Oyamel Celebrates Day of the Dead with 3 Nights of Celebration
Oyamel, a Mexican tapas style restaurant by Jose Andres is an obvious choice to celebrate Day of the Dead. Andres never fails to create a restaurant concept that highlights the beauty and spirit of a culture and Oyamel does not disappoint. Head Chef Omar Rodriguez and General Manager Andres Sweek specifically brings this concept to life each year at their Day of the Dead celebration with three nights of all included tapas, mezcal and tequila tastings, specialty cocktails, and music.
We were thrilled to be invited to the kick off party of this event. Two additional dates (October 24 and 29 from 6:30 to 9:30) are still available for $75 per person. (Edit: October 24 sold out.) Oyamel is careful not to describe this as “bottomless” like similarly designed events. By definition, it is bottomless but it is so much more than that. Everyone on staff is excited to share their knowledge about the available cocktails and dishes. Plus, the vendors at the tequila and mezcal are also eager to share stories and help immerse guests in the experience. It was also sweet to hear directly from Chef Rodriguez and General Manager Sweek about how excited they are each year for this event.
What to Expect
Pace yourself while you taste tequilas and mezcals at the event – there are so many options! They’ll explain that mezcal is any agave-based liquor while tequila is from a specific region in Mexico. So all tequilas are mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas. Each booth highlights the history and features of their tequila or mezcal.
Not to be overshadowed by the tastings and cocktails is the food. Most notably, a giant bowl of guacamole served with optional cheese crumbles and tomatillos sits right in the window. There are also plenty of taco tapas with some vegetables and rice sprinkled in.
One of my favorite parts of this celebration is the whole pig on display. The station features pork tacos and an accompanying cocktail (below) with pig fat to complement the taco flavors. It didn’t sound like it was going to work but it turned out to be my favorite cocktail and taco of the night!
Plus, don’t miss one of the signature cocktails, La Bamba (below). The night is specifically inspired by the flavors of Veracruz, Mexico, the home of the folk song “La Bamba.”
The restaurant features the beauty and tastes from many different regions of Mexico every night but this event is not to be missed. Join Oyamel at 6:30 October 24 (sold out) or 29 for a special Day of the Dead celebration.