The story
Xochiquetzalli is on the verge of collapse — not because of the invasion or the omens, but because losing the emperor's favorite dish is reason enough to lose your head. She remembers only vague sensations: textures, aromas, blurry memories.
Guests are summoned as culinary advisers, sages of taste and food detectives. Moctezuma and Xochiquetzalli interrupt the banquet with arguments, monologues, accusations and comic moments that reveal pieces of the mystery.
How it works
The first three courses hide clues: the clue of origin (pre-Hispanic ingredients), the clue of memory (matching flavors with emotions) and the clue of luxury (what only the emperor could eat).
In “The Council of Taste,” each table debates the dessert's ingredients, shape and name and submits its proposal to the palace. The fourth course is the big reveal.
The characters
- Moctezuma: a confused but proud emperor.
- Xochiquetzalli: a nervous, sarcastic and bossy housekeeper.
What's included
- 4-course dinner (3 dishes with clues and a final dessert)
- Live performance by two characters
- Script with humor, suspense and participation
- Group deduction activities
- Scrolls, symbols and oral stories
- The culinary reveal of the lost dessert
What you take home
- Having solved a historical culinary mystery
- Understanding the symbolic role of food in the Aztec world
- The feeling of having saved your head… and the housekeeper's
History and culture in every scene
As in all our experiences, the hosts' dialogue and the event's activities are written with real information about Mexican history and culture. You have fun and, without even noticing, you learn. The clues and dialogue are built on real facts about Mexican history, food and traditions: to solve the mystery, you have to learn.
Format and customization
“The Case of Moctezuma's Lost Dish” is one of our immersive theater productions. We can adapt it to your venue, group size, menu and language, as a private event or on dates open to the public.
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