RISE Westwood is the first kitchen in Colorado to become part of Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen’s #ChefsForAmericas movement

La Cocina at RISE Westwood, the permanent home of small Latino-owned businesses Cultura Craft Chocolate, XATRUCHO, and X'Tabai Yucateco has started serving on average 200 free prepared grab-and-go style meals a day to community members. One hundred of those meals go to a couple assisted living communities in the Barnum neighborhood. 

Thanks to assistance from CHFA, we have been able waive rent for our small business tenants for 3 months. We feel strongly about ensuring the future of our entire community. Because of that, we have dedicated a portion of our COVID-19 Relief funding to paying our partners and their teams to prepare meals for our community members. 

In the coming weeks, community members will receive free, healthy, nourishing and culturally relevant food thanks to Chef Andrea Murdoch (Four Directions Cuisine), Chef Edwin Sandoval (XATRUCHO Concepts), Chef Noe Bermudez (Kahlo's & Terrasco's), Chef Damaris Ronkanen (Cultura Craft Chocolate) and Chef Jose Vilchez (X'Tabai Yucateco). 

Puerto Rican Pasteles with Keigh Crespo

You’ve heard of tamales.  But have you had the pleasure of trying pasteles?  Keigh Crespo of Dos Abuelas can’t get enough of this delicious Puerto Rican staple

In Puerto Rico, you can find pasteles year round.  However, in New York, Puerto Rican communities have made this a holiday season tradition due to the fact that making pasteles is a long and involved task.  Pasteles are generally plantain or yucca based, though Keigh prefers plantains herself. To make them, first you boil and mash green plantains to get a soft texture.  Plantain leaves are spread out on a table, and the plantain is spread on the leaves and filled with protein. Typical proteins used include pork, chicken, garbanzo beans, or raisins.  Then, the pasteles are wrapped, tied, and boiled for 40 minutes.  

Keigh is a former pastel skeptic and laughs about the first time she tried pasteles as a preteen.  A self-proclaimed picky eater as a kid, she watched her mom and aunts make them for years before her mom finally convinced her to try half of one.  She was hooked right away, and had to try them with ketchup and hot sauce on top like her aunts were doing. Her consensus? She was a fan of the pastel and hot sauce combo, but could pass on the ketchup.  

“What I loved to see was the process of it.  You have your whole family working together. They’re talking and gossiping and one is mashing, one is getting the palm leaves ready,  the other is getting the pork ready. You create something together and it tastes so good,” Keigh reflects. There is an essence of community and family that one finds in eating pasteles, and Keigh is excited to share this with the Denver community.  

Food is powerful- it connects us to our heritage, our families, and places we hold dear.  Puerto Ricans can be anywhere in the world, yet when they taste pasteles they are transported home.  When Keigh cooks, she invokes the presence of her two Puerto Rican grandmothers, whom she named her food truck after and who taught her to cook.  Keigh hopes to share this spirit with those that come to her class: taking people to Puerto Rico without a flight and continuing to educate Denver about Caribbean cuisine.  

Sign up here for Keigh’s pastel-making class on December 14th at 10am at RISE Westwood as a part of Re:Vision’s holiday kitchen series.  And don’t worry- she’ll bring ketchup and hot sauce so that you can come to your own conclusions!

Light and Art: An exploration of Guadalupe with Cal Duran

Cal Duran remembers the first time he saw the Virgin of Guadalupe in a church in North Denver as a child.  He was captured by her motherly spirit and the glowing light surrounding her. When he was sixteen, he painted a mural of Guadalupe on his bedroom wall.  “On my journey of making art, she has always been present,” he says, gesturing to the plethora of Guadalupe pieces in his Denver art studio.  

In 2017, Cal was invited to paint a large mural of La Virgen in Westwood, and the piece has become a staple in the neighborhood.  She glitters in the sunlight, a visual representation of the light and energy she carries with her. Cal had never done a mural of this size before, but he felt Guadalupe calling to him as a protector of the Westwood neighborhood because of her universality and the way she resonates with so many.  

You don’t have to be religious to connect to Guadalupe.  Cal connects to the energy and power she carries, and her presence as an earth mother.  We all have a light inside of us, he states, and she is the gateway to that. She is surrounded by stars and sitting on the moon in an ethereal glow.  He hopes that those who see his art are captured by her magical feel and her universal elements. 

For Cal, art has been a way to discover his own cultural identity, teach others, and to listen to the call of his ancestors.  Those who came before him guide him in his practice, which includes clay, painting, paper mache, and a variety of mixed media.

“Art has the ability to take you to a different realm and support you in the healing process,” Cal shares as he adds clay to a life-size Guadalupe sculpture he is creating.  This particular piece is a mix of clay and paper mache and will be used for an altar and processional at Re:Vision’s upcoming art gallery, Symbols and Miracles of The Lady of the Stars: A Tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe.  He hopes that visitors will look this sculpture in the eye and feel her light and draw.

Visit the show and gallery November 29th through January 3rd to see Cal Duran’s work, including the life size sculpture, paintings, prints, ceramics, and more!

Cal Duran works on a sculpture of Guadalupe for Re:Vision’s upcoming show

Daniel Luna talks about oranges and quantum entanglement

Westwood Food Cooperative / Re:Vision’s Office space transformed by Daniel Luna’s vibrant pieces

One image is burned in Daniel Luna’s mind after hanging his latest show at the Westwood Food Cooperative. While he was on a ladder hanging a piece, he looked down and noticed Yuridia Bahena, our Re:Own Program Manager, pouring oranges from a box into the cart that holds our produce. Of our 30 minute conversation, at least 20 minutes were about how he dissected that scene over and over again. 

Daniel Luna hanging his show with Crystal O’Brien from BuCu West & Westwood Creative District

He noticed the beautiful color of the oranges. Their exaggerated shape and roundness because of his perspective. The contrast between Yuridia’s dark hair and brightness of the oranges. How the bright oranges rolled, nay, flowed out of the box into the teal cart. 

Daniel said bought at least twenty oranges after hanging the show. 

Luna’s signature hand painted pots

Luna believes we are all cosmically entangled. Take the orange for example; he ate an orange that morning before our chat, he said he was reading a book about Quantum Entanglement, and the act of telling me about the orange now connects us. And yes, I had to buy a couple oranges myself at the Westwood Food Co-Op, and perhaps it was because of our conversation, but they were delicious. 

Daniel Luna was born in Pueblo and moved to Denver in 1972. His father, Daniel Luna Sr. was a 2x state champion tennis player and in fact, the first Chicano to be put in the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame. His mother, Jessica Luna, was an artist and teacher. Daniel talks about growing up in a strict household, with equal emphasis placed on academics, sports and art. Eventually, art prevailed. He found college boring and unchallenging and dropped out and traveled the country, paying his way by painting portraits and scenery and selling them. Eventually, Daniel found himself deeply embedded in the San Francisco scene, and drugs and alcohol. It wasn’t until his doctor told him he either had to stop, or die, that Daniel decided to stop and come back home. He’s been sober for 30 years now. 

He says his paintings are all about paying attention. Had he not been present in the moment, he would have missed the oranges being poured in the crate. Had he not been so observant of the colors and textures of the walls at the Food Co-Op, his show would have looked different. 

When I asked about how he felt about essentially hanging an art show in a grocery store, he lit up. Again, it’s all about paying attention. He came to our space twice, and silently observed as I nervously chatted about the renovations and plans for the space. I had no idea his brain was processing and processing. There are approximately 37 art pieces and 54 of his signature painted pots in this show, and I was shocked to learn most had been painted just for our space and this particular occasion. 

“When I was there, I saw everyone buying food and the space coming together as you moved. So, a lot of the paintings were painted to show what I felt about these experiences. It was inspiring to see so many groups of people meeting and gathering in your space - and all the other nuts and bolts of people coming together.” 

Daniel says that his mother spoke a lot about balance and harmony in the interest of letting people become the best possible version of themselves. She was integral in the beginning of the Children’s Museum and Mi Casa Resource Center. Because of her influence, he notes that, “You can balance the scales with the integrity of doing the harmonious work, and that is what you are doing at Re:Vision and with the Westwood Food Co-Op.” 

We are thrilled to feature this special showcase for our Mother’s Day Garden Bazaar May 10, 11, & 12 in conjunction with BuCu West and the Westwood Creative District at the Westwood Food Cooperative from 9am - 3pm. Pots start as low as $8, and art pieces start as low as $40. 

NY Times writer David Brooks writes about the neighborhood as a unit of change

By Emily Ureste

New York Times journalist David Brooks recently published an article exploring the role of neighborhoods in larger systematic change.  He poses that individual change may be worthwhile, but that focusing on communities has the power to radiate out into society at a faster and more impactful rate.

“It could be that the neighborhood, not the individual, is the essential unit of social change. If you’re trying to improve lives, maybe you have to think about changing many elements of a single neighborhood, in a systematic way, at a steady pace”

During his research for this article, Brooks visited Re:Vision with Yo-Yo Ma on the latter’s two-year, 36-city tour that has a special emphasis on learning from community organizations.  On this day, Brooks was able to observe Re:Vision’s mission at work via the harvesting of vegetables, farm-to-table lunch, and robust community involvement.

Read the full article here and stay tuned to our blog for our thoughts on the subject!

Meet Antonio Soto - Director of Operations & Re:Farm Garden Program Participant

Antonio Soto and his wife, Karen Licona. Photo courtesy of Art of Her.

Note: This story has been edited from its original publication to reflect recent changes.

You wouldn’t know it by watching him now, but in 2015, Antonio hit hard times...

Inda Vergara, Re:Vision Promotora. Photo by Art of Her.

His job had just been outsourced overseas, and he recently divorced. He found himself with no choice but to move in with his mother. At the time, his mother was participating in Re:Vision's Re:Farm program, our signature program that helps local families grown their own organic produce as a way to help create a community food system and provide families with healthy food in an area with no access to healthy food. 

In time, Antonio began helping in the garden, thanks to encouragement of his promotora, Inda.

"Inda had an infectious passion for teaching that extended outside of gardening. She helped us figure out some assistance programs, and other programs that seemed too intimidating to try out on our own."

Then he began participating in classes at La Cocina

"Inda noticed I was a bit isolated, and suggested I take a class. At first I laughed, I didn't consider myself much of a cook, but she insisted it was about more than cooking." 

After his first class, Antonio was hooked.

He learned what to do with the extra produce from his garden, and new recipes from fellow community members. "I went from eating fast food and not socializing with my neighbors, to eating freshly harvested vegetables from my own yard and feeling like I was truly part of the community." 

Now, Antonio works as Re:Vision's director of operations. When he applied for the job, he told Eric Kornacki not to hire him during his interview. He didn’t feel qualified, or like he could do it, but Eric assured him that the technical skills would come, what Antonio has was something he wouldn’t be able to teach someone else; passion for his community and culture, and a deep understanding of how the Re:Farm program is so much more than gardening.

Antonio’s family in their garden.

He's also recently completed his studies at Colorado State University’s global campus and helps his family business, a Colombian food stand at a local farmers market. 

After work and school, his entire family pitches in and helps in the garden. He says he considers it some of his most cherished quality time with them. It’s one of the few times during the day they are away from distractions and get to be together.

"I cannot imagine what the trajectory of my life would have been had my Promotora not encouraged me to get more involved with my community and my personal health. I am thankful everyday for the role Re:Vision has played in my life."

A look at Día de los Muertos through the eyes of Yuridia Bahena

As November 1st approaches, many Mexican and Mexican-American communities are preparing for Día de los Muertos.  During this celebration, loved ones are remembered, ofrendas are built, and cemeteries are illuminated all through the night by an assortment of candles.  

Yuridia Bahena, Re:Own Program Manager, emphasizes the importance of celebrating Día de los Muertos and of the staple food of this celebration: pan de muerto.  Pan de muerto is full of deep meaning, and is made as an offering for your muertos- or loved ones who have died. In many regions, the bread is made in a circular form representing the circle of life and death, with huesitos on top representing bones.  In other places, like Yuri’s hometown in Guerrero, pan de muerto is made in the form of a muñequita, or a tiny figure representing a loved one. After baking, pan de muerto is topped with a variety of decorations ranging from brightly colored sugar to floral designs to sesame seeds.

An example of a traditional altar from Denver’s Mexican Cultural Center (2017)

In México, ofrendas are decorated for the departed.  Families use flowers, pan de muerto, photos, saint figurines, candles, and favorite foods and drinks to create a space to honor their loved ones.  Growing up, Yuri helped her mother, aunts, and grandmother to prepare pan de muerto and to sew napkins with the names of their muertos on them. Neighbors would exchange their pan de muerto the week before Día de los Muertos.  

Yuri recalls that on November 1st, everyone in her neighborhood would open up their houses to show off their ofrendas.  Her cousins would come in from the city for the celebration, and they would visit all of their neighbors and their ofrendas.  The first year after someone had died, the ofrenda would be large and elaborate to pay special honor to that family member. That night, the cemetery would be lit with many candles as families joined together to welcome their muertos.  Yuri remembers that small white butterflies would fly in a large flock into the area, and her grandmother told her that these were the souls of children who had died, returning to their loved ones. She also describes the wonder of the celebration: drink levels getting lower and food tasting different after the muertos had visited.  She laughs, saying it sounds unbelievable but that it’s true!

Yuridia Bahena, Re:Own Program Manager

Día de los Muertos is a holiday filled with rich tradition and symbolism, and is something beautiful to be passed down through the generations.  Yuri will be featured at Westwood’s very own celebration: Muertos en Westwood. She will be leading two cooking classes on making your own pan de muerto!

Get your tickets here



Pan de Muerto Cooking Classes

Saturday, November 3 at 3pm & 5pm

3800 Morrison Rd.

BUEN PROVECHO Chef Spotlight: Edwin Sandoval

Chef Edwin Sandoval, resident chef at Invisible City and owner of XATRUCHO

By Emily Ureste

When Chef Edwin Sandoval Cruz cooks, he combines his Honduran heritage, his culinary background, and his love for fresh food.

Chef Sandoval is the owner of XATRUCHO, which he describes as a private food concept.  The word Xatrucho is a nod to his Honduran roots: Edwin was born and raised in Honduras, moving to Colorado at age 10.  Xatrucho (pronounced ca-tru-cho) refers to a general in the Honduran army as well as a nickname for the Honduran people.  Through his cooking, Edwin hopes to show people that Honduran culture is far more than what we see on the news- it is positive and influential.

Throughout his journey as a chef, Edwin cites perseverance as a main factor.  He started off as a busboy at a restaurant in Colorado Springs. After his shifts ended, he was eager to make extra money for school, so he ended up in the kitchen assisting the cooks.  As a young chef, he realized his passion for engaging creative freedom with cooking, and ended up working to create XATRUCHO, a concept with, in the words of Chef Sandoval, “a basis in the past and a focus on the future.”  There is intrigue in the process of blending Central American and Latin flavors with more classic styles of cooking, and XATRUCHO explores this theme.

Knowing where your food comes from is important to Edwin.  Through his different chef jobs, he realized that getting a box of random vegetables does not have the same satisfaction as knowing local farmers and creating meaningful connections within communities.  Edwin uses produce from our very own farm at Re:Vision, and loves picking vegetables with David. “I go to farms and probably eat just as much as I buy from them! I love being there,” Edwin shares, laughing.  

For Edwin, getting his hands in the soil and growing his own food has been an important enhancement to his occupation as a chef.  Two years ago, he participated in our Backyard Garden program, where he had Yuri as his promotora and guide to all things food-related.  He describes the joy of getting up in the morning to water the garden and of learning about vegetables he didn’t grow up eating.

The phrase Buen Provecho takes Edwin back to his childhood in Honduras.  He is reminded of the importance of eating with family, the value in sitting down to fully enjoy a meal, and the satisfaction of putting fresh food into your body.  For BUEN PROVECHO, Edwin will be preparing a garden salad and incorporating fresh hydroponic greens from Re:Vision’s Caja Verde, as well as carrots and beats from our Urban Farm.

To purchase tickets to BUEN PROVECHO, click here.

BUEN PROVECHO Chef Spotlight: Jose Avila

Cocinero Mexicano & Co-Owner of Machete Restaurants

By Emily Ureste

Good tacos.  Good tequila.  Sitting down and enjoying a meal with those around you.  Jose Avila is passionate about these fine things in life.

Jose is a chef and co-owner at Machete Tequila + Tacos, which has three locations in Denver.  His restaurant and philosophy on food is inspired by his roots, growing up in Mexico City. It is in this city that he grew up with all things tacos al pastor, which are the most iconic dish of the area.  However, Jose recognizes that tacos al pastor are a unique mix of cultures and show the power of immigration. Originally, Lebanese immigrants brought the concept of tacos al pastor on a spit to Mexico, which is why the process is similar to gyros.  Upon arrival, these newcomers were introduced to red peppers and pork, and the result was tacos al pastor. This dish is a unique blend of heritages, and its path has continued into the United States, where Mexican immigrants first introduced it to California.   

There is value in every step of a journey, and Jose gives credit to each phase.  Born and raised in Mexico City, it is here that he learned the importance of food, family, and community.  Food was a tool for gathering people together to watch soccer or to simply catch up. It is these roots that led Jose to open Machete Tequila + Tacos, a staple in Denver’s food scene.  

As a small business owner, he recognizes the importance of having fresh produce and giving back to local communities by supporting farmers.  Machete has grown solely by word of mouth, and Jose values his customers- he has even catered the weddings of customers that met at his restaurant!   

The phrase Buen Provecho brings a message of warmth and family.  “Especially being in another country away from your family,” Jose confides, “everytime you hear it, it feels warm.  It makes you feel home.” Jose will be making his tacos al pastor for Buen Provecho, don’t miss him!

To purchase tickets to BUEN PROVECHO, click here.

BUEN PROVECHO Chef Spotlight: Keigh Crespo

Chef Keigh Crespo, owner of Dos Abuelas

By Emily Ureste

At Chef Keigh Crespo’s food truck, one feels transported to a place far from Denver’s RiNo neighborhood.  The air smells of fresh empanadas, the Puerto Rican flag waves with pride, and you can almost feel a slight island breeze.

For Keigh, food is about memory.  She named her business Dos Abuelas in honor of her two Puerto Rican grandmothers who taught her the art of cooking and the art of caring through others through food.  She describes the aroma of her grandmothers’ cooking as something that “hugs your soul” and seeks to create that sensation of warmth in those around her. Although the Puerto Rican population in Denver is not large, Keigh loves educating her customers about her food and heritage, and finds that people continue to return to satisfy their newfound love of Puerto Rican food.  In her own words, Keigh wants to “get people to Puerto Rico without a flight!”

Dos Abuelas is located in Finn’s Manor, and with Keigh’s help it has become known as a Latin hot spot on Friday nights.  A live salsa band plays while people eat, drink, and dance. “It’s like Latin Fever,” Keigh laughs, “all you need are some domino tables and some congas and forget about it!”  Originally from New York City, Keigh has loved seeing this community come to life in Denver.

There is value in food that is both authentic and healthy, and Keigh seeks to prepare dishes that preserve the deep and rich tastes of her heritage while also using fresh and organic materials.  She reaches the same flavors that her grandmothers’ passed down to her while also being health conscious.

The phrase buen provecho creates a sense of community for Keigh.  Although her family is not here in Denver, the word fosters closeness with those around her, from her friends to the strangers at Subway.  She will be making rice, habichuelas guisadas, pernil, and platanos at BUEN PROVECHO!

To purchase tickets to BUEN PROVECHO, click here.