LA3C Music Festival-Capital of Culture & Creativity
Los Angeles, California
Food Curator
This December 10-11, 2022, Penske Media launched LA3C, a new annual music, food and art festival celebrating the one-of-a-kind culture of Los Angeles. LA3C’s mark stands for Los Angeles (LA), Capital of Culture & Creativity (3C), and the two-day event is a curation of best-in-class experiences including powerhouse musical performances and multicultural food and flavors, punctuated by bold and interactive art from some of the world’s most talented artists.
Manolo was tapped to be the festival’s first food curator. Food being one of the pillars of LA3C, his task was to create a food line up that represented the city of Los Angeles and the diversity that makes this city so unique. Manolo worked closely with the LA State Historic State Park concessionaire in order to bring this to life. the result was 40+ food vendors spread around the festival grounds. From food trucks, to food tents and pop ups, the food at LA3C was complete success.
LA3C will continue to build festivals as they gear up for LA2028 Olympic Games.
Puerto Rico Cocktail Week
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Host
Puerto Rico Cocktail Week is a celebration of the local cocktail heritage with the best beaches, spirit brands, people and bars, coming all together to showcase the best flavors in town.
This project aims to make the local bartenders known and to market high cocktail establishments on the Island, around the world. Currently, Puerto Rico is considered one of the most important islands in the Caribbean and a destination that many people in the industry admire. We want to take the local bar culture to another level!
Industry seminars, guest bartender nights, pairing dinners, cocktail tours, special events and much more will be happening all week long.
This year, Manolo was invited to be the event’s host and moderator for the panels. This included presenting some of the most notable Latinx figures in the cocktail & spirits industry. Moderating talks on sustainability efforts with F&B industry leaders; Chef Martin Louzao [Cocina Abierta, Produce & Oriundo], Stephanie Monserrate [Guakia colectivo agroecológico & Jibara Kombucha], Sara Santos [Prole] and Glauco Rivera [El Patio de las Flores].
This celebration brought some of the best Latinx bartenders from around the world and San Juan was lit up with stars, as pop ups and takeovers took over the city.
Climate Arc Launch Event
New York, New York
Producer | Curator
During the third week of September in New York, Climate Week is celebrated. Coinciding with the UN’s General Assembly, the city is busy with NGOs and organizations that are launching programs and events that bring in people from all parts of the world with the same common goal, fight climate change.
This year, Climate Arc enlisted Manolo and his company CNE, to produce their very first launch event in New York. Along with powerful speakers and allies, the event took guests through musical journey that entwined the overall message of “Mindset Shift” guided by musician Jurgis Did. Through this activation guests were taken outside of their comfort zone as they danced and sang to the improvised songs Jurgis created. The event followed with a set of interactive stations that created long term ties between the guests and Climate Arc.
Climate Arc works to mainstream climate science into financial decision making – at speed and scale. It’s mission is to accelerate the transition of the world towards meeting global net zero emissions by no later than 2050, and, in doing so, help to create a sustainable and healthy planet for everyone.
New York, New York
Producer | Curator
Dj: Christian Mártir
Performer: Jurgis Did
Photographer: Melissa Isabel
Client: Climate Arc
New York Latino Film Festival Block Party
Washington Heights, New York
Chef | Content Creation
As part of Jim Beam’s A la Varita program, Chef Manolo López & Chef César Pérez roasted an 80lb pig for the New York Latino Film Festival block party in Dyckman. Drawing in a major Latinx crowd to indulge in the Caribbean staple. This was the culminating event of Jim Beam’s A la Varita program in the Tri-State area and this is what the team had to say about Manolo’s work:
“Jim Beam couldn’t think about culturally relevant food within the Puerto Rican community without thinking of Manolo Lopez, a key player in the Hispanic food industry that is respected amongst his peers and beloved by the community.
As a brand, we had the pleasure of working with Chef Manolo Lopez on two culturally relevant events – Jim Beam Bergen Food and Wine Festival in New Jersey and the New York Latino Film Festival in Washington Heights, New York.
We got to see firsthand how Chef Manolo speaks to his audience via his love of community, food and experience, and in in-turn, how consumers reacted to him and his team.
It was a sight to see how Manolo builds community with everything he does and how together, with Jim Beam, we got to form long-lasting bond with the target audience.”
Washington Heights, New York
Chef | Content Creator
Photographer: Danny Suarez | Alfredo Diaz Jr.
Client: Beams Suntory
Bergen County Food & Wine Festival
Paramus, New Jersey
Chef | Content Creation
As part of Jim Beam’s A la Varita program, Chef Manolo López & Chef César Pérez roasted two pigs on back to back days at the Bergen County Food & Wine Festival. Drawing in a major Latinx crowd to indulge in the Caribbean staple. A kick off to Latinx History Month, the menu consisted of Lechón asado with pickled onions and arroz con gandules.
PRESS PLAY
The North Face Explore Fund Council
Denver, Colorado
Council Member | Grant Maker | Creative
Since 2010 The North Face has supported nonprofit organizations that increased access to exploration through their Explore Fund grant cycle, the Explore Fund Council, and has pledged $7 million (yearly) to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts as a way to expand access to outdoor exploration. The outdoor apparel and gear brand made that significant financial commitment as part of its “Reset Normal” campaign, a global initiative that “encourages people everywhere to reset their lives through exploration in the hope of progress and discovery that is so needed in today’s challenging environment.”
Year after year, The North Face brings together 8 individuals to help them with the grant making and storytelling process. Every individual chosen for this council reflects the change The North Face wants to see in the world.
The 2022 Explorer Func Council is made up of the following individuals:
Tara Roberts: National Geographic Storyteller, Filmmaker & Coach.
Evelynn Escobar: Community Builder, Storyteller & creative.
Princess Lucaj: Writer, Director, Actor & Indigenous Activist.
Dani Reyes Acosta: Athlete, Educator & Narrative Strategist.
Kareemah Batts: Diversity Professional, Disability Advocate & Outdoor Enthusiast.
Alastair Lee Bitsói: Writer, Creative & Indigenous Activist.
Vasu Sojitra: Athlete & Disability Access Strategist.
Manolo López: Chef, Producer & Storyteller.
TED Far Flung Podcast
Puerto Rico
Co- Host | Co-Producer
Puerto Rico
Co-host | Co-producer
Sandy beaches, amazing wildlife, Caribbean blue seas—Puerto Rico is known as the Island of Enchantment for a reason. But it’s also one of the oldest colonies in the world. And as a U.S. territory, Puerto Ricans have very little say in the U.S. government. The island has a complicated history—but its people are constantly fighting to give Puerto Rico its place in the world. From building make-shift community networks after Hurricane Maria, to reconnecting with local cuisine, to making art that connects Puerto Ricans all over the diaspora, listen to how Puerto Rico is paving the way to a freer world through community-first approaches, delicious ingredients—and rhythmic, joyous, loving resistance. This episode was proudly co-produced with Manolo López.
On this episode of Far Flung host Salem Reshamwala is guided through the Island by chef Manolo López as he introduces him to people who redefined the meaning of mutual aid after Hurricane Maria. This episode was proudly co-hosted and co-produced with Manolo López.
About Far Flung:
Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala is a journey across the globe in search of the world's most surprising and imaginative ideas. It's not a travel show, exactly. It's a deep dive into the ideas that shape a particular spot on the map, brought to you by local journalists and creators.Weave through the streets of Bangkok with a motorcycle midwife. Time-travel with dinosaurs behind a hardware store in New Jersey. Meet a guy who dresses up as a luchador to protect citizens from traffic in Mexico City. Drop in, listen up, dig deep.
Client: Magnificent Noise
Date: 2021
Type: Content Development
Services: Co-Host | Co-Producer
Red Bull On Premise x Brand Marketing Summit
Columbus, Ohio
Host | Producer | Curator | Chef
Day 1
This three day summit took place in Columbus, Ohio in multiple venues that represented the identity of the city and how quickly it’s developing. The first day of the Red Bull On Premise x Brand Marketing summit kicked off with great conversations by the Red Bull leaders and then a fireside conversation hosted by Manolo with the Columbus curators of Seeded & Rooh. Through their stories we learned about the different movements that are defining the city.
Day 1 [Night]
After the day’s talks were over, we took all the guests to The Pearl, a local restaurant filled with vibrancy. When desert was served everyone got an envelope that read “Open in case of emergency”, inside were single dollar bills which they would use at a surprise performance at District West, Columbus’ premiere Drag bar.
Day 2
Dinner collaboration with Seeded [Gabrielle & Chef Pastel] & Rooh [Chef Hash Kishinchand] at the Market Place. This pop-up space serves as a market place throughout the day and transformed at night for intimate dinners curated by the Seeded team. In honor of Pooh, the best Indian restaurant in Columbus and our collaborator for the night, we created an experience that brought a modern take on Indian staples.
Day 2 [Night]
After the pop-up dinner was over, we blind folded all the guests and got them inside a bus as we made our way to our immersive activation at OtherWorld, a futuristic entertainment center with immersive rooms & digitally augmented art. Once there, our guests were greeted by Mentalist Jason Suran and his jaw dropping seance performance that kept our guests on edge. After the show, our guests were able to roam the OtherWorld freely as they discovered mored than 30 immersive rooms filled with puzzles, riddles and curiosities.
Day 3
Closing talks lead by Franz Gerhardter, Quddus Philippe, Manolo & the leadership team from Red Bull on the importance of creating meaningful relationships, thinking outside the box and business planning for the upcoming year. Thus concluded a three day summit to revitalize the Red Bull team’s energy as they return to their respective countries and/or cities with a new way of approaching community and brand building.
“Over the years, Manolo has become one of our most valuable and trusted partners in organizing meaningful and memorable experiences. (internal & external) His leadership, vision, and strategic thinking are unmatched, from ideation to execution. Manolo’s love for details is par with our extremely high brand standards. I truly wish we would have more partners like Manolo on speed dial.
”
Columbus, Ohio
Host | Speaker | Curator | Producer | Chef
Photography:
Blake Needleman @bleedles
Robbie Ohio @robbieohio
Mi Puerto Rico Short Series x Don Q Rum
Puerto Rico
Host | Director | Producer | Copy Writer
Puerto Rico
Director | Producer | Copy Writer | Host
In this 4 part series, Manolo starts by exploring the history of rum throughout Puerto Rico. A story of past, present & future, regarding the importance of rum to the Island and its cultural relevance. The story takes from El Valle Coloso in the town of Aguada where Manolo grew up in, where he meets with his long time friend Alexis who is one of the few young sugarcane farmers left and talks about the fading tradition that once employed the majority of the Island. The journey then takes us to La Destilería Serallés in town of Ponce where Manolo meets up with master distiller Sylvia Santiago and tour the distillery learning how rum is made. The journey finalizes in Old San Juan, in the #12 bar of the world, La Factoría. Manolo grabs a drink with his longtime friend, Leslie Cofresí, and they talk about the importance of rum and persistence to export their product around the world.
The rest of the series will show you how to make Coquito, Pique (Puerto Rican hot sauce) and Tomato paste rum cake with Manolo’s mom, Margarita. This collaboration was made possible by Don Q Rum and the series went on the be an official selection of the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival.You can watch all 4 episodes below.
Manolo’s thoughts:
“I have a big desire to continue telling the stories of my Island and its people. Whether its Puerto Ricans on the Island or in the Diaspora, our unique upbringing has lead us to different paths and stories that are waiting to be told. Grateful to Don Q for enabling me to tell these stories and bring the world closer to Puerto Rico.”
-M
Client:Destilería Serallés | Don Q Rum
Date: 2021
Type: Content Creation
Services: Director | Producer | Copy Writer | Host
Photography: Carmelo Varela
W.Rosado “Tribu” Jewelry Launch Event
New York, New York
Chef
Black Masa Beef Empanadas | 24K Gold Foil
New York, New York
Dinner
As a protégé of Andy Warhol and a member of his inner circle, Rosado spent his early years in New York, immersed in dynamic street art and the social life of the city, befriending artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, in addition to forging connections with the urban community.
The Puerto Rican artist launched his new jewelry line, “Tribu”, this past November at the Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca. The Opulent jewelry line took inspiration of the bright colours of Maasai tribal jewelry, the geometry and detailing of the Art Deco artist Jean Dunant, as well as the traditions of Japanese lacquer painting.
Chef Manolo López was hired to create a menu that reflected the “Tribu” jewelry line. The passed hors d'oeuvres consisted of traditional finger foods, but elevated with luxury ingredients like black winter truffle, 24k gold foil and Ossetra caviar. From black masa beef empanadas with 24k gold foil to platanutres with recao infused crème fraîche topped with ossetra caviar to malta india braised oyster mushrooms with black winter truffle. The menu transported guest as they viewed W.Rosado’s new “Tribu” line.
Client: Wilfredo Rosado
Date: 2021
Type: Private Event
Services: Chef | Food Curation