Local cuisine takes over the LA based food fest LOS ANGELES.- The majestic Rose Bowl in LA had a little taste of Baja without crossing the border. For a second year in a row, organizers of the LA Street Food Fest showcased Baja California?s gastronomy in an event that is becoming a tradition for the LA audience. Last Saturday the thousands of people gathered at the culinary fest?s third yearly installment were able to taste a sample of what Baja California has to offer. From over a 100 food stands, the area where the south of the border booths were stood out for the public who showed their appreciation with long waiting lines and coming back to the Mexican stands more than once. This year the guests from Tijuana where Aquí es Texcoco, Mariscos El Mazateño, Tacos Kokopelli and Misión 19 by Chef Javier Plascencia while Ensenada was represented by Mariscos La Guerrerense who was later awarded as Best In Show. "It is a new experience, there is a lot of fusion; the chefs are making the most of what they have there, they are using new flavors and creating their own; it is a new gastronomy? stated San Diego resident, Beatriz Carlos who attended the festival with her friends. After tasting a bit of food from Baja California her interest in visiting the south of the border has increased. "I will definitely go to Baja to try more; this was an experience that elevated my thinking in terms of BajaMed cuisine?. The fact that an event from the United States set its eyes on Baja California is mostly thanks to writer from food blog Street Gourmet LA, Bill Esparza, who has dedicated a vast amount of his time to promote local culinary talent. "It is easy to say that this is the best part of the whole event? he commented regarding the BajaMed section in the Rose bowl. "This is the place to come and cook, LA is a great place for the Baja gastronomy, there?s a great chef community here, too? he added. But who ended up owning the Los Angeles? night was "La Guerrerense? the most famous seafood cart in Ensenada, operated by its owner, Sabina Banderas. Its great flavor and dish variety has earned the recognition of chefs all over the world including none other than Anthony Bourdain from the "No Reservations? TV show. In its latest season he highlighted the gastronomy of Baja California featuring Sabina?s food cart. "A lot of people tell me they go to my cart because they saw me with Anthony Bourdain? says the port lady who has received visitors from all over the world. For Banderas, the key of her success for over 40 years has been preparing her food with love and always providing a top-quality service to her extensive clientele. "That?s how it should be, smiling, being kind to people, the attention, cleanliness and making everything with love? she said. The ones who are shaping up to be Baja?s next gastronomic corner are the young folks of Tacos Kokopelli, a venue that in only six months has conquered Tijuana?s palates and has everybody talking about them. With novel recipes and unique flavors, the taco stand that takes its name from the god of fertility got an excellent response from the LA audience. "Baja California has always been very beautiful, here we feature a little of what we take from the sea. Our recipes are an interpretation of the love for our land; it?s great that people are taking an interest in Baja California? declared Tacos Kokopelli?s "Oso?. His promising culinary talent did not go unnoticed by food critic Bill Esparza who sees them as the new generation of Chefs in Tijuana. "Tacos Kokopelli is what I believe Tijuana should do next, they?re young chefs, their tacos are flashy and interesting and playful; I think that?s what the culinary students in Baja should be doing? said Esparza "I?d like to see 20 places like this in Tijuana?. If tacos are the subject, the border?s south has another strong contender that for 10 years has made its visitors fall in love with its symbolic dish, the "Camarón Enchilado? (spicy shrimp). Felipe Ferrares of Mariscos El Mazateño, located in the west of Tijuana, recognized that, little by little, the city is becoming an important gastronomic location and, he thinks, this is just the beginning. "People come a lot to Tijuana for its food, there?s food that is very representative of the region and that is being promoted now?. El Mazateño also took home an award from the judges of the LA Street Food Fest receiving an Honorary Mention precisely for their spicy shrimp taco. Javier Plascencia, who back in 2011 was awarded as "Best in Show? emphasized that the gastronomic boom the city is living reflects in the number of visitors the area?s restaurants get. "We have a lot of people from the United States coming south just to eat, we have an important gastronomic tourism industry, we are very proud to be achieving that? expressed the famous Chef from Tijuana. In the same vein he invited the community of Baja California to know a little bit more about this culinary movement that, even if it?s setting the bases for an improved image of Baja California, it should also be something for the local community to be proud about. "We need the own people of Baja California to wake up and see everything that is happening; our number one fans are people from the United States but we need the locals to speak about it, too; we need to go out and eat at our restaurants, to know our own products and all of what we have here?. "With all of this movement and good news Tijuana is producing, people want us to be a part of their festivals; if we could this could be a lot bigger, we are a larger movement now, people want to see more and try more?. Text: Alexandra.Mendoza@sandiegored.com Video:Micaela.Arroyo@sandiegored.com Traducción: Karen.Balderas@sandiegored.com