Articles

And Yes, I Got to Taste the Tuna

Get ready, flavor fanatics—Cocina la Baja 2025 is gearing up for another round of seafood bliss this July 12 at Estero Beach in Ensenada, and let me tell you, this is no ordinary festival. I sat in on the press conference, and not only did they give us the full scoop—they fed us, too. Baja’s very own Bluefina served up samples of their signature bluefin tuna, carved on the spot. Think buttery, rich, fresh-off-the-boat perfection.

The event, organized by SEPESCA BC and led by Alma Rosa García Juárez, is more than just food—it’s a full-on celebration of the people who bring Baja’s marine bounty to our plates: fishermen, aquaculture pros, and creative chefs from across the state.

This year, 45 duos of producers and chefs will whip up original seafood dishes featuring everything from abalone and sardines to curvina, mussels, seaweed, and that glorious bluefin. Each team is cooking 500 tastings, which means over 22,000 bites for the expected 1,500+ guests. Bring your appetite, folks.

And yes, there will be plenty to see too—live cooking shows, oyster-shucking contests, and a VR tuna pen experience by Baja Aqua Farms. Kids get their own science and conservation zone, and grown-ups can learn a thing or two about sustainable fishing practices.

Chef Carlos Gaytán—Mexico’s first Michelin-starred chef—is in. So is Popotla’s beloved traditional cook Lorena López. The Minerva Pérez Castro Culinary Challenge also returns, with culinary students from top Baja schools battling it out on July 11 at UABC El Sauzal.

Tickets are 950 pesos, and you can snag them online at Eventbrite (https://cocinalabaja2025.eventbrite.com.mx) or at select restaurants in Mexicali, Tijuana, and Ensenada.

Don’t sleep on this one. I already had a taste—and trust me, it’s worth every bite.

Waves Don’t Forget: Surfers Honored One Year After Tragedy in Ensenada

Exactly one year after tragedy hit the surf community near La Bocana, Ensenada—friends, locals, and fellow wave-chasers gathered to remember Callum and Jake Robinson, two Australian brothers, and Carter Rhoad, their American companion.

They weren’t just surfers. They were sons, friends, explorers—and now, symbols of a community’s heartbreak and resilience.

A Memorial Where the Waves Still Break

On Tuesday, May 28, the community unveiled a memorial site near Punta San José, just south of Santo Tomás. The gesture was simple, but powerful: three surfboards standing tall—one for each life lost—and a plaque with their names etched in the wind.

Attendees included locals, international surfers, and even Australian Ambassador to Mexico Rachel Moseley, who joined the tribute with a few quiet words and many long gazes toward the horizon.

There were no speeches trying to make sense of it. Just flowers, surf wax, tears, and a few brave smiles.

What Happened?

In case you missed last year’s headlines: the three surfers went missing in late April 2024 during a surf trip along Baja’s rugged coast. Their bodies were later found in a remote area, sparking outrage, international headlines, and soul-searching in Baja’s outdoor tourism circles.

The suspects were caught. But justice can’t fix grief.

What remains is this: a community that refuses to forget.

Not Just a Surf Story

This isn’t just about surfers. It’s about travelers and dreamers, the ones who find joy off the grid and expect the basics—respect, safety, and humanity. The memorial is a quiet but permanent reminder that what happened here matters. And that we owe it to each other to protect more than waves.

A Moment, Not a Headline

No protests. No press circus. Just footprints in the sand and boards facing west.

Because sometimes, the loudest messages are the ones carved into silence.

📍 Memorial at Punta San José, unveiled May 28, 2025

📷 Photos by Patricia Lafarga

🌊 Read more about how Baja’s surf community is working https://ggnorth.com/2025/05/waves-of-love-kids-with-disabilities-ride-in-rosarito/

Well, that’s one way to cross the border.

On Monday afternoon, May 26, 2025, the San Ysidro Port of Entry became the stage for a rare—and tense—cross-border chase.

A man driving through the Mexican side was reportedly intercepted by members of Mexico’s National Guard. Things escalated quickly. Guns were drawn. A physical scuffle broke out. And just when it looked like the man would be detained—he hit the gas and drove straight into U.S. territory.

Once across the line, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents took over. They ordered him to the ground and quickly placed him in custody.

But the scene didn’t stop there. In the heat of the moment, a Mexican National Guard officer also crossed the border, weapon in hand. U.S. agents wasted no time instructing him to return to the Mexican side, which he did—without further conflict.

The chaos led to a temporary shutdown of vehicle lanes at the port, frustrating crossers and sending social media into overdrive.

So… Why Was He Being Chased?

Good question. As of now, no official explanation has been given by Mexican authorities about what triggered the attempted arrest. No details about the man’s identity, charges, or legal status in the U.S. have been released either.

But the images—viral videos, armed confrontations, a man lying on U.S. pavement—have reignited debates about border jurisdiction, cooperation, and just how chaotic the world’s busiest land crossing can get.

🔗 Watch the video on Facebook

Because when the border blurs—everyone stops and watches.

This Saturday, skip the malls, ditch the couch, and head straight to where Baja creativity takes over the streets. Art Walk Rosarito is back—and it’s not just an event, it’s a full-body cultural experience.

Picture this: coastal breezes, bold colors, spontaneous music, and walls that breathe imagination. This isn’t just a walk—it’s a journey through local identity, talent, and raw creative joy.

Hosted by Benito del Águila and the Rosarito art scene, this is your chance to see what happens when artists, chefs, performers, and dreamers take over the city for a day.

In addition to the visual spectacle, visitors can enjoy live performances, poetry readings, and an enigmatic gastronomic area.

And yes, we said enigmatic. Will it be tacos? A churro? Something wrapped in banana leaves… or just bacon? Only one way to find out.

This is your invitation to support art that lives, breathes, and speaks Baja.

🖼️ Support local artists.

🎭 Taste something unexpected.

📍 Rosarito’s Art District

🕛 All day Saturday

👉 Benito’s full lineup here: Benito’s Big Weekend – Art Walk Rosarito

Because sometimes the best galleries don’t have walls. They have life.

His Wife? $1.7 Billion.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your credit card bill, just imagine owing $250 million dollars. Now imagine your spouse owes $1.7 billion more. That’s not a typo. That’s the real, court-ordered debt now tied to Genaro García Luna, former Mexican security czar, and his wife Linda Cristina Pereira.

The sentence came down in a Florida civil court, not as a couple, but as two individually corrupt players. Apparently, crime doesn’t just pay—it pays so much, you can lose track of a billion or two.

According to Pablo Gómez, chief of Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (known by its Spanish acronym, UIF), this power duo didn’t just steal from the people—they cleaned it through the U.S. and somehow sent it back to Mexico. The details remain vague, but the consequences are loud and clear.

At today’s morning press conference (yep, Friday, May 23, 2025), officials confirmed the ruling. And for once, the math doesn’t lie: theft at this scale finally comes with a receipt.

Of course, some say this is political theater, sparked by the 2018 power shift. But others note that even within Morena, not everything is squeaky clean. Just take a look at our recent report on visa revocations among top Mexican politicians.

Still, for today, justice made a little noise—and it came with a dollar sign.

The criminal trial in Mexico is still pending, with multiple arrest warrants open and active investigations underway. So while Florida handled the civil side, Mexico’s own courts are warming up.

Whether this marks real change or just a PR win, one thing is clear:

corruption isn’t hiding as well as it used to.

Not all thieves wear ski masks. Some wear suits, hand out contracts, and smile for the camera—until the system finally snaps back.