LOS ANGELES (April 9, 2024) –– LA Cocina de Gloria Molina, a LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes teaching kitchen dedicated to exploring Mexican gastronomy, will be celebrating its second anniversary during the month of April exploring Mexican culinary history through pioneer Josefina Velázquez de León, a culinary program with multiple classes including two free cooking demos, as well as opening to the public of its brand new Raíces Culinarias: A Recipe Reading Room, and the opening of applications for the next Culinary Youth Training Program cohort. 

 Over the past two years, LA Cocina de Gloria Molina has offered over 100 culinary programs (cooking classes, talks, tastings, and demos), and trained over 75 students (16 to 24 years old) on basic skills required for a career in the culinary and hospitality industries through its Culinary Youth Training Program, which was launched with the support of the PepsiCo Foundation. 

 “LA Cocina de Gloria Molina has become a community space for local chefs, including many homegrown James Beard Award nominees,” says Ximena Martin, LA Plaza’s Director of Programming and Culinary Arts. “More importantly,” she continues, “LA Cocina is a gathering space for community members to explore and experience Mexican cuisine viscerally, taking them through a journey of culinary self-discovery". 

 LA Plaza, a cultural center rich in the stories of our community members, celebrates the anniversary of LA Cocina de Gloria Molina by highlighting an often overlooked yet highly influential figure in culinary arts, Josefina Velázquez de León. Born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Josefina significantly expanded the world's knowledge of Mexican gastronomy through her culinary school, cookbooks, and television shows, which introduced the world to the diversity of Mexico's culinary culture. Josefina published approximately 150 cookbooks and created an empire unheard of in the mid-20th century. 

 Guests will learn about her contributions through a display titled Josefina Velázquez de León: The Forgotten Legacy of a Mexican Culinary Pioneer, curated by food historian Maite Gomez-Rejón. 

 “As the first to offer correspondence courses, Josefina Velázquez de León empowered women to join Mexico’s economy by starting their own businesses. By publishing regional cookbooks, she provided a form for uniting regional cuisine. She wrote the first bilingual Mexican cookbook in the United States,” shared Maite Gomez-Rejón. “The list of her accomplishments and contributions goes on and on. I’m so excited to introduce this pioneer of Mexican gastronomy to the Los Angeles community.” 

 Accompanying the display are various classes showcasing Josefina’s legacy and impact in Mexico and the United States. Maite Gomez-Rejón will showcase two cooking demos based on Josefina’s cookbooks, one on how to make Jaletinas (gelatins) and another on dishes from Campeche, Mexico. The display can be seen while attending any of LA Cocina culinary programs. 

 An exciting addition to LA Cocina de Gloria Molina is Raíces Culinarias: A Recipe Reading Room, a unique space offering a collection of diverse culinary treasures. This collection includes recipe books representing various cooking regions of Mexico and works from renowned chefs. 

 Visitor can also explore digital copies of Josefina Velázquez de León's cookbooks, an invaluable resource of The University of Texas San Antonio's Mexican Cookbook Collection. All the materials are available for viewing on Fridays from 12pm to 4pm by appointment only. To make an appointment please contact cocina@lapca.org 

 "LA Cocina de Gloria Molina has quickly become a centerpiece of LA Plaza's culinary offerings, rooted in the flavors, traditions, and love of our culture," says Leticia Rhi Buckley, CEO of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. "I can't think of a more fitting tribute to our beloved founder and LA Cocina namesake, Gloria Molina." 

 For more information about the Culinary Youth Training Program, including access to the application for the next cohort, please visit lapca.org. To explore the entire Culinary Program of LA Cocina de Gloria Molina visit Eventbrite.com