To kick off Feasts and Festivals—a photography exhibition and program series in partnership with SAVEUR presented by Roland Foods—MOFAD and the Mexican Cultural Institute are hosting a Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead party. Featuring a community altar, picado crafts, bites from Roberto Santibañez's FONDA restaurant, pan de muertos from La Newyorkina, mezcal from Pelotón de la Muerte, and Mexican hot chocolate from Hernán, this event will explore the meaning, significance, and foods behind this annual Mexican celebration.
To support the rebuilding of Mexico after the earthquakes, Semillas, a non-profit organization focused on improving women’s lives in Mexico, will be collecting donations for their new fundraising initiative, the "Women Rebuilding their Communities" Fund. Learn more about Semillas below.
About Feasts and Festivals
Feasts and Festivals is a photography exhibition and program series in partnership with SAVEUR and presented by Roland Foods. Featuring talks, demos, and special events with Jim Lahey, Ruth Reichl, Sri Rao, the Mexican Cultural Institute, League of Kitchens, and many more, Feasts and Festivals will examine food and drink’s central role in celebrations, ceremonies, and rituals across the globe. Courtesy of the SAVEUR archives, the never-before-exhibited photographs of annual festivities, religious rituals, and special occasions, from photographers such as Dave Yoder, Diana Markosian, and Marcus Nilsson, will remain on view through February 2018.
About the Mexican Cultural Institute
Both the cultural branch of the Consulate General of Mexico in New York and the US not-for-profit organization, The Mexican Cultural Institute (MCINY), are committed to generating awareness of the richness, dynamism, and cultural diversity of Mexico as a plural and creative nation.
The MCINY supports and develops programs that foster a better understanding of Mexico through the promotion of its arts and culture by representing Mexican artists living in both Mexico and New York, organizing art exhibitions, film screenings, book presentations, participate in festivals, among other activities.
About FONDA/Roberto Santibañez
Roberto Santibañez is the chef/owner of FONDA restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Born in Mexico City, Chef Santibañez graduated with honors from Paris’s prestigious Le Cordon Bleu. He has authored Rosa’s New Mexican Table, which was nominated for an IACP and a James Beard Award; Truly Mexican, which was named by The New York Times as one of the Notable Cookbooks of 2011; and Tacos, Tortas and Tamales, which Food & Wine called one of the best cookbooks of 2012. He serves on The Culinary Institute of America’s Latin Cuisines Advisory Council.
FONDA offers New Yorkers a rare chance to eat the contemporary urban cuisine you’d find in Santibañez's native Mexico City. FONDA's food is deeply rooted in the traditions and culinary techniques of his home country yet with a unique twist. The result is a menu of refined street snacks, sophisticated riffs on regional specialties, and an exhilarating array of salsas, adobos, and moles.
About Peletón de la Muerte
Peletón de la Muerte is a 100% artisanal mezcal made in the central valleys of Oaxaca. Cutberto Santiago, the producer, is the third generation of his family making this exquisite mezcal that captures the flavors, culture, and history of Oaxacan mezcal. The label for Pelotón de la Muerte is the flag “The Doliente Hidalgo” that represented the insurgent army (aka "the squadron of death”) that sought revenge for the murder of the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, our founding father. Just like the mezcal, the label represents the history of Mexico. ¡Hasta ver la cruz!
About La Newyorkina
Everything La Newyorkina makes is handmade from scratch in small batches, using the best ingredients we can get our hands on and never use any artificial flavorings or colorings. We carefully source our ingredients and work closely with farmers in NY and nearby. Other ingredients that simply can’t be found around New York like the Mexican vanilla bean and Oaxacan chocolate are imported, but we work with small producers in Mexico as we believe its very important to support them as well. We are also very proud to support a wonderful organization called Crea and donate a portion of our sales to them whenever possible.
To put it simply, the heart and mission of La Newyorkina is to share the delicious sweetness of Mexico and rich culture. We deeply and sincerely hope that you enjoy its sweetness as much as we do!
About Hernán
From the simple “mercado” craft packaging, to the natural ingredients, our product reflects a culture that values authenticity and nature while preserving time honored Mexican culinary traditions in a modern world. Hernán is a line of premium Mexican kitchenware designed and made in Mexico in partnership with local artisans and producers, many of whom are expanding beyond their local origins for the first time. Hernán Mexican Hot Chocolate was named Outstanding Hot Beverage of 2012 in the 40th Sofi™ Awards competition from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.
About Semillas
Semillas is a non-profit organization focused on improving women’s lives in Mexico. We dream of a country where all women—indigenous, mestiza, black, young, migrant, heterosexual, lesbian, mothers, and students alike—can make their own decisions and have access to health services, a decent job, justice, and happiness. To achieve this, Fondo Semillas supports groups and organizations of women. Throughout the past 25 years, Fondo Semillas has directly benefited more than 640 thousand women and 2.4 million more women, girls, boys, and men indirectly. The "Women Rebuilding their Communities" Fund will support grassroots projects in response to the earthquakes that recently struck Mexico.
Thank you to La Sirena Mexican Folk Art for additional supplies.
*Ticket Refund Policy: Full refund with 48 hours notice, 50% refund with 24 hours notice, and no refund with less than 24 hours notice.