Mission Pacific Hotelās Valle Tantalizes Taste Buds With Authentic South-of-the-Border Cuisine
South-of-the-border fare is sizzling in San Diego thanks to a fresh restaurant concept spearheaded by one of Mexicoās most renowned chefs. Roberto Alcocer presents his passion for upscale Baja cuisine at Valle, the all-new eatery located inside Oceansideās Mission Pacific Hotel. Overlooking the shores of Oceanside beach, Valle offers guests the opportunity to experience authentic Valle de Guadalupe cuisine. Hereās a sneak peek at Chef Alcocer and his vision behind this unique Oceanside concept. Valle Oceanside Chef Roberto Alcocer
Alcocerās cooking experience began at home in Ensenada, Mexico, where his mother showed him the basics in order to avoid unpleasant takeout on her nights away. He continued cooking and found his happy place in the kitchen, recalling,
āSince elementary school, I knew what I liked most; itās food, cooking and making other people happy.ā
When it came time to choose a career path, Alcocer was certain of his future as a chef. His drive pushed him across France, Spain, and Belgium, where he landed internships and apprenticeships in top kitchensāincluding the Michelin-starred La Brioche in Madrid. After years of training and prepwork, he returned to Ensenada and opened his very own restaurant,Ā Malva Cocina, which has since become a renowned dining destination. Valle Oceanside
When Oceansideās Mission Pacific Hotel reached out to Alcocer to create the menu for their new featured restaurant, he had more than just a menu in mind. He decided he would live part-time in San Diego and lead as head chef, thereby presenting the possibility of becoming a Michelin Star chef himself (a ranking system not implemented in Mexico).
Though Mission Pacific didnāt originally have a fine-dining restaurant in mind, Alcocer saw the potential. āWe were going to be on the best corner of Oceanside, with the best view, in a really nice hotelāwhy donāt we shoot for the stars?ā After being reminded of the commitment to the high-profile dining experience and the pressure that comes along with it, Alcocer was unfazed. Valle Oceanside Chef Roberto Alcocer
āI told them, āAbsolutely I want to.ā Since I was a kid, the first restaurant I worked in was a Michelin-Starred restaurant. I knew the stress; I understood the commitment.ā
He describes Valleās upcoming menu as a refined take on his Baja restaurant, with similar dishes and seasonal changes throughout. Located right on the ocean, Valle will highlight a seafood-forward, farm-to-table experience with ingredients from San Diego and Ensenada. Alcocer wasnāt just involved with the foodāhe and his team built the dining room concept from the ground up. They visited signature restaurants and wineries for design inspiration, shaping a space as thoughtful as the menu itself.
Alcocer says, āI could take you all the way through the restaurant and tell you where the inspiration came from. The copper bar, the archway, the paintings, the art on the wallsātheyāre all Valle de Guadalupe-inspired.ā
But despite the intricacies of the dining room, Alcocer is well-aware of his beachfront space. His goal is to provide the best dining experience possible while still maintaining the laid-back ambiance of Oceanside. Chef Roberto Alcocer
With more space and tools at Valle, Alcocer sees this chapter as a chance to experiment and grow as a chef. Heās on a mission to bring an authentic taste of Valle de Guadalupe to Oceanside, blending tradition with creativity. Eventually, he plans to reverse the flow, taking what heās learned in San Diego back to his roots in Ensenada. Wherever his next project lands, one thingās certaināhis passion shines through, beautifully crafted before your fork even hits the plate.
Valle Oceanside Chef Roberto Alcocer
Mission Pacific Hotel
Valle Oceanside
201 N Myers St
Oceanside, CA 92054
855.365.5078
@missionpacifichotel
@valleoceanside
Photography Provided By: Audrey Ma
Jaclyn is a sunshine chasing San Diego native with an extensive writing background. When she isnāt word-smithing, you can find her playing beach volleyball, skating the boardwalk, or on a rooftop enjoying a drink in the sunshine with her pals.
