When I was planning our end-of-the-year wine tasting trip to Baja, Mexico, I posted a picture on my Facebook page saying we’re off to Mexico for a little R&R. I didn’t know what the actual photo was but it was a stock photo and said Mexico on it. Fast forward a couple of weeks to the actual trip and while we were winetasting at Las Nubes on the western hillside of the valley, the wine stewardess recommended that we have lunch at Corazon de Tierra.
“Sounds good,” my husband Marc said. “Where is it?”
After finishing our wine and getting directions we headed back into the main valley and followed the signs to the restaurant. Imagining we were going to have some tacos or another typical Mexican meal, we bumped along the dirt road wondering where the heck we were going and if we should just turn around.
“Good thing we brought the truck,” I mentioned to my husband as my head hit the roof of the truck after a particularly large pot hole. “The off-road Prius would struggle going on this road.” (Our nickname for our Prius that has gone places many people think it couldn’t, or shouldn’t go.)
Road to the restaurant
Finally we rounded the last curve, instead of finding a taco stand, we came across a medium-sized Tuscan villa, a green garden and a modern, casually elegant building with large pillars of weathered wood, metal and a repurposed stone walkway leading to a giant glass pivoting door.
Garden with villa in background.
Entrance to Corazon de Tierra Restaurant
The sign said:
Huh?
We opened the large door and walked into an empty restaurant and thought they must be closed for lunch. We were greeted by a young man.
“Two for lunch.”
“Uno momento” and went to check with the boss. The head waiter entered and beckoned us to a table.
“Have you ever eaten here before?” he asked.
“No.”
“Do you have 2 1/2 hours?”
After some hesitation, we nodded and quickly gave up our winetasting plans for the rest of the day.
“The price is $68USD a person and there is no menu. It’s up to the chef’s discression.”
Wow, this is not going to be your typical Mexican carne asada burrito with beans and rice, I thought.
My husband smiled and nodded, his eyes twinkling.
“Do you have any allergies?”
Let the games begin!
“This is like the French Laundry,” my husband leaned across the table and told me. “This is exactly what they ask you when you arrive at their restaurant.”
As we anticipated our meal, I noticed that the restaurant was made out of recycled materials and each chair had beautiful tapestry coverings. There were two floor-to-ceiling windows on rollers that could be opened on warm days and the dining would instantly become al fresco. The kitchen was at one end of the room and we could watch the team of chefs preparing our next courses.
Lovely view of the restaurant
Beautiful Oaxaca tapestry chairs.
Large community table
Out came an Amuse Bouche of smoked sea urchin and caviar roe on a toasted tortilla strip.
For the next 2 1/2hours we were totally delighted and sated with our 8-course meal. We felt we won the lottery with this restaurant.
Oysters with kale and housemade bacon.
Garden fresh salad with a smear.
Smoked beef tartare
Round tamale with pork belly and toasted parsnips garnish.
Local yellow tail, fresh kale and a white pepper emulsion.
Course five or six we were thinking about throwing in the towel, but how do you say no to such deliciousness.
Marc feeling full and sated after about the 5th or 6th course.
Partridge with epazote paste, micro greens and garden-fresh mini-veggies
Dessert of sesame and radish ice cream on a bed of ginger cookies, with a cilantro topping and toasted seaweed crisp.
Later when I read about this restaurant the review said to keep trying to get into the restaurant if you get in the first time. That it was fully worth the persistence to get a meal there.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that this restaurant was the photo in my Facebook post. I call that synchronicity!
Kitchen
Chef in the garden getting greens for the next courses.
