El Camino del Mole a New Orleans

Abstract

El Camino del Mole a New Orleans chronicles the story of Ivan Castillo, originally from Veracruz, who immigrated to New Orleans after Katrina. He began working in clean up and reconstruction but soon moved to the restaurant industry. He worked in multiple kitchens, then as head cook in a Honduran-owned restaurant. In pursuit of more autonomy, he opened a street food vending business in a local flea market with his partner, Gilberto. The two have dabbled in multiple cooking venues across greater New Orleans– including their current restaurant project “Antojitos Garibaldi.” At the same time they have been integral in supporting the LGBTQ+ community through their Miss Gay Latina annual pageants.El Camino del Mole a New Orleans is part of the 2023 American Folklife Center Homegrown Foodways Film Series: Baltimore and New Orleans, based on a collaboration with Professor Sarah Fouts (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) and filmmakers Andy Dahl and Fernando López. For transcript and more information, visit https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-11115