Welcome to LA Cocina de Gloria Molina!
The centerpiece of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes' culinary programs, LA Cocina de Gloria Molina is a teaching kitchen and flexible event space that spotlights the history, culture, and influence of Mexican and Mexican American cuisine. Experiences at LA Cocina include culturally rooted cooking classes, talks and tastings, and cooking demonstrations. The recently launched Culinary Youth Training Program provides free, bilingual workforce development and skill-building opportunities to young people ages 16-24.
LA Cocina’s 2,500-square-foot space features essential kitchen equipment, infrastructure, and audio-visual capabilities, making it an excellent location for intimate programs and events, including meetings, classes, social gatherings, and team-building activities.
Sign up for our newsletter and gain early access to upcoming events and culinary programs! New classes, talks and tastings and demonstrations are added frequently. Check our online calendar for the latest information.
LA Cocina de Gloria Molina is located at 555 North Spring St. Los Angeles CA, 90012.
LA Cocina map
A TRIBUTE TO GLORIA MOLINA
LA Cocina de Gloria Molina is a tribute to Gloria Molina’s enduring legacy. Gloria Molina dedicated her life to serving her community and was a trailblazer for women in public office and community activism. She was the first woman to become a Los Angeles County Supervisor and the first Latina to serve on both the Los Angeles City Council and the California State Legislature. She also played a key role in launching LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes.
Gloria Molina approached everything in her life with passion, commitment, and joy. From her career as an elected official to her roles as a loving mother, grandmother, devoted daughter, sister, and friend, Gloria brought a steadfast resolve matched only by her undeniable enthusiasm, devotion, and love. This includes her energetic passion for what she considered the heart of a Mexican home: the kitchen. Spending summers in her family home in Casa Grandes, where she spent hours in her Abuelita’s kitchen, she developed a deep appreciation for Mexico and its culinary culture. By naming LA Cocina de Gloria Molina after her, we aim to honor her immeasurable legacy.
"Mexican food is one of our greatest cultural contributions to the world."- Gloria Molina
Josefina Velázquez de León: The Forgotten Legacy of a Mexican Culinary Pioneer
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes celebrates this 2024 the second anniversary of LA Cocina de Gloria Molina by highlighting an often overlooked yet highly influential figure in culinary arts, Josefina Velázquez de León.
Born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Josefina significantly expanded the world's knowledge of Mexican gastronomy through her culinary school, cookbooks, and television shows, which introduced the world to the diversity of Mexico's culinary culture. Josefina published approximately 150 cookbooks and created an empire unheard of in the mid-20th century.
Guests of LA Cocina de Gloria Molina can learn about her contributions through a display titled Josefina Velázquez de León: The Forgotten Legacy of a Mexican Culinary Pioneer, curated by food historian Maite Gomez-Rejón.
“As the first to offer correspondence courses, Josefina Velázquez de León empowered women to join Mexico’s economy by starting their own businesses. By publishing regional cookbooks, she provided a form for uniting regional cuisine. She wrote the first bilingual Mexican cookbook in the United States,” shared Maite Gomez-Rejón. “The list of her accomplishments and contributions goes on and on. I’m so excited to introduce this pioneer of Mexican gastronomy to the Los Angeles community.”
The display can be seen while attending any of LA Cocina's culinary programs through April, 2025.
Raíces Culinarias: A Recipe Reading Room
All materials are available for viewing by students attending any of our culinary programs held on Thursdays or Saturdays, and to the general public on Fridays from 12pm to 4pm, by appointment only.
To schedule an appointment, please contact cocina@lapca.org.
