Ophelia Executive Chef Francisco Higareda will pay homage to his Mexican heritage and the country’s revered annual Day of the Dead celebrations by hosting a multi-course Día de los Muertos Dinner at the popular Olympic Village restaurant (165 W 2nd Ave.) on Thursday, October 26.
Beginning with a welcome cocktail at 6:30 p.m. and continuing with dinner at 7 p.m., the Día de los Muertos event will showcase Higareda’s unique takes on authentic Mexican fare in a dimly lit dining room adorned in traditional décor and flickering candles, staff sporting colourful calavera (skull) makeup, and a soundtrack of Mexican folk music.
A storied holiday observed throughout Latin America, Día de los Muertos is a traditional and much revered holiday celebrated in Mexico during which family and friends gather to pray for and remember friends and family members who have passed. It is commonly portrayed as a day of celebration rather than one of mourning and has become a national symbol and is taught in the nation’s school system with its indigenous origins serving as a point of pride. In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS DINNER
Thursday, October 26, 2023
$85 per person plus tax and gratuity
Margarita de Los Muertos
mezcal, squid ink tincture, fresh lime juice
Crudo de Hamachi
hamachi, miso soy, avocado
lime, chiltepín
Aguachile de Rib Eye y Atun
dry aged rib eye, bluefin tuna sashimi,
avocado, red onion, burnt habanero broth
Sope de Chorizo
Oaxaca corn, black beans,
chorizo, serrano pepper
Pulpo en Mole de Mango
fried octopus, mango mole, onion ashes
Pork Belly en Adobo de Manzana
confit pork belly, apple adobo,
mashed potatoes, apple purée
Maracuya, Helado de Almendra y Caviar
roasted seeds, fresh passion fruit,
roasted almond ice cream, royal caviar
Staff are not the only ones who will be observing traditional customs, dress and makeup during the one-night-only affair. Guests are also encouraged to arrive in costume and vie for prizes during a Halloween Costume Contest that will take place during the dinner.
Reservations for Ophelia’s Día de los Muertos event can be made via email at david.s@opheliakitchen.ca and secured with a credit card, will full payment taken on the night of the event.
For more information about Ophelia, visit opheliakitchen.ca.
