November 30-December 7, 2024
Join us for a foodie adventure during Culinary Week, where we’ll celebrate the vibrant flavors of Baja California cuisine. Using the freshest organic produce, talented chefs will prepare dishes that showcase Mexico’s rich cultural heritage and traditions. From savory seafood to spicy salsas and organic produce, you can savor the bold and complex flavors that make this cuisine unique. You’ll have the chance to learn from expert chefs and explore our beautiful organic garden that produces the ingredients for our delicious meals. Join us for an unforgettable, five-star week of gastronomic excellence, fun, and community!
Featured Chefs:
Reyna Venegas, Executive Chef La Cocina Que Canta at Rancho La Puerta and member of Team Mexico for Bocuse d’Or 2023
Javier Plascencia, Chef, James Beard Award Nomination, Michelin Star 2024 for Animalón
Oscar Torres, Chef, Michelin Star 2024 for Animalón
Marcelo Hisaki, Represented Mexico in the Bocuse d’Or 2023 and 2024 and the Michelin Service Award 2024
Lauren Plascencia, Sommelier, Wine Spectator Restaurant Award in 2023 and the Sommelier Award from the Michelin Guide Mexico in 2024
Sergio Salgado, winemaker, owner of Santos Brujos winery
Dr. Randy Kamen is a psychologist, life coach, educator and author of her bestselling books, Behind the Therapy Door: Simple Strategies to Transform Your Life and The Gratitude Effect Positivity Journal: 90 Days to Rewire Your Brain. She pioneered new territory in mind-body medicine at Boston University’s School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kamen leads global online programs, workshops and retreats for families, corporations, hospitals and academic institutions. She weaves together researched based skills and strategies for mind management, self-regulation, healthy relationships, personal leadership, and living your vision in her unique systematic and transformational approach.
Samara Bay is the author of 
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Hello, I’m Kendra Faye. Officially, I am a harpist, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, though my joy comes from seeing the transformative power of music. Music has taken me around the globe. To environments as varied as the Amazonian jungle and the hospital wards; it has taken me from teens struggling to overcome addiction to sharing the joy of new born baby; and finally, it has taken me to the bedside to help ease the fear of an illness or offering music to comfort the biggest of life’s transitions in my work with hospice. Sharing the power of music has been both ecstatic and humbling; being both performer and witness; being both minstrel and student; learning from the Universal language of song that crosses borders and blends appreciation with wonder. The ways we sing, play and praise in devotion awakens the heart to experience more fully the healing, the pleasure, the celebration, and utilize the lessons from pain or sadness. I am grateful that my lifelong love of music reminds me of the power and beauty that we all are and how sound can help remind us of our inner beauty. Song speaks our stories. There is something sacred about deep listening and expression of song that our soul thirsts for. It soothes us, comforts us, and inspires us as we dance with life’s mystery.
Keith Macpherson, a Canadian mindfulness coach, speaker, and author, has dedicated over two decades to empowering individuals through mindfulness practices. His transformative breakthroughs guide people toward their best lives. In 2018, he authored the bestselling book “
Claudia de la Cruz, Flamenco Artist, was born in Monterrey, Mexico, with Andalusian heritage originating from Jerez, Spain. She received her training with the most renowned maestri in Mexico, followed by continued studies in Madrid and Seville. She has performed around the globe in festivals and productions across the genres and is the Artistic Director of the Claudia de la Cruz Dance Company. Claudia was recently honored with the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award in 2023.
Since graduating with her master’s degree from the USC Thornton School of Music, Chelsea Chaves has sung with Pacific Chorale, soloed with Pacific Symphony, and performed at various private events around Los Angeles and Orange County. Chelsea is currently performing in Pacific Symphony’s Class Act program and is the Education Manager for Long Beach Opera. In 2018, she was a recipient of a prestigious vocal scholarship from the Profant Foundation in Santa Barbara. Roles performed include Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) with the Astoria Music Festival, Hanna Glawari (Die lustige Witwe) with Chapman University, and Lay Sister (Suor Angelica) with Opera Santa Barbara. She has also performed the roles of Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) and Adele (Die Fledermaus) for Pacific Symphony. Previous Young Artist Programs include OperaWorks, SongFest, the Astoria Music Festival and Musiktheater Bavaria. She was a finalist for the Loren L. Zachary Competition in 2015 and has sung the National Anthem at two Lakers games. For more information, visit 
Elena Durán grew up in Oakland, California and has enjoyed an international career, appearing as soloist with more than 50 orchestras all over the world, playing on a number of occasions for the Queen of England, HM King Charles as well as the President of Mexico. She has recorded a hit single with Paul McCartney and has made two albums with jazz great Stephane Grappelli. At various stages of her career, she has taught at University and Conservatory level including at Stanford University, the London College of Music, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Hartt School of Music. She has given masterclasses and courses all over the world and was the director of the Stratford International Flute Festival for twenty years and the Mexican Flute Festival at UNAM for five years in the nineties. She was named Mexico City’s Ambassador of Culture and Tourism, and with her personal outreach program FLAUTA SIN FRONTERAS, she has taken music to those who can’t attend concerts, especially those in prison and those who live along the US/Mexico Border. Elena is a passionate supporter of the Ranch’s Fundación La Puerta, bringing her programs to the local community.
Amos Nachoum, a professional wildlife photographer and explorer, has left an indelible mark on photography and wildlife conservation. Renowned for his close-up underwater photography of large marine animals such as whales, sharks, leopard seals, crocodiles, anacondas, and polar bears, Amos has received numerous awards and global recognition for his work. Beyond his photography, Amos is a passionate environmental activist, tirelessly raising awareness about the importance of conserving the world’s natural habitats and wildlife. His camera and expeditions are not just about capturing stunning images; they are a powerful tool to support science and conservation and to inspire awareness about endangered wildlife. Amos Nachoum, a man of unique experiences and achievements, arrived from Israel in the USA in 1977. Since 1978, he has embarked on daring explorations, venturing into every significant body of water from the North Pole to Antarctica. His photographs are not just about capturing wildlife; they strive to challenge misconceptions about “dangerous” wildlife and show the harmonious interactions between man and animal. He also leads wildlife photography expeditions with his company, Big Animals Global Expeditions. Amos’s recognitions include 1st place for animals in their environment, Sienna Award 2018 and 2022, 2021 Nature Photographer of the World, 2019 Sea Keepers Award, Person of the Year, two-time award winner of BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year for animal behavior. Amos has recently published “BIG,” a book of his photography of big animals worldwide. In November 2023, Amos was nominated for the NOGI award in the art—the highest award in the international diving industry. Amos has also been the subject of the documentary “The Picture of His Life,” which chronicles his epic quest to photograph polar bears underwater in their natural habitat. Notably, twelve people have landed on the moon, but only five have dived with polar bears.