LA Culinary Heritage: Mexico and France

Join LA County Department of Arts and Culture and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in the heart of one of L.A.’s cultural hubs for a conversation on LA’s rich culinary heritage through the lens of Mexican, French, and Indigenous fusion. The program—highlighting food as culture in Los Angeles—will feature culinary stars Chef Gilberto Cetina of Holbox, Chef Fátima Juárez of Komal, Chef Chuy Cervantes of Damian and Ditroit Taqueria, and baker Arturo Enciso of Gusto. The chefs will discuss Indigenous ingredients, the Columbian Exchange, French techniques, and their impact on kitchens across Los Angeles County. The conversation will be moderated by Evan Kleiman, author, L.A. chef, and host of KCRW’s Good Food. Light refreshments will be served. In this conversation, the chefs will explore the history of Mexican cuisine and Indigenous ingredients — a story of contact, transformation, and change. Xocolatl, chilli, ahuacatl, and elotl (chocolate, chile, avocado, and corn) are among Mesoamerica’s many contributions to the world. Following the Spanish conquest, Mesoamerican recipes encountered a culture clash with the introduction of imported ingredients, including Middle Eastern wheat, Asian citrus fruits, African spices, and livestock. Later in the 19th century, the French intervention in Mexico introduced new cooking methods, techniques, and flavors. French influences can be seen in stewing (guisados), braising (carnitas), and baking (pan dulce). The blending (mestizaje) of ancestral and global ingredients with French techniques helped shape the unique a unique and rich Mexican cuisine. The program is part of a series of Cultural Olympiad artistic collaboration projects passing the torch from Paris 2024 to Los Angeles 2028 and uplifting the role of arts and culture in the legacy of the Games. In 2024, the LA County Department of Arts and Culture partnered with the City of Paris, Le Carreau du Temple, and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes to present Michelin award-winning chef Gilberto Cetina as Los Angeles’ representative at the international Food Temple culinary festival in Paris, held at the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Cultural Olympiad for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 2025 LA Culinary Heritage: Mexico and France event at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes carries the series forward. It is part of a new legacy of Cultural Olympiad artistic collaborations highlighting the role of culture in the Olympic and Paralympic Games that were initiated by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Paris Department of Cultural Affairs and Department of International Relations, and other partners during the 2024 Paris Cultural Olympiad with a view to Los Angeles 2028. REFRESHMENTS Attendees will be treated to special refreshments curated by Chef Gilberto Cetina of Holbox and Chef Fátima Juárez of Komal, including: Sope de Mejillón – Heirloom blue corn masa, ayacote bean purée, and escabeche of local Hope Ranch mussels. Guests will also enjoy pan dulce from Gusto Bread, wine by Vinos Los Angeles, coffee by Casa Barrera de Veracruz and tequila. ENTERTAINMENT Mariachi Las Colibrí Las Colibrí is an award-winning, all-female mariachi ensemble that specializes in educational programming designed to promote and empower women while showcasing the richness of traditional Mexican music. CHEFS Chef Gilberto Cetina, Holbox Chef Fátima Juárez, Komal Chef Chuy Cervantes, Damian, and Ditroit Taqueria Baker Arturo Enciso of Gusto This program is presented by LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture. In collaboration with the LA Rising Initiative, Latino Restaurant Association, and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA).

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Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3272966-0

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3272966-2

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