Cultura Feast : Cooking, Cinema, and Connection. Inside the Salvi Food Tour Weekend

Sep 18

4 min read

The lights dimmed inside the Hollywood theater, and Alex Herrera sat watching his own story unfold on the big screen. He'd flown in from El Salvador for this, the inaugural Central American Voices Film Festival, where Raymundo Archila's documentary on Chef Alex, of El Xolo Maíz, was about to premiere.

Bringing Chef Alex's Story to the Big Screen

Having him there in person, surrounded by filmmakers, artists, chefs, and other Central American creatives, made the moment especially meaningful.

The inaugural Central American Voices Film Festival, founded by Alejandra Quiroz with Brenda Hernández as co founder and program director, created a space for Central American filmmakers and storytellers from the region and its diaspora. Kiara Machado designed the festival's visual identity and poster, giving its first edition a distinct creative presence.

Watching people laugh, cry, connect, and feel inspired by Alex's story reminded us why we make these films. There are so many incredible people whose stories deserve a spotlight.

Eric Valle and Alex Velasco were also in attendance at the screening and played important roles in the creation and filming of El Xolo.

A Family Food Tour Through LA

Of course, a trip to Los Angeles would not be complete without food.

Eric took us on a culinary adventure through LA's Thai food scene, bringing Chef Alex and the Archila Bros crew along for the ride, including our mom and dad.

We started at Heng Heng Chicken Rice, where the focus is on the simple combination of tender chicken, fragrant rice, and the technique behind one of Southeast Asia's most beloved comfort foods.

From there, we headed to Jitlada, diving into the bold, complex flavors of Southern Thai cuisine that have helped make the restaurant a destination for food lovers across Los Angeles.

Our third stop was Thai Farmhouse, where Chef Kasem "Pop" Saengsawang brings his own creative perspective to Thai cooking, blending tradition with his personal approach.

And because this is LA, we had to make room for a taco. We finished at Distrito Catorce in Boyle Heights.

Different cuisines. Different traditions. Different cultural influences.

All within one city.

That is part of what makes food such a powerful way to explore culture. Food travels with people, absorbs influences, and creates connections.

For many of us, culture is layered. We carry the traditions we grew up with while being shaped by the cultures, communities, food, music, and experiences around us. Those influences become part of who we are and what we create.

That is Hybrid Heart, and it is part of the lens we bring to Archila Bros.

Cultura Feast

For the first time, Raymundo and Ricardo Archila, a.k.a. Archila Bros, came together to create Cultura Feast.

Hosted in the Hollywood Hills, the intimate dinner brought together a small group of chefs featured through Salvi Food Tour. Seating was intentionally limited, creating the space for a real conversation around the table.

In attendance were Chef Alex Herrera of El Xolo Maíz, Bibi of Bibi's Latin Kitchen, and René and Stephanie of Walking Spanish.

The food became part of the conversation.

Chef Alex prepared his famous crudo along with a steak, bringing his own interpretation of Salvadoran cuisine to the table.

René and Stephanie brought a Korean inspired take on Salvadoran flavors, with Korean short rib tucked inside a scallion kimchi pancake pupusa, combining elements of their Salvadoran roots with influences from Korean cuisine.

Bibi brought two dishes that reflected her own story and influences. Her chori pan paired Argentine chorizo with her mother's escabeche, connecting a simple LA street food style sandwich with childhood memories of Sunday carne asadas and her Salvadoran background.

She also created a Salvi quesadilla waffle, taking a traditional quesadilla and giving it a completely different form. Crispy edges and a warm center were finished with coconut pineapple ice cream, berries, almonds, and toasted coconut, bringing together memories and influences from different parts of her life.

Each dish told a story.

The chefs shared their philosophies, techniques, influences, personal experiences, and ideas about where Salvadoran and Central American food is headed.

The conversation showed how culture continues to evolve. Each chef carries the traditions they grew up with while bringing their own experiences and outside influences into what they create.

That is part of the Hybrid Heart lens we bring to Archila Bros: the idea that the cultures around us naturally become part of who we are and what we create.

And around this table, you could taste it.

When Food Becomes a Story

Salvi Food Tour uses food as an entry point.

Behind every dish is a person. Behind every chef is a story. And behind every story is a culture that continues to evolve.

Cultura Feast brought those stories together in one room, creating a convergence of chefs, filmmakers, photographers, artists, and creatives.

It gave us a glimpse of the kind of storytelling we want Archila Bros to continue exploring: stories rooted in culture, shaped by personal experience, and influenced by the world around us.

Looking Ahead

Salvi Food Tour is becoming an archive of the people shaping the next chapter of Central American food and culture.

With Archila Bros, that lens expands.

We want to find the chefs, artists, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and creators making an impact across different communities and creative worlds.

Some stories will be deeply connected to Central America. Others will reflect the cultural intersections that happen when people grow up surrounded by different influences.

That is the perspective behind Archila Bros.

Hybrid Heart.

Thank You

A deep, deep gratitude to our sponsors and partners who made this weekend and Cultura Feast possible: Marisa from If Only Creative, Amarisal, Janette bush, Sangre de Tigre Micheldas, Tortillas Mejorado, and Latin Foods at Your Door. And to everyone who showed up, contributed, and supported the vision — thank you.

Thank you to the chefs who have trusted us with their stories, everyone who has supported Salvi Food Tour, and our family for being part of the journey.

This weekend reminded us why we started: to find the stories, document the people, celebrate where we come from, and explore where culture is going.