Recognizing the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions, National Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time to connect with diverse cultures in the St. Louis region.
Kicking off the festivities, the Hispanic Festival in Soulard is one of the most enticing – and the most exciting – ways to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month. From Sept. 19 to 21, the historic St. Louis neighborhood will come to life with dynamic bands, folkloric dancers, traditional foods and colorful arts and crafts.
On Oct. 7, Cocina Latina – a vibrant eatery in the Central West End – will celebrate Hispanic culture with a cocktail party where you can sip stiff drinks to an operatic soundtrack. Curated by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the special performance will feature tenor Benjamin Ruiz and soprano Laura Elena Fernández, two rising stars who will add to the revelry.
On Oct. 9, the Missouri History Museum will host an evening of storytelling, spotlighting locals and their lives. Stirring emotions, sparking laughter and inviting moments of reflection and connection, the event will also include cultural entertainment and food and drinks for purchase.
And at The Magic House in Kirkwood, the ¡Viva México! exhibition invites families to take a trip south of the border, where they can shop in colorful street markets, dance to live Mariachi music, make tortillas in traditional homes and learn about Mexico’s diverse geography and rich history while learning a new Spanish word or two.
Generational recipes and traditional foods help us connect with new cultures, and there’s no better place to savor a variety of cuisines than Cherokee Street. Home to the largest concentration of Hispanic-owned and -operated bakeries, restaurants, groceries and shops in St. Louis, the neighborhood welcomes visitors with a warmth and exuberance that makes you feel like part of the family. To experience the flavor of the area, stop by one of these delicious establishments:
Named after owner Ana Vazquez’s daughter, Diana’s Bakery offers more than 100 Mexican treats, including bolillos (small loaves of white bread), conchas (sweet bread made with buttery brioche-like dough and a streusel topping) and milhojas (layers of puff pastry filled with pastry cream and drizzled with dulce de leche). If the specialty sweets don’t hit the spot, Diana’s also sells handmade tamales on weekends.
El Torito, a supermercado and taqueria on Cherokee Street, boasts brightly painted walls, friendly service, an on-site grill and delicious bites to-go. We recommend getting three or four tacos per person – you can’t go wrong with the carnitas, barbacoa and chicarrón – and washing them down with ice-cold Mexican beer.
Tacos al pastor, tortas de camarón, enchiladas de queso, chiles rellenos – Taqueria El Bronco serves traditional taqueria fare in a no-frills setting.
Tacos and ice cream – that’s a combination that we can get behind! At La Vallesana, tacos stuffed with grilled steak, marinated pork, spicy shrimp and beef tongue are the stars of the menu, but we suggest saving room for dessert. Among surprising flavors of ice cream – think elote, guanabana and uva – you’ll find housemade tres leches cake, chocolate-covered paletas and more.
For more bites and sips, snag a seat at Arzolas Fajitas + Margaritas in Benton Park, The Golden Hoosier in Northampton, Havana’s Cuisine in the Central West End and Malinche in Ellisville.
Run by brothers Alex and Jeff Henry, El Molino del Sureste is an acclaimed farm-to-table regional Mexican restaurant known for exquisite dishes such as heirloom masa dumplings with local mushrooms and mole negro; scallops with white chocolate mole and pepitas; and tamales with cochinita pibil and salsa frita. If you’re looking for something more casual, pop by their food stall at City Foundry STL, Taqueria del Sureste, where fresh corn tortillas stuffed with locally sourced produce and house-butchered meat steal the show.
For a caffeine fix, head to Coffeestamp where Honduran brothers Patrick and Spencer Clapp offer a taste of single-origin coffee. Ethically sourced and served, the coffee’s flavor profiles range from notes of pineapple, lychee and sweet vermouth to hints of dark chocolate, butterscotch and dried cranberries. Pair steaming cups with savory empanadas stuffed with cherry wood-smoked ham, marinated steak and barbecue chicken. Vegetarian or vegan? Try the Baleada (red baked beans, scrambled eggs and fried sweet plantains topped with cream and Cotija) or the Garden Curry (mushrooms, onions, peppers, sweet corn, roasted potatoes and basil in coconut curry).
La Finca Coffee, the first Colombian-style coffee shop in the St. Louis region, also serves decadent brews, carefully roasted to accentuate the delicate characteristics of the single-origin coffees from Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Ethiopia.
Another noteworthy business – the brainchild of Peruvian-born Julio Zegarra-Ballon – Zee Bee Market sells socially and environmentally conscious gifts from around the world – each with a beautiful story behind it. Shop for dark chocolate from Peru, stylish hats from Ecuador and ceramic mugs with Día de los Muertos-style sugar skull designs from Guatemala, among other fair-trade artisan gifts.
We hope that these ideas inspire you to connect with St. Louis’ historical and cultural narrative, which has been influenced by the world.
