San Antonio Celebrates Pueblos del Maiz

Published on May 10, 2023

San Antonio joins three other Creative Cities for ‘Pueblos del Maiz’ celebration during May

SAN ANTONIO (May 10, 2023) – It’s time to celebrate a month of maiz in May! San Antonio UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy presents the 2nd annual Pueblos del Maiz as part of a multi-city celebration of corn as a heritage ingredient found in many foods. San Antonio will host cooking demonstrations, maiz tastings and include special corn dishes offered by San Antonio restaurants.
 
The other Creative Cities participating in Pueblos del Maiz and presenting their own local programs include Tucson, Arizona; Merida, Mexico; and Puebla, Mexico.
 
On May 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., San Antonio will have a “Maiz Showcase at Pearl,” featuring live cooking demonstrations from local and visiting chefs from Tucson, Arizona, and Merida, Mexico. Demonstrations will be held at the Culinary Institute of America of San Antonio outdoor grill to provide an educational cooking demonstration using sustainable ingredients and share the impact climate change has on their local cuisine.  As part of our Pueblos del Maiz celebration, chefs will also incorporate maiz in their dishes and share how it connects with each city’s culinary heritage.
 
“Maiz is considered a heritage ingredient within our culture and history, and links San Antonio's rich tradition to our fellow creative cities,” said Colleen Swain, Director of the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office, which oversees the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy designation in San Antonio. “Pueblos del Maiz is an opportunity for San Antonio residents and visitors to get a taste of this history, learn about the role corn has played in the foods of our ancestors, and explore it in creative ways.”
 
To continue the celebration, Chef Johnny Hernandez and visiting chefs will prepare a “Taste of Pueblos del Maiz,” at Casa Hernan on May 13 from noon to 3 p.m. This ticketed event provides an array of maiz tastings, desserts, and welcome cocktails provided by Benjamin Krick, from Pastiche. UTSA Libraries Cookbook Collection will have a selection of cookbooks featuring maiz from their collection. Andres Lobato, a photographer from Puebla, will provide a lecture and photography exhibit: “Mazorca, multicolored pattern of traditions and culture of maize in Puebla, Mexico” available for purchase through a silent auction.
 
Fifteen San Antonio restaurants and one brewery are participating by offering corn dishes and beverages as part of this month-long program. When visiting restaurants to purchase these special items, customers can also collect free Pueblos del Maiz stickers. This year’s Pueblos del Maiz participating restaurants are:

• Chicken N Pickle
  5215 UTSA Blvd., 78249 (Directions)
• Cuishe Cocina Mexicana
  115 N. Loop 1604, Suite #1108, 78232 (Directions)
• Elotitos Corn Bar
  1933 Fredericksburg Rd., Suite #105, 78201 (Directions)
• Munchies
  5602 W. Hausman Rd, 78249 (Directions)
• Naco 210 Mexican Eatery
  2015 NE Interstate 410 Loop, 78204 (Directions)
• Zedric’s
  9873 Colonnade Blvd., 78230 (Directions)
• Lala’s Gordita
  1600 Roosevelt Ave., 78210 (Directions)
• Bilia Eatery
  1900 NW Military, Castle Hills, TX 78213 (Directions)
• Stixs & Stone
  5718 Wurzbach Road, 78238 (Directions)
• The Fruteria
  1401 S. Flores St., Suite #102, 78204 (Directions)
• Cuishe Cocina Mexicana
  115 N Loop 1604E #1108, 78232 (Directions)
• Santa Diabla
  906 East Elmira St., 78212 (Directions)
• The Good Kind
  1127 St. Mary’s St., 78210 (Directions)
• 2M Smokehouse
  2731 WW White Rd., 78222 (Directions)
• Pharm Table
  611 S. Presa St., Suite #106, 78210 (Directions)
• Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant, Market, & Bakery
  5700 Wurzbach Rd., 78238 (Directions)
• Sari-Sari Supper Club
  10234 St. HWY 151, Suite #102, 78251 (Directions)
• Freetail Brewery
  2000 S. Presa St., 78210 (Directions)

Freetail Brewery is featuring a new brew for Pueblos del Maiz called, “Flor del Maiz.” Freetail partnered with Ancient Heirloom Grains and S.A. Colonial Tortilleria to brew this liquid tribute to maiz and its important place in local cuisine and culture. Fresh masa made from nixtamalized purple, red, and blue corn grown in Texas and Mexico were added to the mash, imparting delicate, unmistakable corn flavor and color to this brew. A robust near 90 degrees Fahrenheit with a Norwegian yeast strain added floral, herbal, and spice character—a synergy as complex as the thriving culinary scene in our beautiful city.

Information on the Pueblos del Maiz events and food and beverage items each restaurant is serving is available at this website.

“San Antonio is the prime location to celebrate Pueblos del Maiz,” said Stephen Paprocki, San Antonio UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy Chef Ambassador, and President of Chef Cooperatives. “Corn is a staple ingredient and abundant in many foods and drinks in San Antonio. It can be found in traditional foods such as tortillas and tamales, however, thanks to the talents of our city's diverse culinary industry, we now see corn incorporated into more creative dishes.”
 
In 2017, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated San Antonio as a Creative City of Gastronomy for its culinary legacy as a confluence of cultures. The indigenous roots; the traditions and tastes introduced by the Spanish colonists in the 1700s; and the European, Asian, and African influences that came with European settlers in the 1800s have created a complex fusion that makes San Antonio's cuisine distinct from other southwest regions in the United States. As a UNESCO Creative City, San Antonio is part of a distinct group of international cities committed to sharing best practices, developing partnerships that promote creativity, strengthening participation in cultural life, and integrating culture into urban development.
 
Information on San Antonio as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy is available at SACityofGastronomy.Org. Information on the World Heritage Office is available at SanAntonio.gov/WorldHeritage.