About

The Back-Story

Miguel's Cocina y Cantina is the culmination of a lifetime worth of experiences starting in my childhood in San Diego. We would often hop over the border to taste the authentic passion for food and celebration that Mexico has always embodied. Ever since then I have made a point of taking a yearly trip to Mexico to immerse myself in the food, culture and of course, tequila of that great nation.

While most people imagine the Taco as the cornerstone of Mexican cuisine, the reality is much more subtle. Whether we are cooking in Coca Cola or finding new ways to make margaritas, everything that you experience at Miguel's is 100% authentic, based on my experiences eating and living in Mexico.

More Recently

As the walls by the restrooms will testify, my most recent trip was very focused on Tequila and in particular, the Agave heart. This is where Tequila comes from, specifically the Agave tequilana (also known as Blue Agave). As the mural outside the restaurant will testify (in the breezeway), the process of converting the agave heart into Tequila is laborious, with many stages of cooking and cutting. Ultimately it is all worth it though, as the celebrations fueled by Tequila tend to be the best!

The Day of the Dead?

The walls, menus and windows of Miguel's are adorned with characters that symbolize the day of the dead, or " El Día de los Muertos". Taking place on November 1st and 2nd of each year, this is not a gloomy celebration like Halloween, rather, it is a chance for people to re-connect with their loved ones and families. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed to help facilitate the celebration of their lives. One way or the other, this is a joyous, food and drink filled time that we have sought to capture at Miguels.

While the tradition is centuries old, most of the artwork at Miguels was inspired by José Guadalupe Posada, the father of this style of artwork. Unfortunately he passed away pennyless at the turn of the 20th century.