L’Escargot Bistrot

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Chef Ryan Steyn's L'Escargot Bistro in Tijuana

Very few of you may know about my passion for French cuisine and culture. That passion is actually what first sparked my interest into the world of gastronomy, and my French cookbooks were my first friends in the kitchen. Well..that’s enough about me. Let’s talk a little bit about Chef Ryan Steyn and his wife who opened L’Escargot Bistrot just about a year ago. They will actually celebrate their doors being open for a year on July 18th. South Africa is where Chef Ryan Steyn was born and raised, as well as where he met his wife. She is a Sommelier with an incredible passion for French food. He moved to Tijuana just three years ago, and they embarked on their journey together of what is now known has this quaint restaurant.

As soon as I stepped foot into the garden of L’Escargot Bistrot I felt as if I was transported into my own world and French dining experience. The warm summer evening could not have been a better excuse to enjoy dining al fresco. As the sun began to set, there were lit lanterns that filled the garden with a romantic light.

A basket full of fresh bread that was baked in their wood fired oven, was accompanied by an absolutely gorgeous cheese plate. Food really is art, and there are so many ways to embrace its natural beauty. The three cheeses that made up this cheese board were Brie, Goat Cheese covered in ashes, and a wedge of Roquefort. The bread has a wonderful crunch on the outside, with a pillow like soft interior. Brie is usually one way to my heart, but in this case the Goat Cheese came out as my favorite of the three.

Following that were Escargots in a red wine sauce that surrounded bone marrow. Escargots and bone marrow on the same plate? Hello lovely! If you have never tried snails, please put L’Escargot Bistrot on your restaurant list and come and taste these. It’s all part of the fun grabbing the shell with the tongs, and getting every bit of sauce possible with the meat of the snail.

Chef Ryan Steyn's L'Escargot Bistro in Tijuana
For those of you in California that need a Foie fix, head on down to Tijuana. I have always enjoyed Foie Gras, and growing up I always remembered my dad ordering it any time that it was offered on the menu. Take a piece of the crunchy toast, then slather on the apple marmalade, and top that with a bit of the buttery Foie Gras. That my friends is what it is all about. The flavors, and textures will knock your socks off.
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Valle de Guadalupe: Baja California’s Enchanting Wine Country

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Being in El Valle de Guadalupe there is always this feeling of serenity that I can not get enough of. On our most recent trip we were celebrating Father’s day. We rarely ever have a plan or set agenda, it’s more like we make the drive down there and see where we end up. With our stomachs doing the talking, you never know what we will be in the mood for. This time around our first stop was at a little road side stand bearing a sign that said “Barbacoa”. So you may have guessed it, we stopped for of course barbacoa, as well as tacos de lengua. The smell of the lamb meat was just intoxicating. It is honestly the random food stops that have such simplicity and quality, that make me love food just that much more. You might now think that it is possible, but it is all about the world of exploration.
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Festival de la Ensalada Caesar

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Festival de la ensalada Caesar in Tijuana

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon spent celebrating Tijuana’s own Caesar salad. Avenida Revolución was beaming with the aromas of charcoal grills, and various food options. With music playing in the background, and the street flooded with people, walking around with a plate piled high of Paella and Caesar salad was the perfect way to spend the day. Of course you couldn’t resist washing it all down with an ice cold beer or glass of wine. These are the events that truly make you appreciate the city of Tijuana for its beauty, gastronomy, and people.
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Cataviña – Cocina del Mundo

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Cataviña in Tijuana, BC

A newer addition to the ever changing gastronomic scene in Tijuana is Cataviña restaurant. Zaira and her staff opened up their doors just nine months ago in the Zona Rio area. Cataviña restaurant has a beautiful facade, with both brick and modern accents. You have the option to dine inside, or on their outdoor patio area. The patio area has fresh herbs growing on the outer perimeter, which is not only great to look at, but there are wonderful aromas as well. It is ideal for the upcoming warm days and nights, but it is also equipped with heat lamps, for when it begins to cool down. The interiors of this quaint restaurant are warm and inviting, and the ambiance is just lovely. There are jazzy tunes playing in the background, that are still at a low enough volume to enjoy conversation with friends or family.

Cataviña in Tijuana, BC

Zaira presented us with a little taste of what their menu has to offer. This was a wonderful way to get a little preview of the various options. The meal started off with the ideal refreshing course. A mixed ceviche of octopus, sea snail, both cooked and raw shrimp, and scallops that is presented in a green crunchy tortilla cup. This was one of my favorites of the day. Each bite is full of acidity, fresh seafood, and a bit of heat from the Chiltepin chile. I love the idea of the tortilla cup, the bottom is full of the remaining juices, so you won’t miss a drop.

Cataviña in Tijuana, BC

The next course was a delicate carpaccio of scallops on thin slices of persian cucumber. The simplicity of this dish is what really caught my eye. There was so much flavor in each bite, I could have easily had a plate of this to myself.

Cataviña in Tijuana, BC

The third course were Tacos de Pargo (Red Snapper). The nuggets of Pargo were coated in delicious asian flavors. It was served with their own house made fresh corn tortillas, and creamy avocado. This was the first time that I have experienced a taco with this flair of flavors, and I will be going back for more. The fish is absolutely divine on its own, but then creating your own taco with it, is just an added bonus.
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Horno 320

Horno 320 in Playas de Tijuana

The smell of the salty air, and view of the Pacific ocean never gets old. During the summer, being able to enjoy a meal outside is one of my favorite things. To be completely honest with you, we don’t make it to the beach, nearly as often as I would like to. The weather has been gorgeous lately, and what better opportunity, then being able to enjoy some time with family and friends over a wood fired pizza and glass of cold beer.

Horno 320 is located in Playas de Tijuana. It is a bit tucked away, if you aren’t familiar with the area, but plenty of the locals know where it is if you have any questions. As soon as we grabbed a seat outside, the place filled up with people within 20 minutes. There is just an overall great vibe at Horno 320. This is a place, that I could see us spending summer afternoons at, just eating, talking, and enjoying the view.

This isn’t your typical pizza place. To start off, they don’t even have a menu. They offer one size of pizza, that you can choose as many, or as little toppings as you would like. The base price of the pizza is 50 pesos (About $3.60), and won’t cost more than 80 pesos (About $5.70). They have everything from octopus to chorizo, and of course vegetables. We decided to order our pie with octopus, shrimp, and mixed vegetables. To wash it all down, they have an availability of craft beer that varies, as well sodas, wine, and more mainstream beers.

I am a huge fan of white pizzas, those without any red sauce. Of course I will eat pizzas with red sauce, but sometimes I feel that it overpowers the rest of the ingredients. The crust on the pizza is thin, but holds up to the hearty ingredients, and cheese. Many might assume that the seafood may come out a bit rubbery, because often times it doesn’t take much to over cook it. Both the octopus and shrimp had the perfect texture, and were full of their natural flavors. We will be returning, to try their other ingredients offered, as well as their different craft beers.

If you are looking for a lovely view, and creating your own pizza masterpiece, Horno 320 is your place.
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VIDEO: Tijuana Progressive Meal

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Is this making you hungry? Last June 2nd we collaborated with Turista Libre for a Progressive Meal around Tijuana. Tortas del Wash, Tacos, Tostilocos and to wash it all down a taste of locally brewed Zesde Beer. Thank you to all who came, and shared this wonderful experience. Stay tuned for the second edition. Tijuana Makes Me Hungry!
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Tijuana Progressive Meal with Turista Libre Sat. June 2

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Tijuana Progressive Meal with Turista Libre

This Saturday June 2nd, we will be teaming up with Turista Libre for a Progressive Meal tour around Tijuana. Come ready with an empty stomach, and prepare to dive into tacos, tortas, and even some tostilocos! As our final stop, Zesde Cerveceria will be providing a beer flight tasting at Don Loope to wash it all down. One of the beers on the menu is a Strawberry aged ale, that was made exclusively for Tursita Libre. Is your mouth watering yet?

For ticket information click here. Check out the Facebook Event Page here.