Día de los Muertos, otherwise known as “Day of the Dead,” made famous by the movie “Coco,”(ask your kids, they will have heard about it!) falls close to the American celebration of Halloween, but has a completely different meaning. The holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico, particularly in the Central and South regions. Family and friends gather to remember deceased loved ones and often throw a party to celebrate. It is not viewed as a day of sadness, but as a day of celebrating the life of those who have gone before. That means, “Let’s have a party!” “¡Fiesta!”
Many people build altars containing favorite foods and memorabilia to honor the departed. Traditional foods prepared for the festivities include; Tamales, Pan de Muerto and Calaveras. Tamales is a traditional dish made of masa (dough), which is steamed in a corn husk. Pan de Muerto is a sweet roll shaped like a bun and topped with sugar. Calaveras, or sugar skulls, are colorfully decorated to represent the vitality and personality of the departed.
You can plan your own Day of the Dead celebration with the help of Melita’s Table. Kids and adults alike, love decorating sugar skulls and creating alters for those who have passed away. Gathering trinkets, photos, items from nature and other things that hold special meaning, are great to use.
Let us handle the food, we have many options for Day of the Dead food ideas, and we will bring it fresh and hot, direct to your home. Old World Latin flavors will give an authentic touch to the celebration. We can accommodate many different diets such as soy free, oil free and gluten free. Buy a pan of our Gluten Free Green Chili Poblano Enchiladas, add a side of Melita’s Black Beans with Brown Rice, and you’ve got yourself a meal to feed your hungry revelers.
