A tour of Pajaro’s culinary spots continues the momentum of attention to the tiny town.

Celia Jiménez here. I've been thinking about Pajaro for two reasons: One, I read the update from my colleague Erik Chalhoub about the County of Monterey's progress in spending the $20 million it received from the state to help with the town’s recovery after the 2023 flood; and two, a tour scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25 called “Discover Pajaro” caught my attention.

As it turns out, many of us are thinking about Pajaro when historically, that has not been the case. For decades, Pajaro residents have felt ignored by all levels of government and the broader community—the long-overdue upgrades to the Pajaro River levee is just one example, if not the most prominent.

But Pajaro is finally getting the attention many of its residents have craved. The levee work is coming, while the recovery funds are supporting more than just beautification efforts (read Chalhoub’s article for more).

Now, there is Saturday’s event organized by the Pajaro Business Group to bring attention to what the small town has to offer. The event is a walking tour where attendees will sample food from various places that offer Mexican pastries and dishes, including Pajaro Food Center, Mariscos Puerto Vallarta and El Nopal Bakery. 

Their website reads, “Get ready for a one-of-a-kind culinary adventure through the heart of Pajaro.” While for some it might sound like a cliché, it's a nice nod to the local flavors and growing appreciation for Pajaro's food scene.

When I covered the 2023 flood, one of the things that stood out, besides the devastation and impact on people’s lives, was the number of restaurants and food truck options in the tiny town. 

I’ve tried tasty quesabirrias from the Los Cristaleros food truck, tostadas at Mariscos Puerto Vallarta with their delicious spicy green sauce and different types of bread from El Nopal Bakery.

Interested in the tour (it’s free)? RSVP on Eventbrite.