What is sobremesa?

Sobremesa is more than the time after a meal. It's an art.

Sobremesa is a cultural practice, common in Spanish-speaking countries, that refers to the time spent lingering at the table after a meal—talking, laughing, digesting both food and ideas. It’s not a quick coffee or a rushed goodbye. It’s a cherished pause, a ritual of connection where the meal ends, but no one gets up.

There’s no direct English equivalent. In Mexico, as in many Spanish-speaking cultures, sobremesa is an expected part of dining—a space where time softens, conversation deepens, and the table becomes a stage for storytelling, debate, and joy. It can last minutes or hours. There might be dessert or just another round of drinks, but the main ingredient is presence.

For me, sobremesa has always been where the best conversations happen. Growing up Mexican-American—de aquí y de allá (here and there)—I learned that meals were as much about nourishment as they were about sharing. Whether gathered around a kitchen table in New York or sitting outside by the portón in Mexico with family, I saw how food connected us to history, culture, and each other. The questions that have always fascinated me—Why do we eat the foods we eat? Why do we drink the drinks we drink?—were born from these moments.

This platform is my digital sobremesa, an extension of that curiosity. Here, I explore the histories, traditions, and cultural crossroads that shape food, drink, and rituals. From the journey of an ingredient to the evolution of a dish, I dive into the flavors and stories that have traveled across centuries and continents. Occasionally, I’ll explore topics beyond gastronomy, because at the table, the conversation flows in every direction. Some entries will be in English, some in Spanish, though I aim to write all entries in both languages.

So pull up a chair, pour another glass, and stay a while. Because the best conversations—and the best discoveries—happen at the sobremesa.