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Viva Baja: The Region's Top Chefs Come to L.A. to Cook at Playa
Cocolata clams in Baja California Sur (Photo by Krista Simmons/LAist)
You may not have the funds (or the vacation days) to get your behind down to Baja, but there's always a way to experience a culinary adventure here in L.A. Starting Sunday, September 16, John Sedlar will be inviting three of Baja's best chefs to create unique a la carte dishes in conjunction with his new rooftop garden-inspired menu.
Each guest chef will host three nights in this three-week series with their menu, and of course there will be collaborative cocktails mixed up by Executive Bar Director, Julian Cox, including the release of Playa's new Baja Punch.
Sabina Banderas of La Guerense, who was awarded LA Street Food Fest's "Best in Show" by judges Jennifer Sommer (Food & WIne), Jonathan Gold (L.A. Times) and Simon Majumdar (Iron Chef America), will cook the first three nights. She is most well known for her popular seafood stand in the Sea of Cortez, where she prepares with unique tostadas of sea urchin, sea cucumber, and sea snail with one-of-a-kind salsas, nuts, and handmade pastes.
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Another Street Food Fest alum, Benito Molina, will be bringing his unique fusion of Baja ingredients and flavors with an urban twist that comes from his roots, which are grounded in his Mexico City.
Chef Guillermo "Oso" Campos Moreno will be third on deck, doing dishes like halibut ceviche with sour cactus fruit and queso panela with oja santa, tomatillo sauce, and chapulines.
It sounds like a rockstar line-up, one that Javier Plascencia -- who is currently leading the charge to identify and promote Baja regional cuisine -- would be proud of.
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This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
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