DOCE: BRUNCHING IN THE HEART OF MEXICO’S VALLE DE GUADALUPE
The Cost - $16 per person
The Atmosphere – When you are in the middle of a beautiful valley and surrounded by vineyards, your restaurant space should allow you to enjoy your surroundings. And the space at Doce was designed just for that. With no walls and the ability to take in the nature around you, sometimes it’s hard to pay attention to your food.
Never heard of Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe wine region? Time to change that. With well over 100 vineyards and some of the best restaurants in the country, this beautiful valley, located about 15 miles inland from Ensenada, is heaven for wine and food lovers alike. On this Sunday morning, I ventured out to new restaurant Doce, set amongst the vineyards of the Campera Hotel where you sleep in a giant bubble, to try food prepared by renowned chef Rafael Magaña Tinoco.
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The Order - Huevos Rotos (broken eggs), Chilaquiles al Guajillo, Vegetable Empanadas and Salted Asparagus with Poached Eggs.
The Great - Every. Single. Dish. The Huevos Rotos, an open faced brioche sandwich with cambray potato confit, shiitake mushrooms, prosciutto, eggs and a dusting of truffle, was absolutely delicious and the combination of flavors was really special. The Chilaquiles al Guajillo was an elevated version of the traditional Mexican breakfast dish. Served over a bed of black beans and with eggs, fresh cotija cheese and homemade crema, the guajillo sauce, made from dried chiles, was what made this dish unique. The vegetable empanadas were the biggest surprise for me. Inside was a nice vegetable ragu and that would have been enough but they were topped with fresh parmigiana cheese and a simple but delightful salad which added even more to the dish. The asparagus, salted with garlic and thyme and served with two perfectly poached eggs with an heirloom tomato sofrito, fresh parmigiana cheese and two large strips of house made bacon, was a wonderful way to end the meal.
The Verdict - The level of sophistication and flavors of the dishes in this brunch was incredible. When combining that with the beautiful surroundings of the open air eatery and the great price point of the meal, Doce is a must visit during your trip to Valle de Guadalupe.
Doce
Emiliano Zapata s/n Parcela 40 Los Alamitos, El Porvenir, 22755 Valle de Guadalupe, B.C., Mexico