Harvest and Hearth: Fall Foods for Grounding

As the season shifts inward, this fall cooking class focuses on grounding foods that offer warmth, nourishment, and reflection. Participants will prepare a series of comforting atoles using ancestral amaranth, heirloom blue corn and masa. These seasonal drinks rooted in harvest ingredients, exploring how fall foods support rest, balance, and preparation for the darker months ahead. The class invites reflection on harvest as both sustenance and offering—honoring what has been grown, gathered, and carried forward. Special guest, Dr. and Chef Claudia Serrato, Indigenous Culinary Anthropologist and Co-foundress of Across Our Kitchen Tables. DRA. CLAUDIA SERRATO is a culinary anthropologist, chef, and educator specializing in Indigenous foods and traditions. She is known for her advocacy of food sovereignty and her work in preserving Indigenous foodways by blending scholarly research with hands-on culinary practice to activate ancestral taste memory. Through ReIndigenizing food practices, she helps communities reconnect with ancestral ingredients and traditions. Based in Los Angeles, Dr. Serrato holds a Ph.D. in sociocultural anthropology from the University of Washington. She is the co-founder of Across Our Kitchen Tables, which supports women of color in food projects, and teaches at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Through her work, she elevates Indigenous culinary arts with workshops, cooking classes, and speaking engagements. Dr. Serrato’s work underscores the importance of food sovereignty, justice, and ReIndigenization as pathways to empowering Native communities. Parking Planning your visit? Explore parking options near LA Plaza: Option 1: LA Plaza Village Address: 555 N. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90012 *This parking lot is closest to Buffalo Wild Wings on Spring St. and Cesar Chavez Ave. If needed, this is ADA friendly and has ramps and elevator access to the underground lot. Cost: $3.50 every 15 min, $18 max Option 2: LA Plaza Parking Lot Address: 171 Arcadia St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 Cost: $20 Flat Fee (Mon–Fri); $15 Flat Fee (Weekends). Fees might change during holidays or special occasions. Arrival Please allow time to arrive early to find parking. Classes have a 5-10 minute late window but will start promptly after that time. Dress Code We highly encourage that attendees wear closed-toe shoes when attending an active cooking class. Photo and Media Consent By participating in this program, you consent to LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes using photographs taken of you for advertising, promotional, and marketing purposes. Newsletter Want to stay in the loop about our events and programs? Sign up for our newsletter!