Oaxacan Recipes and Remembrance with Bricia Lopez

Food is how a lot of families keep their history, and on Sunday, November 15, chef and author Bricia Lopez brings that idea to the Getty Center. Her evening pairs a talk with a tasting, so the conversation about memory ends up on the plate. If you are collecting things to do in Los Angeles that go beyond the usual dinner out, this one sits where food, storytelling and art meet.

When: Sunday, November 15, 2026, 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM Where: The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles 90049 Price: $135

What to expect

Lopez is a partner at Guelaguetza, the Oaxacan restaurant that has long anchored the city's food community, and the author of two cookbooks. She describes food as a living archive, something that carries memories across generations and keeps people, places and traditions alive. Her talk draws on family recipes and stories, looking at how Oaxacans make food and how they share it.

After the talk, the evening turns communal. Guests are invited to eat Oaxacan cuisine and sample regional mezcals together, so the discussion keeps going over shared plates. Vegetarian options will be available. The organizers note they cannot accommodate specific dietary restrictions, so if you have allergies or strict needs, plan around that before you buy a ticket.

Why it stands out

Plenty of tastings are about the pour. This one starts with the person behind the recipes and the reasons they matter. Lopez is a vocal advocate for Oaxacan culture in Los Angeles, and hearing her explain the traditions before you taste them changes how the food reads. The mezcal samples add a regional thread, tying the drinks to the same places the dishes come from.

The Getty Center setting helps too. The hilltop campus is a destination in its own right, and an early evening in November is a good time to be up there as the light drops over the city.

Getting there

The Getty Center sits in the Brentwood area of west Los Angeles, at the top of a tram ride from its parking structure at the base of the hill. Give yourself extra time to park and ride up, since the event starts at 5:30 PM. Tickets are $135, and the event page lists current availability. Anyone building a list of upcoming events Los Angeles has on the calendar for mid-November can find the full listing on the Discover Los Angeles page linked above.

Pair it with a daytime visit to the galleries or gardens if you want to make a full outing of it, but check the Getty's own hours before you plan around them. For more on what is happening across the city, browse the food and drink events section.