El Santo, Marcela Ramirez collaborate on a traditional Mexican take-out meal for Easter
The holiday also marks the launch of Shannon’s Table, which will treat those caring for people with disabilities to dinner at the New West restaurant
Tamales are on the take-home Mexican Easter meal by el Santo and Marcela Ramirez. Photo by Leila Kwok
EL SANTO RESTAURANT in New Westminster is celebrating Easter by collaborating with chef Marcela Ramirez and launching a new project that gives back.
Ramirez is a celebrity chef in her native Mexico. She hosted a cooking show on TV for 15 years, had a cooking-related radio show, and wrote two cookbooks. The mother of four moved to Vancouver after being recently widowed and went on to open Cacao, a modern Latin American restaurant in Kitsilano. It later closed, and now, Ramirez is collaborating with el Santo. The hugely popular dining spot in New Westminster specializes in unconventional, modern takes on regional Mexican cuisine made with local ingredients.
An Easter family-style takeout dinner featuring some of Ramirez’s dishes is in the works for April 4, with an order deadline of March 28.
The four-course meal includes chileatol, a Veracruz broth of chicken and poblano chili; choice of a tamal (chicken or refried pinto beans); and either a cheese-and-rice-filled chile relleno or el champandongo, a dish layered with corn tortilla, braised pork, and Poblano slices and topped with black huitlacoche. (Vegetarian options are available.) For dessert, el Santo is offering a guajillo flan, made with Mexican vanilla and brown-sugar caramel.
Shannon Bromley loved going to el Santo with her family. Photo courtesy Rob and Katy Bromley
A traditional culinary journey of Mexico, the meal is priced at $76 for two people or $140 for four. For cocktails to go with it, there’s el Santo’s Margarita de Primavera kit: with Patron Silver Tequila, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, house-made lavender syrup, lime juice, and saline, it goes for $110. (Orders can be made via email at orders@elsanto.ca or by phone at 604-727-8176.)
El Santo managing director Alejandro Diaz has always been community-minded, and he has selected Easter to launch a new initiative that gives back and spreads kindness. In partnership with Rob and Katy Bromley, Shannon’s Table recognizes the challenges of family members caring for individuals with disabilities and, on a monthly basis, will sponsor a complimentary dinner for two for people who would benefit from an evening of ease and pampering.
The project honours the life of Shannon Bromley. She had a rare genetic disorder called Fox G1, and although she was nonverbal and unable to walk, she was a bright and vibrant young woman who had a great sense of humour and a strong love for life. She studied education at Simon Fraser University and loved performing on-stage, whether she was dancing or acting.
Bromley and her family were regulars at el Santo, and she loved having a round of tequila during dinner service—something the restaurant hopes to make a part of the experience. To nominate a family for Mexican fare at el Santo, email info@shannonstable.ca.
Related Articles
