some of   you reserve a space a couple of   changes with the catch of the
        their delicious house-pressed   Latin America’s finest chefs call  weeks in advance.  day. Sit back and watch the
        olive oil. The good thing is that   the Valle home. The majority
        there is no limit to the amount   of the restaurants are open-air
        of olive oil you can bring back   and focus on local cuisine.
        across the border. So make     Dona Esthela is a favor-
        sure you get enough, you will   ite restaurant of locals and
        not regret it.             tourists alike. Feel free to ride
                                   your horse up to the restau-
        Art                        rant and park it next to the
        The artistic energy in the   cars. Everyone who meets her
        Valle is palpable. Artists and   adores Esthela. She will make
        architects husband and wife   you typical Mexican food with
        team Alejandro D’Acosta and   homemade tortillas. Nothing
        Claudia Turrent are trailblaz-  fancy, just good!
        ers in architecture and the use   Local chef Javier Plas-
        of recycling they brought in   cencia comes from a family
        a huge dead tree that bursts   of restauranteurs and owns
        through the top of the winery   restaurants in San Diego,
        and it is what you are greeted   Tijuana and Valle de Gua-

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