Cocina la Baja Is Back with 24,000 Tastes You’ll Love

If you thought Ensenada couldn’t get any tastier… think again. Cocina la Baja returns next weekend with 24,000 reasons to loosen your belt and hit the coast.

This isn’t just a food festival—it’s the seafood showdown of the year, mixing chefs, students, scientists, and shellfish in one big Baja-style feast. Set your reminders now: the flavor storm lands on Saturday, July 12 at Estero Beach, starting at 2:00 p.m.

Tacos, Tuna, and Talent

This isn’t your average fish taco party. We’re talking about a culinary lineup of fishermen, aquaculture producers, and top Baja chefs, all dishing out the best of what the sea has to offer. From oysters and clams to smoked marlin and bluefin tuna—you’ll need both hands, an appetite, and probably a nap after.

A panel of expert judges and festival-goers (yes, that includes you) will crown the most popular dish with the People’s Choice Award. So come hungry, come opinionated.

Students Face Off for Seafood Bragging Rights

Before the main event, things heat up on Friday, July 11, with the Reto Culinario—a student cooking challenge at UABC El Sauzal. Culinary students from all over Baja will battle it out with guidance from real producers, local chefs, and academics.

And yes, there’s a trophy: the Minerva Pérez Castro Award, honoring one of Baja’s loudest champions for seafood, sustainability, and future foodies.

It’s a Festival with a Message

Beyond the flavor, Cocina la Baja is about knowing your food—where it comes from, how it’s raised, and why it matters.

You’ll find booths from CONAPESCA, EDF México, Pronatura Noroeste, and even Baja Aquafarms, sharing cool facts about species like bluefin tuna and Baja’s underwater ecosystems. Expect hands-on exhibits for kids in the Mangrove Pavilion, live cooking demos, and lots of info you didn’t know you wanted.

Yes, it’s family-friendly. Yes, it’s ocean-friendly. Yes, there will be ceviche.

How to Get In

Tickets are still available on Eventbrite (https://cocinalabaja2025.eventbrite.com.mx), or swing by SEPESCA BC, La Q BajaMed, or UMAI Progressive Asian Food to grab yours in person. And heads up: this thing fills up fast.

So if your July plans don’t yet include standing on the beach with a cold drink and a plate of grilled octopus in your hand… you might want to fix that.

🟣 No Bad News. Just good seafood, good vibes, and the best bites in Baja.

Luisa Rosas-Hernández

Luisa Rosas-Hernández is a writer for the Gringo Gazette North, where she covers Baja’s wine scene, good eats, and public safety—with a healthy dose of wit and no bad news allowed. By day, she’s a health researcher recognized by Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI), and by night, she handles the Gazette’s finances and dabbles in social media—making sure the numbers add up and the posts pop. When she’s not chasing stories or crunching data, you’ll likely find her in the Valle enjoying a glass of red (or a crisp white with oysters)… for research purposes, of course.

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