An evening that could have taken place at any time, from the Neolithic to the Renaissance. Join us to explore the origins of our food and wines, paired with an artist inspired by these same sources.
Date and Time:
*The food pairings will begin at 7:30 sharp. The dinner portion will last about 2.5 hours. Afterwards, please join us for Vino After Dark!
Location:
Breakfast for Dinner Studio | 2537 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60639
Vino Divino Presents: Our Roots, an ancestral evening with host Enrique Velasco-Sánchez, and artist Norma Ojeda
If you’ve ever wondered why an evening meal with friends feels so restorative, it’s because it is rooted in the oldest of traditions. Featuring foods from Europe and the Americas, this gathering echoes moments that could have taken place at any time, from the Neolithic to the Renaissance. Our ancestors’ Friday nights likely looked much like this one. Join us to enjoy a meal crafted with ancient ingredients and divine beverages. Together, we will explore the origins of our food and wines, pairing the evening with an artist inspired by these same sources.
What’s On The Menu:
We have curated a menu that celebrates the timeless foods essential to our survival. These dishes could have been prepared at any point in history, blending the culinary traditions of Mayan nobility and Iberian shepherds. Our seven-course meal features a mix of classic delicacies like oysters, caviar, and Iberian ham, alongside ingredients that have been largely forgotten, such as huitlacoche, dried cod, and wild mushrooms. These revered elements are complemented by the fundamental staples of the Americas and Europe: bread, corn, cheese, beans, nuts, and fruit. As always, we will include a mix of vegan and vegetarian dishes with dishes that include fish or meat and will try to accommodate or substitute when possible.
There will be plenty of food to go around, so don’t worry about eating before arriving!
What are we tasting:
We are excited to welcome our guests with a unique experience that goes beyond the usual offerings of wine. This time, we will be tasting a beverage lost in time: Pulque, a fermented drink made from the sap of the maguey cactus.
For the wine tasting, we will explore the fascinating stories that have shaped wine in the Americas. We will start with Carmenère, a variety that was mistaken for Merlot for over 100 years. We will challenge ourselves to distinguish its unique characteristics and outshine the best sommeliers. Following this, we will compare these wines with their European counterparts to understand the nuances and differences.
Our final focus will be on Moscatel, a variety introduced to Argentina in the 1500s. Over the next 500 years, it evolved into Torrontés. We will delve into its transformation and discover how it has changed through the centuries.
What You’ll Learn:
About the Art:
This event will feature work from Mexican American artist, Norma Ojeda. Ojeda is known for her vivid and intimate portrayals of life and culture. Her style is characterized by vibrant colors and vivid details. Through her art, Ojeda chooses to create surrealistic art to fuse life’s past, present, and future, while exploring themes of spirituality, mindfulness, and honoring her ancestors. During the event, we will explore several of her oil paintings and get to hear from the artist herself about her process and practice.
VinoDivino After Dark:
The tasting will eventually come to a close, but your evening won’t have to! Join us for music, and more fun immediately following the tasting. We will pick up the pace of your evening while you’re free to hang around with the new friends you made throughout the evening.
We can’t wait to see you soon!
Dress Code:
For this ancient event, dress to impress!
Refund Policy:
Full refunds will be issued up to 5 days before the event. Send an email to jperry1995@gmail.com to let us know if you need to request a refund. We’ll miss you!
