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Detroit Industry by Diego Rivera.
Detroit Industry by Diego Rivera.
Courtesy of the Detroit Institute of Art

Where to Dine and Drink Like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in Detroit

Area restaurants are offering up a special Mexican-influenced drinks and dishes.

by Brenna Houck
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Detroit Industry by Diego Rivera.
| Courtesy of the Detroit Institute of Art
by Brenna Houck

With the Detroit Opera hosting a stirring production of Frida and the DIA's much-anticipated Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit finally open to the public, restaurants and bars across the city are catching Rivera-Kahlo fever.

Fourteen locations in Detroit are offering food and drink specials either inspired by the artists or pulled straight from Kahlo's recipe books. Find your own inspiration for a night out by perusing the bill of fare below.

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Azul pop-up at the Detroit Institute of Arts

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Eat Tacos at Azul: For those planning on visiting the DIA for the “Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit” exhibit, the Azul cantina pop-up will be a must-try. Decorated with wares from Southwest Detroit vendors, the pop-up offers tacos, chips and salsa, guacamole, beans, and rice as well as Mexican beers, wines, and margaritas. [Photo]
5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 833-7900
(313) 833-7900

Fourteen East Cafe

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Drink and Eat: Fourteen East Cafe is offering Mexican spiced hot chocolate whisked with a molinillo, lime pie with a crust made of Marias, and Almond Polvorones (a traditional Mexican cookie). The cafe will stay open late on Fridays for exhibition visitors. [Photo]
14 East Kirby, Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 871-0500
(313) 871-0500

Antietam

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Eat Flan and Drink "El Poco Querido": The El Poco Querido cocktail is made with colorful ingredients, inspired by Kahlo's masterpiece "The Wounded Deer." It is light, delicate, sweet and a bit bold, made with Espolon tequila, shaken and served in a classic short-stemmed glass with an edible flower garnish. The drink pays tribute to the legendary pelea de gallos (fighting cocks) and Rivera and Kahlo’s sometimes heated relationship. For dessert try the Cajeta flan, a goat milk caramel flan popular in Rivera’s home state of Guanajuato, Mexico. [Photo]
1428 Gratiot, Detroit MI, Detroit, MI 48207
(313) 782-4378
(313) 782-4378

El Asador Mexican Steakhouse

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Eat Pork in Yellow Moleguajillo and Pablano Chiles: El Asador's yellow mole is prepared with chiles, tomatillos, and the leaves of hierba santa or try the pablano chiles stuffed with picadillo or cheese, chicken pipián, (güero chiles, pumpkin seeds, almonds or peanuts). [Photo]
1312 Springwells St, Detroit, MI 48209
(313) 297-2360
(313) 297-2360

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El Barzon Restaurante

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Eat Traditional Oaxacan Mole Negro (black sauce): Dine on three types of roasted chiles, sesame seeds, chocolate, raisins and almonds, peanuts, and cloves served over turkey legs. [Photo]
3710 Junction St, Detroit, MI 48210
(313) 894-2070
(313) 894-2070

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El Zocalo

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Enjoy Frida Fridays: Every Friday beginning March 20 El Zocalo will feature a different entree taken from the cookbooks and notes of Frida Kahlo. Special Diego & Frida inspired tequila infusions are also available with flavors such as jamaica (hibiscus) flower, cucumber, and habanero, to name a few. Enjoy the infusions alone or as an added new dimension to traditional margaritas. [Photo]
3400 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216
(313) 841-3700
(313) 841-3700

Gold Cash Gold

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Drink Frida’s Blue House: This Frida-fied cocktail is a mix of Lunazul Blanco tequila, fresh cucumber, lemon, and blue curaçao. [Photo]
2100 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
(313) 242-0770
(313) 242-0770

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Las Cazuelas Grill

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Eat Diego’s Mole Poblano: Las Cazuelas Grill's mole poblano features chile ancho, roasted peanuts, chocolate, roasted pumpkin seeds, black pepper, garlic, and salt. [Photo]
4000 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI 48210
(313) 361-1100
(313) 361-1100

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La Feria Spanish Tapas

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Dine and Drink to the Color Red: La Feria, heralding from the country of Spain where the color of red is equally revered, is paying tribute to the spirit and energy of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera through tequila and tapas draped in red. Sip Corralejo Reposado tequila or order the La Pasión De Frida, an invigorating cocktail made with Corralejo Añejo tequila, tamarind, freshly squeezed lime, lemon, and a splash of Maraschino water. Top everything off with Papas Arrugadas con Mojo (red skinned potatoes with a red bell pepper, and garlic salsa). [Photo]
4130 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

Our/Detroit

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Drink Dreams of Coyacan: This spicy elixir is a mixture of Our/Detroit vodka, jalapeño simple syrup, lime juice, and coconut sparkling soda. [Photo]
2545 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216

Rock City Eatery

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Eat Panzón + Friducha and Drink Cabresto Tequila: Rock City Eatery is preparing pan seared tongue, ash-baked beets, radish, avocado, pickled corn, and dill and cilantro served with a shot of Cabresto tequila (choice of silver or gold). [Photo]
11411 Joseph Campau St, Hamtramck, MI 48212
(248) 633-3072
(248) 633-3072

Also featured in:

Traffic Jam & Snug

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Eat Mixiotes: Traffic Jam is mixing things up with tender chicken marinated in guajillo chiles, garlic, onion, cinnamon, tequila, thyme and marjoram. The dish is steamed and served with potatoes and corn tortillas, and garnished with avocado, pineapple, and house-pickled onion and habanero peppers. [Photo]
511 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 831-9470
(313) 831-9470

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Union Street Saloon

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Eat and Drink: Start off dinner with the “Ode to Detroit Industry” made with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Chartreuse Green, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime in a martini glass. Then dig into Chiles En Nogada—poblano chiles stuffed with picadillo, covered in walnut-sherry cream sauce, and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Still have room for dessert? The “La Casa Azul” is a sure ticket to paradise. This Mexican hot chocolate trifle is made with layers of chipotle-chili-spiked chocolate cake and cinnamon pastry cream, topped with fresh whipped cream and candied jalapeño. [Photo]
4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 831-3965
(313) 831-3965

La Terraza

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Eat Posole Stew: As part of the celebration of the Detroit Opera’s production of “Frida,” chef Israel Rocha of La Terraza will prepare Kahlo’s seafood dishes and a posole stew at his Southwest eatery this month. [Photo]
8445 W Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

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Azul pop-up at the Detroit Institute of Arts

5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
Eat Tacos at Azul: For those planning on visiting the DIA for the “Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit” exhibit, the Azul cantina pop-up will be a must-try. Decorated with wares from Southwest Detroit vendors, the pop-up offers tacos, chips and salsa, guacamole, beans, and rice as well as Mexican beers, wines, and margaritas. [Photo]
5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 833-7900
(313) 833-7900

Fourteen East Cafe

14 East Kirby, Detroit, MI 48202
Drink and Eat: Fourteen East Cafe is offering Mexican spiced hot chocolate whisked with a molinillo, lime pie with a crust made of Marias, and Almond Polvorones (a traditional Mexican cookie). The cafe will stay open late on Fridays for exhibition visitors. [Photo]
14 East Kirby, Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 871-0500
(313) 871-0500

Antietam

1428 Gratiot, Detroit MI, Detroit, MI 48207
Eat Flan and Drink "El Poco Querido": The El Poco Querido cocktail is made with colorful ingredients, inspired by Kahlo's masterpiece "The Wounded Deer." It is light, delicate, sweet and a bit bold, made with Espolon tequila, shaken and served in a classic short-stemmed glass with an edible flower garnish. The drink pays tribute to the legendary pelea de gallos (fighting cocks) and Rivera and Kahlo’s sometimes heated relationship. For dessert try the Cajeta flan, a goat milk caramel flan popular in Rivera’s home state of Guanajuato, Mexico. [Photo]
1428 Gratiot, Detroit MI, Detroit, MI 48207
(313) 782-4378
(313) 782-4378

El Asador Mexican Steakhouse

1312 Springwells St, Detroit, MI 48209
Eat Pork in Yellow Moleguajillo and Pablano Chiles: El Asador's yellow mole is prepared with chiles, tomatillos, and the leaves of hierba santa or try the pablano chiles stuffed with picadillo or cheese, chicken pipián, (güero chiles, pumpkin seeds, almonds or peanuts). [Photo]
1312 Springwells St, Detroit, MI 48209
(313) 297-2360
(313) 297-2360

El Barzon Restaurante

3710 Junction St, Detroit, MI 48210
Eat Traditional Oaxacan Mole Negro (black sauce): Dine on three types of roasted chiles, sesame seeds, chocolate, raisins and almonds, peanuts, and cloves served over turkey legs. [Photo]
3710 Junction St, Detroit, MI 48210
(313) 894-2070
(313) 894-2070

El Zocalo

3400 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216
Enjoy Frida Fridays: Every Friday beginning March 20 El Zocalo will feature a different entree taken from the cookbooks and notes of Frida Kahlo. Special Diego & Frida inspired tequila infusions are also available with flavors such as jamaica (hibiscus) flower, cucumber, and habanero, to name a few. Enjoy the infusions alone or as an added new dimension to traditional margaritas. [Photo]
3400 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216
(313) 841-3700
(313) 841-3700

Gold Cash Gold

2100 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
Drink Frida’s Blue House: This Frida-fied cocktail is a mix of Lunazul Blanco tequila, fresh cucumber, lemon, and blue curaçao. [Photo]
2100 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
(313) 242-0770
(313) 242-0770

Las Cazuelas Grill

4000 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI 48210
Eat Diego’s Mole Poblano: Las Cazuelas Grill's mole poblano features chile ancho, roasted peanuts, chocolate, roasted pumpkin seeds, black pepper, garlic, and salt. [Photo]
4000 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI 48210
(313) 361-1100
(313) 361-1100

La Feria Spanish Tapas

4130 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Dine and Drink to the Color Red: La Feria, heralding from the country of Spain where the color of red is equally revered, is paying tribute to the spirit and energy of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera through tequila and tapas draped in red. Sip Corralejo Reposado tequila or order the La Pasión De Frida, an invigorating cocktail made with Corralejo Añejo tequila, tamarind, freshly squeezed lime, lemon, and a splash of Maraschino water. Top everything off with Papas Arrugadas con Mojo (red skinned potatoes with a red bell pepper, and garlic salsa). [Photo]
4130 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

Our/Detroit

2545 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216
Drink Dreams of Coyacan: This spicy elixir is a mixture of Our/Detroit vodka, jalapeño simple syrup, lime juice, and coconut sparkling soda. [Photo]
2545 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216

Rock City Eatery

11411 Joseph Campau St, Hamtramck, MI 48212
Eat Panzón + Friducha and Drink Cabresto Tequila: Rock City Eatery is preparing pan seared tongue, ash-baked beets, radish, avocado, pickled corn, and dill and cilantro served with a shot of Cabresto tequila (choice of silver or gold). [Photo]
11411 Joseph Campau St, Hamtramck, MI 48212
(248) 633-3072
(248) 633-3072

Traffic Jam & Snug

511 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201
Eat Mixiotes: Traffic Jam is mixing things up with tender chicken marinated in guajillo chiles, garlic, onion, cinnamon, tequila, thyme and marjoram. The dish is steamed and served with potatoes and corn tortillas, and garnished with avocado, pineapple, and house-pickled onion and habanero peppers. [Photo]
511 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 831-9470
(313) 831-9470

Union Street Saloon

4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Eat and Drink: Start off dinner with the “Ode to Detroit Industry” made with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Chartreuse Green, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime in a martini glass. Then dig into Chiles En Nogada—poblano chiles stuffed with picadillo, covered in walnut-sherry cream sauce, and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Still have room for dessert? The “La Casa Azul” is a sure ticket to paradise. This Mexican hot chocolate trifle is made with layers of chipotle-chili-spiked chocolate cake and cinnamon pastry cream, topped with fresh whipped cream and candied jalapeño. [Photo]
4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 831-3965
(313) 831-3965

La Terraza

8445 W Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209
Eat Posole Stew: As part of the celebration of the Detroit Opera’s production of “Frida,” chef Israel Rocha of La Terraza will prepare Kahlo’s seafood dishes and a posole stew at his Southwest eatery this month. [Photo]
8445 W Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

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