By: Debbie Stock
When a TV news program in Los Angeles promised a scoop about the dangers to
tourists visiting Tijuana, Mexico, they assigned a reporter to search for
dirt, and she came up empty-handed. What her investigation revealed,
however, was a revolution brewing in this border town exceeding 1.5 million
people.
Over 64 million crossers pass through Tijuana
annually, more than any other border crossing point in the world. And on any
given day you can watch a constant parade of Americans heading south to
Tijuana on foot, in luxury cars, by bus or on flights into the city's
airport.
"We're accustomed to getting a bad rap," said Juan Saldaña, marketing
director for Tijuana Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Regardless of the
chatter, what's happening is nothing short of amazing," said the Tijuana
native who's watched his city grow at an incredible pace. The handsome man who might easily pass for the mayor of L.A. with his
well-spoken English, educated family (including a brother who's a cosmetic
surgeon) and involvement in politics, confides that even though Tijuana,
like Los Angeles, has shanty towns and encampments, your dollar (peso) goes
a lot farther south of the border.
Lower hotel prices, cheaper gas, premier weather identical to San Diego's
Mediterranean climate, affordable medical & dental care, pharmaceuticals,
quality gifts, goods and gourmet foods are a few of the reasons people cross
the border into Tijuana. And the best part is the location close to home
for residents of the Southwest, West Coast and especially, California.
Whether traveling to Tijuana for cosmetic surgery, a new crown for your
tooth, a golf trip, holiday shopping or gourmet dining, this coastal
destination lets you stretch your dollar. You can book a Five Diamond hotel room for
around $100, dine on a five-course meal from one
of the world's top 150 chefs for around $35, get a crown for your tooth for
around $300, and buy imported European perfumes no longer sold in the U.S.
Its most exciting revolution (and there are many) is not the famous Avenida
Revolucion where leather goods, stained glass and jewelry are sold along one
of the busiest shopping streets in the world. What's cooking across the
border is scandalously delicious. Chefs from around the globe want to be in
Tijuana, contributing to an exciting food culture that encourages talents to
shine in ways never imagined.
With less restrictive laws than the U.S. on
exotic menus and a culture that craves spice, top chefs pour into Tijuana
for the opportunity to test market their recipes and fusion menus to a
demographic that's most unusual. World travelers who know about this
phenomenon come to Baja California just to dine, but what sustains the
restaurants is the local buzz. Drawing upon residents and nearby tourists
from California, a top chef in Tijuana has the freedom to experiment in a
welcoming environment. With less scrutiny and overhead, the results are
"Wow!"
Leonardo DiCaprio can attest. The exquisite cuisine this Hollywood heart
throb sampled while acting in "Titanic" (filmed, in part, at Tijuana's Real
del Mar Resort) came from Martín San Román, one of the top chefs worldwide.
Choosing on-location filming because of the cuisine is not unusual for large
budget movies such as Titanic, which cost $200 million to produce. Five
Diamond Chef San Román has delighted countless celebrity guests and
dignitaries with cool pates, sizzling soups, artistic entrées and heavenly
desserts the restaurant is recognized for. Specializing in French-Mexican
cuisine in one of Tijuana's best view locations overlooking the Pacific
Ocean adjacent to the golf resort, Rincón San Román features colorful
presentations and ample surprises. Salads, soups, fresh fish, pasta, meats
and desserts that are flavorful and fun, are served on hand-painted plates
made especially for this casually-elegant restaurant. It's a fantastic spot
to launch a Mexico getaway. For me, it was the perfect way to end my
'Tijuana 101' crash course.
My getaway and studies began at the U.S. border city, San Ysidro, where I
parked my car in an affordable, secured lot and hopped aboard the bright,
red Mexicoach bus that departs the Visitors Center every half hour for
Tijuana. You can walk, drive across the border (Mexican auto insurance
highly recommended), or opt for a direct flight from Los Angeles
International Airport (LAX), on the new Delta Air Lines service into Tijuana
International Airport (TIJ). The flight takes approx. 55 minutes.