Explore the stories of tradition, resilience and cultural resistance through our documentary films, celebrating the culinary heritage and biodiversity of the Texas-Mexico borderlands.
“Encuentro: Chefs of the Texas Borderlands”
– A five-episode documentary series — Work in progress
SYNOPSIS
“Encuentro: Chefs of the Texas Borderlands” emphasizes the deeply rooted indigenous traditions that have been passed down through generations on both sides of the Rio Grande.
In each episode, chef, food author and filmmaker Adán Medrano will meet with chefs, scholars and community leaders who are working to redefine and preserve this culinary legacy. They will explore techniques and practices that have sustained the region for centuries—such as the gathering of mesquite, the preparation of indigenous cacti and the rituals surrounding bison. These culinary practices are more than food; they are intertwined with the cultural and spiritual connections to the land and its people. Interviews with archeologists and ethnobotanists will reinforce the connection between the indigenous people and the land.
“Encuentro” seeks to amplify the voices and stories that have been erased or ignored. The series becomes a call to honor the richness and depth of Texas Mexican food, not only as a cuisine but as a living testament to the enduring legacy of indigenous communities, including the Coahuiltecan, Caddo, Karankawa and Tonkawa. Through its five episodes, the series will explore themes such as ecology, sustainability, biodiversity, health, the role of gender in culinary traditions, gender diversity, and the cultural revitalization of Native and Indigenous communities, all while sharing delicious recipes.
Click to Watch 2-minute Demo Reel
NOTE: We conducted a research shoot on location with the participating chefs to capture their unique culinary environments and cultural stories. The footage includes interviews, scenes of traditional ingredient preparation, and moments showcasing their creative processes.
Truly Texas Mexican
– a full-length documentary feature, 2021
SYNOPSIS
Over time and during conquest, Texas Mexican food (not tex-mex) sustained Native American memory and identity. Cooking nopalitos, deer, mesquite and tortillas, indigenous women led the cultural resistance against colonization.
15,000 years ago, Native American women domesticated the plants and cooked the same game and fish we eat today. It’s the “comida casera,” (home cooking) of contemporary Texas Mexican American families. Comida casera was made famous in the late 1800s by indigenous businesswomen, chefs, who operated outdoor diners in downtown San Antonio. Later dubbed “Chili Queens,” the chefs were harassed and forced out of business, victims of racism.
But other women followed in their footsteps throughout the state, they kept on cooking. Chefs, artists and community leaders in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Brownsville and other cities share intimate food experiences that shape who they are today, prevailing over a history of discrimination, dispossession and violence.
The road movie weaves through Texas cities, reclaiming Native American history and celebrating the food that kept alive the community’s living memory and heritage.
Food narrates who we are, and indigenous Texas Mexican food underscores what it means to be “American.” This new movie offers a new type of encounter. One of understanding, building a table where ALL ARE WELCOME.