We cordially request the pleasure of your company for a very special cultural event presented in cooperation with 19 Ibero-American embassies including the embassies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Dominican Republic, Spain, Uruguay, Panama and Venezuela.
The event is presented at the Mexican Cultural Institute of the Embassy of Mexico, one of Washington's most magnificent and grand diplomatic venues. As you enjoy the evening, taste delectable local delicacies of the Iberoamerican countries being presented along with wine and handcrafted cocktails. The evening also includes live musical performances and artwork on display. This multicultural fiesta is a great opportunity to meet representatives from 19 countries presenting the event along with internationally minded professionals attending the event.
Join us to indulge in cuisine from Paraguay, Mexico, El Salvador, and Venezuela while sipping on Argentinian & Chilean wine, Costa Rican beer, Dominican rum mojitos, and Peruvian pisco. Finish it all off with Portuguese natas, Ecuadorean chocolate, and Guatemalan coffee.
The program will include music from Spain by the Pavel Urkiza duet with percussion by Rigel Pérez, dance from Panama by GRUFOLPAWA, and music from Colombia by Verny Varela.
The Mexican Cultural Institute's exhibit will also be on display and the evening will include a raffle for two round-trip business class plane tickets to Peru, Brazilian Cachaça, Cuban cigars, and the book 'I had to survive' by Roberto Canessa of Uruguay.
The entertainment, food, drinks and other event details are subject to change as we continue to refine the event.
Attend for an evening of music, art, food & wine at this very special cultural festival presented with the participation of 19 embassies.
Please reserve your tickets now, as the event is expected to sell out in advance. All attendees must be 21 and over.
Festivities for the evening start at 6:30 PM. We recommend that you arrive on time. The event is organized as a festival to celebrate Ibero American culture. As such there are many facets to the evening and the evening is planned so that you can mingle and walk inside the Mexican Cultural Center to enjoy your evening. Kindly note that the event is not organized as a sit-down event or dinner function but rather as a stand up cocktail reception with authentic food tastings.
Food Tastings (Subject to Change)
Sopa de aguacate con salsa de mango
Avocado Soup with mango salsa
Lomo de puerco con con pastel de banana con almendra y mole Oaxaqueno
Pork loin with plantain almond cake finished with mole
Gallo en Chicha con pastel de arroz (Salvadoran)
Rooster with Chicha and Little rice cake
Panecillos de Yuca con panela (Salvadoran)
Yucca Cupcake with Sugarcane
Chocolate mexicano con mousse de kalhua gelatina de cafe
Mexican chocolate with kalhua mousse finished with coffee gelatin
Musical Performance (Subject to Change)
~ Please arrive on time to enjoy the entertainment presented during the evening ~
GRUFOLPAWA is a non-profit organization with roots in the nation’s capital since its inception in the late 70s, this group is composed of a diverse group of men and women of all ages, and mostly, but not exclusively, Panamanians. GRUFOLPAWA is a vehicle for cultural enrichment and understanding through the promotion of Panamanian folklore, music, dance, and culture. During Noche Iberomaricana, they will present a series of Panamanian dances in traditional and folkloric costumes whilst naming and explaining the different dances.
Verny Varela is an arranger, composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist. Originally from Cali, Colombia, is best known for his broad songwriting ability and his collaborations with multiple acclaimed artists including Orquesta Broadway and Thievery Corporation
Pavel Urkiza is internationally-know Cuban musician, composer, producer, and arranger of great sensitivity and connection to world musical cultures. His profound respect and understanding of Cuba's rich musicological ancestry, in combination with 22 years of musical life and experience in the Iberian Peninsula result in a truly unique style that offers a vast spectrum of rhythms, harmonies, melodies and lyrics. The Afro-Cuban-Spanish flavor is evident in his guitar playing and vocals. A Caribbean-Mediterranean way of playing with a singular Cuban swing.