Oaxaca: The Food Of The Region, And Of La’s Legendary Restaurant Guelaguetza

By (author) Lopez, Bricia; By (author) Cabral, Javier
Description:

A colorful celebration of Oaxacan cuisine from the landmark Oaxacan restaurant in Los Angeles

Oaxaca is the culinary heart of Mexico, and since opening its doors in 1994, Guelaguetza has been the center of life for the Oaxacan community in Los Angeles. Founded by the Lopez family, Guelaguetza has been offering traditional Oaxacan food for 25 years. The first true introduction to Oaxacan cuisine by a native family, each dish articulates their story, from Oaxaca to the streets of Los Angeles and beyond. Showcasing the “soul food” of Mexico, Oaxaca offers 140 authentic, yet accessible recipes using some of the purest pre-Hispanic and indigenous ingredients available. From their signature pink horchata to the formula for the Lopez’s award-winning mole negro, Oaxaca demystifies this essential cuisine.
Review quote:
“Bricia and her family are true culinary ambassadors, sharing the ingredients, the stories, and the flavors of her native Oaxaca. To me, they have achieved the true American dream—they have brought with them all of the very best from their home, providing an amazing space for community, for family, for the people of Los Angeles . . . and now we all get the chance to hear the stories and taste the food that makes Oaxaca one of the best places to eat on earth.”
Review quote:
"From its powerful and important dedication, to its enticing introduction, alluring photographs and recipes, the thrilling new cookbook Oaxaca accomplishes that rare feat of capturing a place so vividly it not only make you want to go there, it brings you there by simply picking up this wonderful tribute to a land and its people. Let’s lift a glass of mezcal to Bricia Lopez and the family behind LA’s Guelaguetza.”
Review quote:
Bricia and her family built an amazing space to share the flavors and the stories of their native Oaxaca. Her journey is inspiring: Like any other migrant family they brought to the United States their very own cuisine, but they also created a place for community, for the people of Los Angeles, a place where you can feel at home. Now we have the chance to read the stories and taste the food that makes Oaxaca one of the best places to eat on earth.
Review quote:
"I grew up in Ktown in and out of 8th street, aka the Oaxacan corridor where their first restaurant was. Now it''s located in the buffet building I used to eat at as a kid on Olympic. And soon, Mama Rabbit is gonna open right next door to my restaurant Best Friend in Las Vegas. I can''t seem to shake the Guelaguetza family. We are forever linked and I''m mole than happy for that!”
Review quote:
“This inspiring and delightful cookbook, full of excellent and easy-to-follow recipes, confirms that Oaxaca is not only one of Mexico''s most important food regions, it is one of the most important in the world.”
Biographical note:
Bricia Lopez comes from a long lineage of Oaxaca Mezcal craftsmen and grew up in her grandmother’s kitchen. Lopez is the co-proprietor of Guelaguetza. Javier Cabral created the critically acclaimed food blog Teenage Gluster when he was only 16. A former West Coast staff writer for Munchies, he has written for numerous publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Saveur, and Lucky Peach. They both live in Los Angeles.