BEHIND ANIMALON
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BEHIND ANIMALON 〰️
MEET JAVIER PLASCENCIA
Chef / Owner
With a distinguished culinary career spanning over 30 years, Chef Javier Plascencia takes much of his inspiration from Valle de Guadalupe and creates the concept of Animalón based on how he likes to welcome his guests. And what better setting than under a magical space: a more than 200-year-old oak tree.
He is known as a free spirit that never tires of learning and experimenting with new ingredients. His passion for cooking and the restaurant industry makes him not only a great entrepreneur but also a magnificent chef.
Having established successful restaurants in Tijuana, Valle de Guadalupe, San Jose del Cabo, and Todos Santos, and having received numerous accolades, including a James Beard Award Nomination, he has now achieved Michelin Star status with his restaurant Animalón in Valle de Guadalupe, as recognized in the Michelin Guide Mexico 2024.
MEET OSCAR TORRES
Executive Chef
His family owned Mariscos El Chino in Los Angeles for over 25 years, where he grew up working in the family business. This East LA native’s formal culinary journey, however, began early when he enrolled in his high school’s culinary program. Here, he had the opportunity to participate in culinary competitions, showcasing his natural talent. While in this program, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the renowned Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA.
Chef Oscar Torres has worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants with acclaimed chefs like Christophe Émé and Tony Esnault.
With Plascencia’s guidance, he has become the culinary mastermind at Animalón, where he has served as Executive Chef for the past five years. Thanks to his expertise, passion, determination, and innate talent, he has established Animalón as one of the best restaurants in Mexico. He has earned the prestigious title of Michelin Starred chef, with Animalón receiving a star in the Michelin Guide Mexico 2024.
Chef Torres was recently honored with the Chef Promesa del Año 2023 award by MexBest awards by Quién and was named among the 10 Best New Chefs by Food & Wine Mexico Magazine in their summer 2023 edition.
MEET LAUREN PLASCENCIA
Wine Director
Growing up in the family restaurant business, she sought to become familiar with every aspect of the industry by holding various positions over the years.
As a marketing graduate from ITESM Campus MTY, she discovered her true passion for wine after working in the service area during the first seasons of Jazamango and Animalón in 2017. She now holds Sommelier certifications as a French Wine Scholar and WSET Level 3. She successfully opened her boutique wine shop, Baja Divina, the first store in Valle de Guadalupe specializing in wines from Baja California.
She curates the wine list for Animalón and successfully manages the wine program, earning a Wine Spectator Restaurant Award since 2023 and the Sommelier Award from the Michelin Guide Mexico in 2024.