Throughout the world, the Mexican “T” diet has become beloved, iconic, and instantaneously recognizable. From tortillas to tamales, and everything in between (tacos, tortas, totopos–the list is endless), most people can’t seem to get enough of Mexican cuisine. In the United States, Mexican food has become an integral part of the food scene in almost every major American city that boasts of a Mexican population.
Home to the most robust and historic Mexican communities in the country, Los Angeles is a hub for all kinds of delicious Mexican cuisine, including the famous “T” diet. And where there’s food, there’s culture, and stories to be told. LA Plaza de Artes y Cultura has begun to share those stories through its extended wing, LA Plaza Cocina.
LA Plaza de Artes y Cultura, in itself, is “an institution of stories” that engages visitors with the history of Mexican, Mexican-American, and Latine cultural influence through a museum and community-based experience in downtown L.A. LA Plaza Cocina furthers the mission of the museum by honoring the origins and centuries long history of Mexican gastronomy.
The Cocina opened its doors with an exhibit dedicated to the most essential ingredient in any Mexican household, its importance being crucial to any “T” diet: Maize. The “Maize: Past, Present, and Future” exhibit, curated by Maite Gomez Rejón and Ximena Martin, was open through May 1st. For those who were unable to visit the exhibit in person, the virtual tour is still available online. Those visiting the museum in-person can alternatively tour the “Cazuelas y un Recetario: Family Heirlooms” exhibit, which is currently ongoing. Admission is free to LA Plaza museums.
LA Plaza is committed to making the museum accessible to the whole community, which includes making materials and engagements, like live cooking demonstrations, available online to the public. LA Plaza Cocina is also committed to inclusivity, specifically highlighting the diverse voices and stories of Indigenous and Afro-Mexicans who have helped make Mexican food what it is today.
LA Plaza Cocina partners with chefs to offer culinary programs, made available to the public on LA Plaza’s YouTube channel, Source: YouTube.
But L.A. is not the only place where one can find a museum dedicated to tracing the evolution of the Mexican culinary arts. Museum Gallery Our Kitchen Duque Herdez (Museo Galería Nuestra Cocina Duque de Herdez), funded by Fundación Herdez and located at the heart of Mexico City, features whole exhibit rooms that showcase the evolution of Mexican kitchens and the tools used to prepare different types of food. One of the museum’s more fun exhibits proposes what Mexican kitchens may look like in the more distant future as our technologically advanced society continues to evolve.
Director of the Duque Herdez museum, Azucena Suárez, gives viewers a short tour of the museum’s exhibitions, Source: YouTube
What makes the Herdez gallery more impressive is that it holds a massive library consisting of 6,900 volumes about Mexican gastronomy and the culinary arts. The library even contains volumes from as far back as the 13th century. To learn more about the library and explore its contents, more information can be found on the Fundación Herdez library website.
Fernanda Ponce | University of ChicagoFernanda Ponce is an undergraduate student studying Critical Race & Ethnic Studies at the University of Chicago. As the proud first generation Mexican American daughter of immigrants, Fernanda strives to enrich her knowledge of Latin America to better understand global, cultural, and socio-historical ties to the region. Through her writing, Fernanda hopes to further deepen her relationships with individuals and communities and respectfully share their stories with a wider audience to build greater understanding, appreciation, and connection with each other.
