New York Fetes Moveable Mexican Feast

Restaurateur Zarela Martinez has carefully curated Chihuahua Querida, a weeklong event to celebrate the food and culture of Chihuahua, Mexico, with events at several New York restaurants [today?] through Saturday. Chihuahua Querida's highlights include food and drink tastings, lectures, a pottery workshop, and a cooking class.

Parties, including one celebrating Pancho Villa's 132nd birthday, are open to the public, who can buy tickets on the Chihuahua Querida website. Performance artist Narciso Martinez appears as Pancho Villa Tuesday at Casa Mezcal. Photography of Chihuahua by Raechel Running will also be displayed at the event. Tickets are $25 and include appetizers and drinks

Casa Mezcal's owner, Ignacio Carballido, will take patrons through a wide range of Mexican spirits, including sotol and mezcal, Wednesday at Café Mezcal. During the drink tasting, Café Frida burritos filled with machaca, a type of jerky, will be served at the free event.

Presentations about Chihuahua along with free authentic Chihuahua chuck wagon-style food and hibiscus agua fresca, are gratis on Thursday at Centrico Restaurant. Lectures by anthropologist Elsa Rodriguez Garcia, who will speak about the ruins of Paquime, and Ron Bridgemon, who will discuss tourism, are free. Conservationist Carmela Wallace, who will introduce master pottery maker Diego Valles, and Dave Hensleigh, who will speak about the Raramuri runners and the Copper Canyon, are also free. Reservations are required.

The weeklong event culminates with pottery and cooking classes. Diego Valles will lead a hands-on pottery class and discuss his technique and Mata Ortiz, an entire town devoted to pottery, at Greenwich Pottery House on Friday. Tickets are $95.

Foodies can learn how to cook albondigas, enchiladas de chile colorado, flour tortillas, frijoles charros, and calabacitas with Martinez on Saturday at Sueños Restaurant. Tickets are $50.