Event: “Unknown Gastronomy of Mexico,” presented by cookbook author Diana Kennedy, part of the “Foodways of Mexico” speaker series.
When: Thursday, April 29, 6 to 7 p.m., reception and book signing to follow from 7 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Blanton Auditorium, The Blanton Museum of Art (at the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Congress Avenue).
Background: Kennedy will explore the dishes and recipes of Mexico that are handed down from generation to generation but are rarely or never published. From recipes shared between mothers and daughters to village feasts in which the entire community prepares the meal, Mexico has a rich food tradition. With her profound knowledge of the culture, Kennedy examines this lively and often elusive contribution to Mexican cuisine.
An indefatigable student of Mexican foodways for more than 50 years, Kennedy has published several classic works including “The Cuisines of Mexico” and “The Art of Mexican Cooking.” She has been recipient of the highest honor given to foreigners by the Mexican government, the Order of the Aztec Eagle, and has received numerous awards from gastronomic institutions throughout the world. Her latest book, “Oaxaca al Gusto: An Infinite Gastronomy” will be published in September 2010 by the University of Texas Press.
The presentation is part of the “Foodways of Mexico: Past, Present, and Future” speaker series running through November 2010. The series was organized by the Mexican Center of the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies and Claudia Alarcón, an Austin-based food writer who is a native of Mexico City.
The event is also sponsored by the Blanton Museum of Art. Additional support was provided by Katelena Hernandez Cowles and James Cowles. It is free and open to the public.
