People have discovered the authentic dishes of Aqui es Texcoco, and probably even shared them with friends and family. Well, the little stand in Tijuana that started it all, and opened branches from San Diego to Los Angeles, is actually known by many celebrities in the world of food.
Andrew Zimmern
Journalist, author, TV personality, restaurateur, and (above all else) chef, Zimmern is known the world over. His travels have taken him to all places on the culinary globe, allowing him to experience food and share culture. Zimmern has also won much acclaim for his television shows, including Bizarre Foods. “I’ve visited 40 countries that cook lamb. I’ve never have seen something so perfect. Paco engineers delicious food using simple favors, this is genius…” Zimmern say on the show featuring the restaurant. Andrew first visited us with Bill Esparza on February 11, 2012.
Danielle Bennett “Diva Q” Dimovski
In the world of competitive BBQ, Diva Q is highly-ranked. She travels North America in search of the best examples of barbecue and showcases them on her television program, BBQ Crawl. Diva Q can be seen in a variety of places ranging from print (the Toronto Sun) to radio (Canada AM) to TV (Travel Channel US). The restaurant is going to be featured in BBQ Crawl on Summer 2015. Danielle stopped by the fire pit in Chula Vista and the restaurant on October 25, 2014.
Carlos Gaytán
Executive Chef and Owner of Mexique in Chicago, Gaytán combines his knowledge of French cooking and traditional Mexican cuisine. The result is a revolution in Mexican gastronomy. He earned his first Michelin star in 2013 and was awarded “Chef of the Year 2011” by the American Culinary Federation. “Every single items of this food reminds me of my childhood. These ingredients are so simple, yet delicious!” Gaytan said. Carlos first visited Aqui es Texcoco in San Diego on December 7, 2014.
Marcela Valladolid
As a Mexican food ambassador, Valladolid is perhaps best known for her Food Network series Mexican Made Easy and The Kitchen. She is also the author of the cookbook Fresh Mexico: 100 Simple Recipes for True Mexican Flavor. Valladolid graduated from the Los Angeles Culinary Institute and Ritz Escoffier Cooking School. Marcela first visited the San Diego restaurant and was interviewed about it on September 28, 2011.
Rafael Ramos
Rafael “Rafa” Ramos is a sports columnist of ESPN Deportes and television host of Raza Deportiva on ESPN Deportes Radio. He has covered six different Word Cups for a variety of media. Along with David Faitelson, Rafael first visited the Los Angeles Aqui es Texcoco on August 16, 2014.
Read about more celebrities that have visited us in Part II of our series.