Valle Guadalupe Valley Kitchen located in Oceanside, CA recently hosted an event called ¡TRES AÑOS, TRES CHEFS, TRES ESTRELLAS! This unique occasion celebrated Valle’s third anniversary with three MICHELIN-starred chefs: Valle’s Executive Chef Roberto Alcocer, Oscar Torres from Baja California, Mexico’s Animalón, and Johnny Curiel from Alma Fonda Fina in Denver, CO. 

Photo by Carmen Varner

Reserva de la Familia by Jose Cuervo

I was invited to attend by Reserva de la Familia by Jose Cuervo, who was recently named the official tequila partner of the MICHELIN Guide U.S. The small-batch tequilas come in four versions: unaged Platino, a Reposado, an Extra Añejo, and an Añejo Cristalino Organico. 

The Jose Cuervo brand is an 11th-generation, family-owned Mexican company, which made it the perfect pairing for the Mexican-focused food at the gathering. In the past, Reserva de la Familia was reserved specifically for the Cuervo family’s closest friends, but now it’s available for anyone to purchase. 

Photo by Carmen Varner

The Event

The occasion at Valle included six courses with beverage pairings from Reserva de la Familia by Jose Cuervo and Monte Xanic wines. The dining event started at 6 p.m. and ended sometime around 10 p.m. There weren’t many people dining there at the start, but as time wore on, the restaurant progressively filled. The dimly lit eatery featured light music but hummed with the chatter of those enjoying their eats. Here’s a rundown of the foods and subsequent drink pairing:

• Primero – Coctel de Almejas. Tomato consommé with Baja clams, blood clams, chocolate clams, and Ensenada uni, and smoked grapes. The course pays tribute to the seafood cocktails found at street carts in Ensenada. The smoked grapes were a delicious touch to the crunchy, vibrant, sweet, and salty course.
• Segundo – Carne Apache. Finely chopped Snake River Farms Wagyu marinated in a serrano vinaigrette with lime juice and garnished with manzanilla olives and pickled shallots. This dish was like a beef ceviche tostada. It was crispy yet thin with supple, smoky wagyu. This was one of my favorite courses as it was a MICHELIN-star iteration of something I frequently eat at home.
• Tercero – Striped Sea Bass. Striped sea bass, marigold-infused chermoula, verdolagas (purslane), and mustard greens. The cempasúchil (marigold) adds a light floral note to the incredible fish. My husband really loved this one!
• Cuarto – Chilpachole. Chilpachole (rich tomato broth), spiny lobsters, confit potatoes. This course draws inspiration from Veracruz. The tomato broth had a light spiciness to it that complemented the freshness of the lobster.
• Quinto – Wagyu. Marinated and Vesuvio-grilled A5 Wagyu, smoky chichilo mole, black garlic, and grilled king oyster mushrooms, cauliflower purée. I enjoyed the smoky and sweet mole, which is something my mother-in-law frequently makes. It brought a touch of home to such an elevated dish.
• Sexto – Opera. Opera cake made with 66% República del Cacao Mexican dark chocolate, lemon buttercream layers, and leche quemada ice cream. The range of flavors really brought everything together. There’s bittersweet chocolate, tangy, citrus notes, and caramelized milk ice cream.

Carne Apache at Valle. Photo by Carmen Varner

Where to Buy Reserva de la Familia

Purchase Reserva de la Familia by Jose Cuervo at Bevmo!, Total Wine & More, local liquor stores, and other spots. Check out the store locator to see where to find it near you. Prices range from $65 for the certified organic Platino to $189 for the ultra-smooth Extra Añejo (made from 8 to 10-year-old agave plants). The Extra Añejo comes in a wooden box that has a unique design each year created by a designated artist. These come hand-numbered, making them a collector’s item for tequila lovers. They showed us a couple of the bottles and had a display of the previous year’s artworks; they are colorful and captivating. 

Reserva de la Familia by Jose Cuervo Extra Añejo tequila. Photo by Carmen Varner

Explore Your Own Food and Tequila Pairings at Home 

While dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant can be one of life’s joys, sometimes you want to create a memorable experience at home. Try Reserva de la Familia tequila with your favorite Mexican cuisine. But don’t worry, I have some pointers if you need ideas.

• The unaged Platino works nicely with fresh seafood, ceviche, or agua chile. 
• The Reposado has a mellow, versatile taste that pairs nicely with lightly seasoned foods like fish and poultry.
• The Cristalino Organico has notes of sweetness with a fruity acidity that could pair with anything from cheeses to desserts.
• The aged Extra Añejo has a rich color with notes of oak, almonds, and baking spices, so you may want to save this for dessert, like flan.

Opera cake with leche quemada ice cream. Photo by Carmen Varner

Other similar Reserva de la Familia chef and tequila pairing events include MICHELIN Bib Gourmand LA Cha Cha Chá in Los Angeles, which took place in early November 2024, and the two MICHELIN Starred Californios in San Francisco in early 2025.

To make a reservation at Valle, visit the website and click the reservation tab.

Learn more about Reserva de la Familia by Jose Cuervo on their website.