In order to promote marine gastronomy and the wineries of Baja California and help children with heart conditions, the Festival del Pescado y Marisco 2023 will arrive in Playas de Rosarito this weekend.

The 31st edition of this festival is organized by the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry (CANIRAC) Rosarito and it is promoted by the Committee of Tourism and Conventions (COTUCO) of Rosarito and it will take place at the Rosarito Beach Hotel.

The Secretariat of Fishing and Aquaculture (SEPESCA) of Baja California is promoting the sea products from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California.

As such, the director of COTUCO Rosarito, Fernanda Montoya Agramont, pointed out that making an event like this one next to the beach while enjoying the heat season and the wind currents near the ocean will be a great opportunity to attract locals and foreigners and educate them about sea products in Baja California.

As such, a great attendance is expected as well as a great economic revenue during the entire weekend in this city.

For his part, the director of CANIRAC Rosarito, Alan Bautista Plascencia, pointed out that this festival is a platform so that this region's visitors and American tourists discover and try dishes based on seafood fished in the state. Most of the time, these products are not eaten here, but are directly exported to European and Asian regions.

They gave us this idea of combining producers with restaurants in Rosarito so that people discover other products that are not normally found in menus so they can experiment with them at these events. If they like them and the public likes them and they are viable, they can be introduced on their menus.

He said that 21 restaurants and 17 fish producers will participate in this festival. Through a raffle, teams made up of restaurants and producers were formed which were assigned a specific ingredient with which they will have to create a dish to compete.

The ingredients that will participate are geoducks, crabs, pompano, sardines, sea urchins, swordfish, hakes, lobsters, oysters, octopus, abalones, sea algae, and mussels.

Since the beginning of the event, from 1 PM to 4 PM, attendants will be able to try out these dishes. A panel of judges will determine the three best dishes based on their flavor, presentation, and the creativity of using the local product.

However, the public will also be able to determine the winner of the "People's Favorite Award" by voting on the digital app: 'Dónde Comer', available for all smartphones.

Popotla Restaurante, La Cevichería de Ensenada, Puerto Nuevo 2, La Media Corriente, Acua, and Olaias are some of the restaurants that will participate.

To enjoy this event even more, during the event there will be a courtesy wine pairing from 13 of the state's wineries, including the traditional CETTO.

From 4 PM to 10 PM, products will be for sale to the public at large.

Fernanda Montoya, director of COTUCO, stated that the Municipal Administration of Rosarito will contribute to the event's cause which is to support Fundación Bebé Cario that aids children with heart problems. Since it was created on January 16, 2020 to today, this foundation has helped 116 children with operations in three different states, thanks to support from the community and the state's chambers.

Whatever we earn from permits, like the permits to carry out this event and admissions and allocations, 100% of that will be delivered in a check to the Foundation. That is our contribution.

In addition, she said that lobster-shaped trophies will be given to the winners of the competition. These awards were made by Tijuana native plastic artist, Iván Ortiz, who began by disassembling televisions and doing costume jewelry, and who is currently owner of the company, ARTER.

Tickets include access to the event, live music, a commemorative glass of wine, ten gastronomic tastings, and five wine tastings.

From 6 PM to 8 PM, the public will be able to enjoy two hours of the group TJ 5[/b], comprised of Laura Caro, Daria Duarte, Samantha Rae, Edwin Luna, and Frank Di, (winner of the Gaviota de Plata at Viña del Mar festival), playing songs from different eras and musical genres.

Tickets can be purchased at Canirac Tijuana, Hotel Rosarito, and digital platform EventBrite.

Pre-sale tickets cost $500 pesos ($30 dollars), while on the day of the event tickets will cost $700 pesos ($41 dollars). Children 12 years old or younger will be admitted for free, if accompanied by an adult.