Applause accompanied the opening of each envelope. Amid conversations, reunions, and toasts, the culinary community gathered on October 19 at Amara Baja to discover the nominees for the seventh edition of Culinary Awards by Reserva de la Familia. The celebration brought together representatives from more than 150 restaurants and reaffirmed the value of working together to strengthen Baja California Sur’s culinary scene.
The organizers welcomed guests with a message of gratitude and confidence in the community. Claudia del Pino, representing TENDENCIA, emphasized the importance of supporting one another and continuing to promote the destination during a year she described as unusual, while Linda McHatton, representing PR Solutions, thanked those who have contributed to the project’s growth.
Hosted by Amparo García, the ceremony also recognized those who make every dining experience possible: chefs, service teams, kitchen staff, producers, and the many others who support restaurants’ daily operations.
This edition opened a particularly meaningful chapter. For the first time, restaurants in La Paz participated in both the Public Voting and Jury Evaluation categories, joining those in Los Cabos, Todos Santos, and El Pescadero. Their inclusion expands the reach of Culinary Awards and introduces a wider range of culinary concepts and expressions of regional identity.
For the first time, the nominations event featured culinary stations led by guest chefs. Participants included Guillermo Gómez of Suelo Sur in San José del Cabo; Aurelien Legeay of DUM in Todos Santos; Héctor Palacios of Casa Marte in La Paz; and host chef Andrés Bracamontes. Their dishes, accompanied by wines and cocktails, gave guests an opportunity to enjoy the talent brought together that evening.
The community’s engagement was reflected in the figures presented during the ceremony: 17,664 people participated in the public voting, casting 29,096 votes. Meanwhile, a jury of 70 members completed 398 evaluation forms through a mystery shopper process: visits during which jurors dine as regular guests, pay their own bills, and evaluate the experience without identifying themselves.
Crowe once again supported the review and validation of the vote count and evaluations. Partner Sergio Iván Bautista Osuna delivered the envelopes containing the nominees’ names during the ceremony.
Among the developments in 2026 was a collaboration with Club Vatel, led by its president, chef Edgar Román. Alongside the organizing committee, association members reviewed the definitions and classification criteria for the 14 Public Voting categories to more accurately reflect each culinary concept’s specialty and identity.
The nominations spanned cuisines, concepts, and experiences, from Mexican traditions and seafood to contemporary dining, taquerias, and farm-to-table restaurants. Recognition also extended to service, wine experiences, pastry, and chefs’ talent, along with the special Food Pairing and Mixology categories supported by Reserva de la Familia José Cuervo, and the Culinary Sustainability category backed by SANTOMAR.
One of the evening’s most heartfelt moments came with the presentation of the Jury Committee’s Special Recognition to Nicksan. Chef Ángel Carbajal accepted the signature statuette to applause, honoring the restaurant’s consistent presence in jurors’ recommendations and evaluations throughout all seven editions of Culinary Awards.
Designed by artist Yandi Monardo and crafted by Talleres de los Ballesteros, the statuette honored a culinary tradition that is part of Los Cabos’ history and remains a benchmark for its dining community.
The evening also turned its attention to another of the destination’s enduring legacies. Romeo y Julieta was announced as the recipient of the 2026 Culinary Legacy Award, honoring four decades of history since its opening in 1986.
The announcement celebrated the vision of Don Luis Bulnes Molleda, the legacy of chef Raffaele Di Maio, and the continuation of that tradition under chef Matías Forte. Charo Bulnes and the restaurant’s leadership team were also recognized for keeping alive a story shared by generations of residents and visitors. The statuette will be presented at the Awards Gala.
Sponsors, institutional partners, and media outlets supported the celebration, organized by TENDENCIA and PR Solutions. Their participation allows the project to continue connecting those who produce, cook, serve, and enjoy the cuisine of Baja California Sur.
The final list includes 142 nominations across 28 categories. Thirty-one establishments received multiple nominations, while 56 earned a nomination in a single category—figures that reflect the breadth of the culinary offerings recognized this year.
The next gathering will take place on November 4 at Suelo Sur, where the winners of Culinary Awards 2026 will be revealed. Until then, the nominations offer an invitation to explore the tables of Los Cabos, La Paz, Todos Santos, and El Pescadero, and discover the stories behind each culinary concept.
The seventh edition of Culinary Awards Los Cabos is made possible through the support of our sponsors: Reserva de la Familia José Cuervo, American Express, Baja Wines, US Foods de México, Talleres de los Ballesteros, The Main Event Cabo, Del Mar a Hatfield Company, Proepta, Santomar, Cooperación Emancipación, Producción Audiovisual Alejandro Rivas, Saint Luke’s Hospitals, Land & Building, Bui, US Meats Export Federation, Atlantic Prime, Seguridad Privada Black Horse, Club Vatel, FITURCA, Crowe, Yandi Monardo Art Gallery, CPS Media, Radiante 89.01 FM, TV Mar, Hilton Los Cabos, Amara Baja, and Suelo Sur.
