On my last cruise, I was able to visit Mexico for the first time. Ensenada is a seaport town about 80 miles south of San Diego. It's a top Baja California destination and is known for La Bufadora, one of the world's largest marine blowholes.



We had a full day to explore Ensenada, so I started with a foodie tour.



We began at Mercado Negro, which is a seafood market.



Did you know that the fish taco was created in Ensenada?



Mariscos El Norteno - Shrimp Taco: The srimp taco was served with cabbage and many different salsas: sour cream, mayo, jalapeno, chili de arbol + water, chili de arbol + oil, habanero. Rick Bayless recommends this place.



Next up was a drink: Mezcal.



Mitos Mezcaleria & Restaurante - Here we had shots of mezcal, a margarita with mezal, a grasshopper and marlin.



Mezcal means any spirit distilled from the agave plant.



A margarita made with mezcal instead of tequila made it a bit smokier and a little more complex tasting. This was unique.



Chapulines are tasoted grasshoppers and are crunchy, salty and that's about it. Not bad paired with the margarita, to be honest.



Finally, marlin is a big-game fish and is often cooked with tomatoes, onions and peppers. It is popular here.



Next up was churros.



Cafe La Churreria - these were fresh and fried right in front of us.

Tacos Lidia & Bar el Zarape - these fresh tacos still use the authentic batter. It's fried until light, airy and crisp.



We ended with some shots of tequila.



Tequilera Doña Engracias - this tequila tasting house offered 5-6 pours.



Have you ever been?

The local Guadalajara restaurants were fast-growing and then had a bit of an implosion. So the Barboursville Guadalajara is no more, but I did get a chance to check it out before it closed. The Tanyard Station location leaned into a “modern Mexican” or fusion-style approach rather than strictly traditional fare. It opened in September 2024 as part of a small regional group owned by Sergio Lugo-Mata, who already had a following from other locations. The menu included a range of categories such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and combination plates with sides like rice and beans. Specific items listed include birria tacos, carne asada tacos, burritos filled with meats like chicken, steak, or carnitas, and fajitas served with peppers, onions, and tortillas. Additional offerings include seafood dishes like shrimp plates, chicken-based entrées (such as pollo fundido), soups, and house specials like chilaquiles and chimichangas. I ordered "Mom's Mole," which featured shredded chicken, rice, lettuce, cheese and sour cream. Mole is a complex Mexican sauce with a layered, savory-sweet-spiced flavor profile. I think this fit the bill, but I would love even more depth. Grade: B

At Pittsburgh International Airport, the outpost of Wigle Whiskey operates as a full-service bar and restaurant located post-security in Concourse A. Wigle, founded in 2011 as the first distillery in Pittsburgh since Prohibition, produces its spirits from regionally sourced grains and draws its name from Philip Wigle, a figure associated with the 1790s Whiskey Rebellion in Western Pennsylvania. The airport location serves a menu of cocktails made with Wigle’s house spirits, along with beer, cider, and a range of food items including breakfast dishes, flatbreads, and sandwiches. I was here for breakfast and had a perfecfly serviceable bacon, egg & cheese sandwich with home fries. The sandwich came on a standard bun with a folded egg, melted cheese and couple strips of bacon, while the home fries were cubed and griddled with light browning on the edges, served as a straightforward, no-frills side typical of airport breakfast menus. Grade: B

Cool Beans is a mobile coffee bar -- and so much more: teas, lemonade, and food like fried pies, funky spuds and biscuit bites. I ordered a cherry lemonade, which was flavorful, and it had these fun circular ice cubes. For a snack, I ordered the sweet corny niblets, which are like fried pieces of corn on the cob. With some southern spices & honey. This was tasty but stickyyy. Have you tried them? Grade: B

Kumo Japan in Fairmont (White Hall area) is a casual Asian fusion spot located inside the Tygart Valley Mall that blends Japanese, Chinese, and Thai influences. First up: Cream Cheese King Crab Wontons - Four house made cream cheese king crab wontons, deep-fried to a golden finish and served with sweet chili dipping sauce. I liked the sauce here; a bit on the greasy side. Then, steamed pork buns with bbq pork char siu. Very tasty but the texture was a bit dense and dry. Finally, the Monster Roll - shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, topped with crab tempura, eel sauce, lobster sauce, and sriracha. I enjoyed this, though I could have done without the double tempura. Have you been? Grade: B