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Los Cabos: Where Farm is Home,
and Food is Wellness
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Many of Mexico’s foremost destinations can claim an incredible culinary legacy - one shaped by the preferences, flavours, and agricultural practices of its indigenous people. On the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, in beautiful Los Cabos, these traditions blend with startling creativity and a passion for innovation and global flavours. Yet, if the chefs of Los Cabos are known for one thing and one thing only, it is their insistence on delivering the very best farm-to-table dining experience. The destination’s artisans make the most out of the fertile soil of their home, following a philosophy that prizes fresh, locally-sourced ingredients harvested sustainably. Visitors can taste the difference, and feel it as well: nothing rouses the body and stirs the soul like a mouthwatering meal prepared with the organic bounty of Los Cabos’ farms.
With Los Cabos now in the midst of its “Year of Wellness”, it can be easy to get caught up in the dramatic desert landscapes, the endlessly surfable beaches, and the many luxurious spas - the more traditional varieties of wellness. However, as anyone who has ever been ‘hangry’ knows, enjoying good food is a crucial foundation of wellness - an innately satisfying experience that connects us with the origins of the meal, the people who create it, and the people we share it with. In this respect, Los Cabos might just be among the finest destinations to find wellness through food. The twin cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo can both claim world-class chefs and award-winning mixologists. In Los Cabos, in the verdant places between where the Sea of Cortez meets cacti-strewn deserts, a certain culinary magic happens - the kind that satisfies not only one’s appetite but something deeper.
With the farm-to-table philosophy so deeply ingrained in the DNA of the destination, the travelling foodie will be spoiled for choice. Below, we explore three of the best places to taste the fresh, organic cuisine of Los Cabos for yourself.
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Photo courtesy of Los Tamarindos | |
Los Tamarindos
As the famed author/conservationist Aldo Leopold once said, "Land is not merely soil, it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants, and animals." One certainly feels the resonance of that statement when dining at Los Tamarindos: a rustic, functional farm near The Sea of Cortez that wields the full bounty of the earth in service of making incredible dishes. Specializing in organic ingredients, Los Tamarindos manages the impressive feat of pushing the envelope of culinary innovation within the familiar - and delicious - trappings of classic Mexican cuisine. Owner and executive chef Enrique Silva’s cooking philosophy is a direct product of his own upbringing. Growing up in a family of 10, Silva quickly observed the pure joy his mother found in cooking and sharing a healthy, fresh meal with his siblings. Silva's desire to use food as a vehicle to celebrate the culture and togetherness of Los Cabos ultimately informed the spirit of Los Tamarindos, a welcoming and inclusive dining experience that champions sustainable farming in Los Cabos and the importance of sharing meals together.
Of course, the true charm of Los Tamarindos lies in the fact that it is more than just a restaurant. Guests can walk with Silva throughout the 17-acre fields, picking fresh ingredients for the homemade hummus and vegetable crudité to be used later in guided cooking classes. Those seeking to get the most authentic farm experience can opt to stay overnight in one of Los Tamarindos’ farm-side bungalows. The farm’s striking kitchen terrace, rendered in stone, is an incredible venue to try the four-course tasting menu or work on a few dishes of your own. Thyme-roasted quail, free-range chicken, and lobster dripping in mezcal butter, ginger, lemon tea, and garlic are three particular favourites enjoyed by…well, just about everyone at this one-of-a-kind eatery.
|  | Photo courtesy AcreResort.com | |
Acre
Hidden within the lush foothills of San Jose Del Cabo, the flavour-seeking foodie will find Acre: a remarkable resort that transports guests into 25 acres of verdant private jungle. With respect to accommodations, what sets Acre apart is no mystery: it's the many treehouses that rise above the palms and overlook the orchards, gardens, flowers, and pools of the grounds. These unique properties are simply stunning: taking in the brilliant sunrise from the breezy balcony of an upscale treehouse is a soul-soothing experience impossible to replicate nearly anywhere else. Acre’s wholehearted embrace of all things natural and beautiful extends into its cuisine as well, seamlessly mixing local ingredients with global influences. Its dining spaces - wrought from wood and stone - make the fullest use of the resort’s landscape, offering indoor comforts within the heart of the outdoors. The award-winning cocktail program at Acre draws upon that same pedigree, where the compositions are elevated by the exclusive use of fresh produce sourced from Acre’s very own farm.
For food, please your palate with flavourful favourites like oxtail tamal, soft shell crab tacos, and fish a la talla, soaked in Molcajete sauce for a signature Mexican taste. With locally caught fish and fresh vegetables playing a starring role in almost every dish, Acre is the essence of Los Cabos put on a plate - and served within the tranquil center of one of the Baja Pensinula’s most expansive green spaces.
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Flora Farms
If you’re travelling with a larger group - or simply want to turn your foodie getaway into something even more comprehensive - Flora Farms should be your farm-to-table destination of choice. Tucked in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, this sprawling property defies simple description, incorporating a restaurant, accommodations, a field kitchen, shops, a grocery, and a spa into 25 acres of swaying palms. Whatever you choose to do at Flora Farms, you’ll find wellness writ in the DNA of this unbelievable spot. Take a tour of the grounds and get an up-close demonstration of how the farm’s produce is pickled, preserved, and roasted. Adults can drop the kids off at a tortilla-making class or a watercolour workshop before heading over to the spa for some firsthand exposure to the healing properties of the Baja Pensinula’s native plants and Flora’s signature aromatherapy. Take a cooking class, find a spot for a little sunset yoga, or pull up a chair at the Farm Bair and try a full range of vegetable-infused craft cocktails against the majestic background of the mountains.
Flora’s massive field kitchen is where one can taste the virtues of using only farm-fresh ingredients. Originally a mainstay in San Jose Del Cabo, the restaurant moved when the owner decided to merge the eatery with its supplying farm. Now, the field kitchen is a showcase for the bounty of the Baja Peninsula. All items on the seasonal menu come from either the fields or the nearby 150-acre ranch, where the animals are humanely raised on natural diets. Notably, the restaurant does not serve beef - as raising cattle is intensive both on the land and the supply of fresh water.
With a widespread passion for locally sourced, organic ingredients and an admirable awareness of the environmental impacts and carbon footprint of food production, Los Cabos inspires visitors to think about food differently. Each dish in Los Cabos has a story: one that begins with sustainable farming practices and ends with loving preparation from a passionate chef. When indulging in the fresh, dynamic flavours of Los Cabos, one can instinctively appreciate this philosophy, as it makes an unmistakable difference in taste. Make time to experience the farm-to-table movement in Los Cabos for yourself the next time you’re on the Peninsula. You can learn more about the cuisine of the destination at https://www.visitloscabos.travel/restaurants/farm-to-table/.
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About Los Cabos
Los Cabos, located at the tip of the 1,000 mile-long Baja Peninsula, is one of the world's most diverse tourism destinations. Boasting a dramatic desert backdrop nestled by coastlines of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez, Los Cabos is home to award-winning resorts and culinary offerings considered some of the finest available anywhere? A growing list of championship golf courses, rejuvenating spas and world-renowned sport fishing tournaments add to the destination's unmatched appeal. For more information, images and videos from Los Cabos, please visit visitloscabos.travel, follow us on Twitter @LOSCABOSTOURISM and visit us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
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