A Mezcal Toast to Dia De Los Muertos – Walking Tour
November 1 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Hosted by Tonya Hopkins, aka “The Food Griot,” Brought to You by Eléctrico Mezcal Artesanal and Featuring Ashbell’s Premium (Artisanally Smoked Meats)
Join me on November 1st for a TFG “Sip, Sample & Stroll” — in the Slope! A roaming food & drink event filled with savory & sweet samples + spirited storytelling, starting at the Old Stone House of Brooklyn. From there we’ll snack and sip our way down 5th Ave while being regaled with relevant culturally-rooted narratives. The primary theme of tonight’s tour: “Dia De Los Muertos” — the now well-known uniquely Mexican heritage holiday celebrated everywhere — incl. the Spooky Slope (decked out Park Slope Bklyn each October and November!). This annual holiday (Nov 1st & 2nd each year) is when families welcome back and convene with the souls of deceased relatives. Along the way we’ll connect cultural dots to the many traditions of remembrance and honoring of ancestors throughout the Americas and the New World.
Our stops this night will illuminate the confluence of Indigenous, Spanish and African influences that begat this global phenomenon known as The New World, with stops at cherished Slope spots that help us explore the diversity of Spanish-speaking food & drink cultures. Places include: Good Wine: A Food Lover’s Wine Shop, Bonbon Lakay: Haitian & Caribbean Treats from Home (yes Haiti was initially ’claimed’ by Spain!) and Colombia in Park Slope. We’ll savor each spot’s hospitality then the stroll culminates with a “Cheers!” at Chela Park Slope where we’ll not only toast to the holiday but also see a special screening of Eléctrico’s award-winning short film, “Festival Oaxaca”, imbibe mezcal artesanal during a guided tasting by yours truly and learn about it’s cultural and historical significance. Chela is also is preparing for us a special Dia De Los Muertos menu for those who’s appetites have been whetted along the way and want to sit down for a full meal — a Mexican cultural and culinary feast* — and don’t forget to invite any (or all!) Dearly Departeds if you do!
(*food & drink from the special full meal menu is available for purchase)
RSVP is required to attend “A Mezcal Toast to Dia De Los Muertos – Walking Tour”.
ABOUT ELÉCTRICO: Crafted by Man, Beast, Time & Fire…
Eléctrico Mezcal is a true, artesanal spirit born from the Zapotec traditions of San Baltazar Guelavila, Oaxaca. The Eléctrico collection of mezcal is the shared vision of Maestro Cirino, a third generation Mezcalero at one with his art and his environment, and his friend Kathleen Blackwell, a musician and creative entrepreneur on a lifetime quest for harmony.
ABOUT ASHBELL’s: Smoked Duck Breast by Chef Ashbell McElveen
Ashbell's Applewood Smoked Duck Breast is second to none, hand-seasoned with his proprietary spice blend and hot-smoked over Applewood for hours until it is bursting with flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Chela’s Proprietor and Chef Ronny Jamarillo will showcase it’s luxuriously rich flavors in a cultural context reflecting the culinary creativity of this upscale Mexican establishment.
ABOUT THE FILM
A Screening of the award-winning short film “Festival Oaxaca” by Eléctrico’s talented team member Neville Farmer will be shared. The film centers around Oaxaca’s celebration of their ancestors and Eléctrico Mezcal’s ties with Oaxacan culture, celebrating the ancestors and the recently departed. Which is what ‘Remembrance’ is all about…
ADDITIONAL INFO
All strolls start in front of the Old Stone House (on the JJ Byrne Park side)…