Tabasco: A Cuisine of Water & Smoke | Gastronomy Workshop with Chef Lupita Vidal

Tabasco: A Cuisine of Water & Smoke is a hands-on gastronomy workshop led by Chef Lupita Vidal, exploring the ingredients, techniques, stories, and culinary traditions of Tabasco, Mexico. The experience draws on the region’s rivers, lagoons, wetlands, tropical landscapes, and ancestral cooking practices shaped by water, fire, and smoke.

Participants will watch live cooking demonstrations, hear about Tabasco’s culinary heritage, taste the preparations made during the workshop, and take part in hands-on activities. Chef Vidal will also present selected Tabascan ingredients and traditional elements, including cacao, chiles, spices, jícaras, and clay vessels. The menu and activities may change according to ingredient availability.

When: Thursday, October 15, 2026

Showtimes: The event listing runs from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM; the workshop itself lasts approximately 60–90 minutes.

Tickets: $60 per participant

Capacity: Limited to 35 participants

Language: Spanglish

Venue: Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Format: Live cooking demonstrations, storytelling, tasting, and hands-on participation

Chef: Lupita Vidal, a chef, culinary director, and co-founder of Grupo Chef Lupita Vidal in Villahermosa, Tabasco. Her work focuses on the ingredients, culinary traditions, and cultural heritage of her home state.

Recognition: Chef Lupita Vidal was named Mexico’s Best Chef 2025.

Note: The final menu and workshop activities are subject to ingredient availability.