485827 Sat Feb 02 21:47:37 -0800 2008 7 55 Mexico 0 3360245 I saw an episode I taped of Mexico, One Plate at a Time which included Rick eating at this restaurant in Mexico City. I looked good....I wanted to lick the screen. Apparently, It was opened by a couple who I belive originated in the Bajio but set up shop initially in Ensenada. There they became disappointed with the customer base seeking things topped with cheese and returned to Mexico City to reopen their restaurant. Is this correct? Has anyone eaten here or even at the former place in Baja? mmm...baja abulon, smoked marlin carpaccio... Sat Feb 02 21:47:37 -0800 2008 14086 kare_raisu 1 3360866 KR, I believe they are still in Ensanada. There are several recent posts on this board about Manzanilla and they seem to indicate that the original owners are still in command. If things weren't so dicey in Baja right now I'd say grab your passport and let's do a road trip, but even I am hesitant to spend much time there at the moment. Let's give it a few months and if things have settled down, I'm willing to check it out with you because this is a restaurant I've wanted to try for a long time. A chef friend of mine from D.F. speaks very highly of the Manzanilla in Ensenada. Sun Feb 03 08:47:21 -0800 2008 3360245 10506 DiningDiva 2 3361787 You have a partner in me anytime...sounds like an awesome plan. :) Sun Feb 03 14:49:47 -0800 2008 3360866 14086 kare_raisu 1 3361346 Manzanilla in Ensenada is still open: http://www.rmanzanilla.com/esp.html . I'm a big fan of ordering whatever seafood they've gotten in and also their thin-sliced beef tongue roast (I think that's the preparation) topped with cactus salad. The owners of Manzanilla also operate Silvestre on Highway 3 in wine country, an outdoor restaurant open during spring thru fall, and Muelles Tres, a casual place with seafood specialities, right by the fish market on the north end of the boardwalk in Ensenada. If you go hunting around on my blog you should be able to find pictures of Silvestre, which is beautiful, and also has great food. I've been going to Baja in spite of the reported Tijuana crime wave, on the assumption that my car is battered enough now that I obviously have nothing worth stealing. Sun Feb 03 11:51:46 -0800 2008 3360245 10720 jayporter 2 3361785 You lucky dog. The Jetta is the most frequently stolen car in the northern Baja corridor, beat up or not. That is, of course, what I drive <sigh>. Sun Feb 03 14:48:21 -0800 2008 3361346 10506 DiningDiva 2 3361791 Thanks - I appreciate the insider information greatly. gawd....beef tongue carpaccio with nopal salad...I am there. Sun Feb 03 14:51:20 -0800 2008 3361346 14086 kare_raisu 1 3626339 an old article of interest: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040519/news_lz1f19savoir.html Thu Apr 24 12:10:33 -0700 2008 3360245 14086 kare_raisu 2 3638915 Hello my name is Benito Molina I am the chef owner of Manzanilla and I would like to clear a couple of things Manzanilla in Ensenada has ALWAYS remained open even when we went to D.F. the cooks in charge have been working with me for more than ten years. The restaurant will be nine years old in July , the article mentioned above is a very unfortunate one and has done a lot of harm to the restaurant. We have no idea why Maria Hunt decided to use such an inappropriate term for the title. But no crying over spilled milk ! If you want to read a U.S. review of the restaurant check out Gourmet magazine march 2007. Our adventure in Mexico city was a very short and weird one the restaurant was very successful many reviews by the most important papers and magazines but the partnership was a total disaster we could only take it for nine months and called quits all of these happened in 2004 / 2005 Our former partner tried to run the place without us and it lasted one month. We looked for a new location in D.F. with a different partner but nothing caught our eye and decided instead to open a summer place with olive trees and vineyard in the Guadalupe valley called Sivestre . Three years have passed and people still ask me when are we opening in D.F but life in Baja is just too good !! Tue Apr 29 00:57:06 -0700 2008 3626339 130371 bigotes