The public is invited to attend a free series of events in June and August celebrating the flavors of mezquite bean flour. Mezquite is a tree native to south Texas that grows abundantly in the Laredo area. Mezquite bean pods can be ground into a flour that is naturally sweet and earthy with aromatic notes of cloves, cinnamon, and chocolate. The flour can be used to make delicious baked goods, as a smoothie supplement, or to enhance the flavor of other recipes.
Foraging events in June will be held at Laredo parks and will give attendees lessons and hands-on experience on how to pick the best mezquite pods. A separate mezquite exchange and tasting will be held after each foraging event, where participants will be able to taste foods prepared with mezquite and take home some of their own harina de mezquite.
In August, the Encuentro de Mezquite will include a demonstration during Laredo’s First Friday Artwalk CaminArte on mezquite preparation. The Encuentro will also include a vendor’s market focusing on native foods, a panel featuring local food producers and ranchers, and a luncheon with dishes prepared by local restaurants and chefs, including La India Packing Co. and Bobby Gonzalez of Tabernilla. The event series will conclude at a local ranch with a barbacoa demonstration, a Sunday brunch, and, tentatively, a chance to view how a hammer mill grinds mezquite beans into flour.
Culinary scholar, chef, and writer Maite Gomez-Rejon will serve as a keynote speaker. The Encuentro will also feature distinguished guest Lucille Contreras, a Lipan Apache with roots in Laredo and founder of the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project that is reintroducing American bison to Texas lands.
JUNE 6
8am to 10am:
Foraging hike and guided harvest
Chacon Bat Park Nature Trail
1104 S Meadow St.
11am to 1pm:
Mezquite Exchange and Tasting
Canseco House
1415 Chihuahua St.
June 20
8am to 10am:
Foraging hike and guided harvest
Riverbend Nature Preserve
2636 Ventura St.
11am to 1pm:
Mezquite Exchange and Tasting
Outlets Farmers Market
1600 Water St.
AUGUST 7-9: ENCUENTRO DE MEZQUITE
August 7
6pm to 9pm:
Mesquite Cooking Demonstration with Luna Vela
remarks by Maite Gomez-Rejón
Casa Ortiz @915 Zaragoza St.
August 8
9am to 12pm:
Mercado de Mesquite
10am to 12:30pm:
Keynote Address by Maite Gomez-Rejón
Native Foods Panel and Tastings
Border Heritage Museum
810 Zaragoza St.
1pm to 3pm:
Luncheon and Plática with Lucille Contreras of Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (registration required)
Laredo Center for the Arts
500 San Agustin Ave.
6:30pm to 9pm:
Carne Asada and Barbacoa (registration required)
La Pita Mangana Ranch (address to be provided upon registration)
About LCUAS: Laredo Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability creates and promotes an urban food system for the City of Laredo by increasing access to local fresh food for low income citizens and the community at large.
About The Texas Indigenous Food Project: The Texas Indigenous Food Project promotes the understanding of Texas native food history and culture, so that by recapturing ancestral knowledge, communities in Texas and throughout the Americas will be better grounded in solidarity and sustainability and will heighten their enjoyment of good food and good health.
Texas Indigenous Food Project