LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
By Ed Avis
Everybody knows there is a lot of history behind Mexican cuisine. Now that history is getting some creative attention in Los Angeles at LA Plaza Cocina, a new museum and teaching kitchen dedicated to Mexican cuisine.
“We really think now is the right time for this project,” says Jessica Ureña, development manager for special projects for LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, the parent organization of LA Plaza Cocina. “We’ve always had culinary programs and we wanted a true space for it.”
The new museum and teaching kitchen, which will open in the first half of 2019, is slated to be part of LA Plaza Village, a residential and retail complex being built across the street from LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. LA Plaza Cocina will feature a full kitchen that can be used for cooking demonstrations and classes; a museum gallery space that will feature rotating exhibitions about the cuisine; and a retail space that will purvey cookbooks, special utensils, etc.
The existing LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, founded in 2011, is a museum and cultural center dedicated to the history, art and culture of the Mexican experience in Los Angeles. It has recently offered culinary arts programs such as the history of chocolate and wines from Valle de Guadalupe. These events always sell out, Ureña explains, and the new location will provide more space for them.
The organization is currently raising funds to build out the kitchen and museum in the space provided by LA Plaza Village.
“There are various sponsorships and naming rights available,” Ureña says. “It’s a great opportunity for businesses that are aligned with Latino culture and Mexican traditions to highlight the importance of Mexican cuisine to our culture.”
Among advisors to the new project are Brett and Lucy Thompson of Pez Cantina; Lilly Rocha from the Latino Food Industry Association; Bricia Lopez from Guelaguetza Restaurante; and Sarah Portnoy, a professor at USC who teaches classes on Latino food culture.
For more information, visit http://www.lapca.org/