With an Otomí ceremonial act, Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo marked the opening of this space that brings together 24 traditional cooks from the seven tourist regions of the state.
With a blessing in the Otomí language, the inauguration of the Guanajuato ¡Sí Sabe! Pavilion was held, the heart of the ancestral gastronomy that, for the first time, is part of the León State Fair 2026.
The opening began with a symbolic act led by Consuelo Benancio, traditional cook from Comonfort, who performed a blessing in the Otomí language (Hñähñu) and presented the Governor with a ceremonial seal, a symbol of protection, gratitude and community roots. Afterwards, the Governor cut the ribbon and wished the participants the best sales, recognizing the value of the work of those who preserve the culinary heritage of the state.
Promoted by the Vision of the Government of the People, through the Ministry of Tourism and Identity, the Guanajuato ¡Sí Sabe! Pavilion is an unprecedented space that recognizes traditional cuisine as identity, memory and collective pride. For the first time, cooks from the seven tourist regions will gather in the same place to share ingredients, techniques, utensils, rituals and recipes passed down from generation to generation.
In this edition, 24 traditional cooks will participate, representing communities that preserve ancestral knowledge and living expressions of their territory. The pavilion presents emblematic dishes, culinary processes and narratives that connect the past with the present, strengthening the sense of belonging.
One of the central elements is the Otomí ceremonial tortilla, a symbolic expression of the Hñähñu culture, made with native corn and decorated with wooden stamps representing the Otomí cosmovision: corn as life and sustenance; the sun and moon as balance and time; flowers and birds as protection; and symbols of fertility and gratitude to the earth. Its elaboration is part of community ceremonies led by traditional women cooks.
Throughout the tour, the public learns about the ritual and daily use of ingredients native to the state, the preparation of moles, sauces and traditional stews, as well as recipes with endemic products such as local herbs, chiles, grains, fruits, edible insects and native corn. The space integrates tastings, culinary demonstrations, oral tradition and sale of local products, in a family atmosphere.
The Guanajuato ¡Sí Sabe! Pavilion has become a platform for preserving, promoting and projecting traditional gastronomy, with a direct impact on communities and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge.
Participating municipalities:
Ocampo; San José de Iturbide; León; San Francisco del Rincón; Pénjamo; Celaya; Dolores Hidalgo; Irapuato; Apaseo el Grande; Romita; Yuriria; Comonfort; Acámbaro; Purísima del Rincón; Valle de Santiago; San Luis de la Paz; Guanajuato; Salvatierra; Juventino Rosas; San Diego de la Unión.
