Food is Art- Brooklyn Festival for Santa Cecilia

Food is Art presents:

On November 24, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, there is a grand celebration in  honor of Santa Cecilia, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 60th Street at Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.

Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of music and musicians say that she fills them with inspiration.  Thirty two mariachi groups (over 100 mariachis) in their individual style and color  of dress gather to honor her with a mariachi Mass.  For me the most uplifting moment is the opening song:  the Mexican birthday song, Las Mananitas followed by a blessedly short religious ceremony.

If you are Mexican or a Mexican at heart you will  swell with pride, happiness, nostalgia, fervor and all the feelings combined will make  you feel as if you might explode with emotion.  If not, the atmosphere and spirit will envelope you making you part of the celebration.

Following the service people adjourn to the auditorium for a kermes, a bazaar with food stands, and a mariachi concert.  You can go to the service and or form part of the Food is Art program group and join us for dinner at Roberto Santibanez’s much lauded Park Slope restaurant Fonda.   We are working on a menu and price to get a van and driver to take us there and back.

Roberto has proposed the following tasting menu of his specialties (small plates)

Fonda-style Ceviche with a caldillo of carrots and olives

Duck taco with habanero chile sauce

Fish hash with avocado

Chicken with Oaxacan black mole

Lamb barbacoa enchilada

Assorted desserts:  citrusy tres leches, natillas with fruit, chocolate pudding with candied nuts, etc.

The price per person $65.00 per person including transportation to Sunset Park, then on to Park Slope to Fonda and back into the city.  If you prefer to provide your own transportation the price for the food  is $38.75 including tax and tip.

Alcoholic beverages are not included with the dinner but we can meet at Zarela at 4:30 and have a margarita there as my treat and leave promptly at 5:00.

Please visit our Food is Art page on Facebook for more information on our organization.