The Taste of Mexico Helps Heal the Bay

There’s something almost spiritual about great Mexican food. I’m not talking about Taco Bell or Mexican food that’s been so Americanized you might as well be eating a burger and fries. I am talking about the good stuff, the authentic, grandma is in the kitchen rolling out tortillas as we speak kind of Mexican food. It’s craveable and fulfilling to the soul. You can taste the love and passion that goes into making real Mexican food.

On Saturday, December 4, the kind of Mexican fare described above, flowed like Horchata at The Taste of Mexico, held inside the glorious Vibiana, near downtown Los Angeles. Once a cathedral, the space feels heavenly with vaulted ceilings and an openness that welcomes a crowd … in this case, a crowd of people who were coming together to eat delicious food, celebrate a rich culture, and join in Mexico’s Bicentennial Celebration!

Four of LA’s best Mexican eateries: Frida Mexican Cuisine, Guelaguetza Restaurant, La Casita Mexicana and La Monarca Bakery – came together to create The Taste of Mexico Association, an organization to promote and champion authentic Mexican cuisine in the United States.

Since restaurants are the number one consumers of disposables, the association chose the ecological organization, Heal the Bay, to be the beneficiary of part of the proceeds from ticket sales. Founded in 1985, Heal The Bay is an environmental advocacy non-profit organization founded to protect California’s Santa Monica Bay, a region of the Pacific coast, for the people and marine life. The Taste of Mexico Association is committed to being more environmentally conscious and La Monarca Bakery has opted to only using bakery boxes made from recyclables. So, as you can tell, this was yet another wonderful event where good people and good food came together to help raise funds and awareness for a great cause!

Here are a few highlights from the fabulous feast.

La Casita Mexicana

Tastings: Tamales with vanilla cheese and hultlacoche (corn smut)
Tequila guacamole
Green ceviche made with pollock fish
Tamales with cactus

Guelaguetza
Tastings: Tlayudas de Chapulin
Black mole with chicken tamales, wrapped in banana leaf

Frida
Tastings: Tuna tostadas and shrimp tostadas
Quesadillas
Sopas
Fluatas

La Monarca Bakery

Tastings: Tres leches cake with Veracruz Vanilla Bean Frosting
Traditional cookies, cinnamon (hojarascas) and sugar (polvorones)
Cane Sugar Caramel Flan
Vanilla Bean & Chocolate Seashells (conchitas)

And of course … a little Tequila!!!!

Every restaurant brought their own specialties to the table. The desserts from La Monarca Bakery were a favorite, and every bit as delicious on the tongue as they were gorgeous for the eyes. We will only be getting tres leches cake from them from now on.

While the food was most definitely the star of the evening, the lively mariachi band and Lucha libre man definitely added sparkle to the event.

The entire night seemed to glow with the pride of a culture who is not only passionate about their cuisine, but also committed to keeping their homeland’s traditions alive by sharing them with others, starting right here in LA.

So, the next time you are craving the best Mexican food in Los Angeles, you now have four phenomenal options to choose from, whether it’s mole you want or something like life changing tres leches.

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