In 1933 Aurelio Perez opened El RAPIDO, one of TUCSON's first MOLINOS
DE NIXTAMAL, in the historic Presidio District. By the 1980's four
generations of the family had worked the tamaleria and tortilleria,
providing some of the best Mexican food in the city until its sudden
closing at the end of the millennium. Today, the barrio has changed
and the lunch counter is gone, but not all the STORIES ARE FORGOTTEN.
This special reading and dinner, catered by former owner Tony Peyron,
will honor and celebrate El Rapido stories!
In a work-in-progress memoir titled The Molino, Aurelio Perez's
great-granddaughter, Melani "Mele" Martinez, records her memories of
the kitchen, the family, and the closing of El Rapido on Christmas Eve
2000. Awarded the New Works Grant by the Arts Foundation for Tucson
and Southern Arizona, Martinez explores the conversion of family,
faith, and food traditions in the ever-changing downtown Tucson
community. The cross-genre work features imagery of the Tucson city
landscape, the iconic storefront mural (The Sleepy Mexican), and the
molino (corn-grinding machine). These symbols provide gateways into a
history of gentrification and resistance, poverty and progress, food
insecurity and gastronomic abundance.
Doors open at 6:00 pmFood catered by the Peyron family.Readings from
The Molino and from guest food writers.Zines available for
purchase.Limited Seating. RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/yxexsze7
[https://tinyurl.com/yxexsze7]Suggested Donation $10
art
food
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26/05/2019 Last update