Pati's Mexican Table

One of the most up and coming food destinations in all of Mexico, Tijuana is full of young, fresh talent across the culinary scene. Some of the best chefs in the world are coming from all over and setting up shop to take part in Baja's most exciting culinary movement.

Life on the border is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines that creates a unique culinary scene like no other. As a Mexican immigrant who lives in America, Pati spent her life combining cuisines, and she will explore how this fusion of cultures affects the food in Tijuana.

The port town of Ensenada is a seafood mecca. Fresh fish is everywhere you look, and this hub for seafood exportation is also the gateway to Mexican wine country. Pati eats her way through this coastal gem from their famous fish tacos to La Guerrenese, considered the best street food on the planet, to the oldest bar in Baja and originator of the margarita, Hussongs.

While in Valle De Guadalupe, Pati visits one of the most legendary cooks in the area, Doña Esthela, who makes the best breakfast as far as the eye can see. Doña Esthela began with just a humble burrito stand outside of her home, and by word of mouth, her restaurant eventually gained a reputation for one of the tastiest breakfasts in the world.

Pati samples wine varietals and eats a top-notch meal at Bruma with Chef David Castro Hussong. Then, she catches up with old friends at Monte Xanic winery, one of the Valle's oldest wineries and the first Baja winery to commit itself to artisanal winemaking. Pati learns the entire history of the region and what caused it to explode in popularity.

One of Baja's most well kept secrets has Pati on a mission to explore this town bite-by-bite. Loreto is a small town on the Gulf of California with big excitement and a rich history. Loreto, a hidden gem, almost feels like a step back in time. Home to the oldest Mision in Baja California, Pati visits Mision de Nuestra Senora de Loreto to learn about Loreto's history.

Pati will explore the beauty and wonder of La Paz, the capital of Baja Sur. This breathtaking Baja destination has drawn her to visit its waters, and below the surface, the Sea of Cortez is filled with some of the most unbelievable sea life in the world. Pati swims with whale sharks in the crystal clear waters.

Pati spends a day with Javier Plascencia, one of Baja's most celebrated chefs. He gives her a tour of the Baja he knows and loves, exploring the areas of Todos Santos and Pescadero. They make a pit stop at his favorite roadside carnitas stand, tour a local organic farm, and head to the beach for fresh-off-the-boat fish. Finally, they make their way to Javier's newest restaurant, Jazamango.

Pati spends the entire day with Edith Jimenez, a culinary institution of Los Cabos. At age 15, starting out as a waitress, Edith decided she would one day own the restaurant where she worked and is now living her dream, owning both Edith's Restaurant and The Office, a Cabo staple.

Pati sets out on the Sea of Cortez in search of the freshest, tastiest seafood Los Cabos has to offer. Along with Chef Guillermo Gomez of Cabo's luxurious Esperanza hotel, Pati reels in a fresh catch and heads back to the shore. Pati grills up her catch-of-the-day beachside with Chef Guillermo, as they discuss the evolution of Cabo San Lucas from small fishing village to vacation destination.

Pati is invited to cook a Cinco de Mayo dinner at the prestigious James Beard House in New York. While in New York, she visits three Mexican-American culinary establishments around the city to hear the chefs' stories of using food as a way of pursuing their dreams in America, creating their own successful businesses, and honoring traditional Mexican recipes and ingredients.

Friends and family always tell Pati she has an extraordinary photographic food memory. She can recall a bite of a memorable dish from decades ago as if it were just yesterday. So, Pati decides to recreate some of her most favorite food memories in her own kitchen and give the stories behind the dishes.

Pati's passion for travel doesn't stop in Mexico, she also has a soft spot for her American travels. Plus, Pati is always feeding her three growing Mexican-American boys. In addition to adoring their mom's Mexican dishes, her sons love some American classics. So, Pati will put her Mexican spin on a few regional American dishes to surprise her boys.