Javier Plascencia facts for kids

Javier Plascencia is a famous chef from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Many people consider him the most well-known chef in the city. He is especially famous for helping to create a new style of cooking called Baja Med cuisine.

What is Baja Med Cuisine?

In 2011, Chef Plascencia talked to the New York Times. He said his restaurant, Misión 19, aimed to make Tijuana's food scene exciting again. He also wanted to help the city itself grow.

He called his cooking 'Baja Mediterranean' or 'Baja Med'. This style mixes fresh ingredients from the Baja California region. It also uses ideas from Mediterranean cooking.

Imagine dishes like duck with licorice and guava dust. Another example is risotto with cactus and grilled octopus. He also makes slow-cooked short ribs with fig syrup and mole sauce. These dishes show how he blends different flavors.

Javier's Early Life

Javier Plascencia grew up with parents who worked very hard. His father was Juan José Plascencia, also known as Don Tana. Javier started learning about cooking when he was a child. He worked in his family's restaurants with his brothers, Juan Jose, Margu, and Julián.

Their family owned restaurants like Giuseppis, Caesar's, and Saverios. Caesar's is famous as the place where the Caesar salad was invented.

When he was a teenager, Javier began his formal chef training. He studied at culinary schools in San Diego, California. San Diego is right across the U.S.–Mexico border from Tijuana. After finishing school, he worked in hotels and restaurants nearby.

Javier told the Times that he traveled the world. He looked for new flavors, ingredients, and cooking styles. Later, he returned to Tijuana. There, he developed his own unique cooking style.

Plascencia's Restaurants

Chef Plascencia has opened many restaurants. They are located in Tijuana, other parts of Baja California, and even in the United States.

Restaurants in Tijuana

• Caesar's: He helped reopen this historic restaurant in 2010.
• Caffé Saverios: An Italian restaurant with a cafe and wine bar.
• Casa Plascencia: Another one of his family's dining spots.
• Cubo Bistro: This restaurant is inside the CECUT Tijuana Cultural Center.
• Misión 19 Cocina de Autor: This means "chef-driven cuisine." It's in a special green building, the first of its kind in northern Mexico. Bar 20 is next to it.
• Erizo: This place specializes in seafood from Baja California and tasty fish tacos.
• Khao San: Here, you can find delicious Thai street food.
• Villa Saverios: Another restaurant in the family's collection.

Restaurants in Baja California (Outside Tijuana)

• Finca Altozano: Located in the beautiful Valle de Guadalupe. It's an outdoor restaurant that serves grilled meats and international dishes.
• Finca La Divina: A cozy Bed and Breakfast also in Valle de Guadalupe.
• Jazamango: Opened in 2018 in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur. This restaurant focuses on organic food.

Restaurants in the United States

• Pez: Opened in February 2019 in Downtown Miami. It offers Tijuana-style seafood and fish tacos.

Books by Javier Plascencia

• The Soul of Baja: This book was published in 2017.