“This new Latin pop-up with a charitable spirit comes from Oyamel alum Christian Irabién and the owners behind neighboring upper Northwest restaurants Comet Ping Pong and Buck’s Fishing and Camping. A family-size taco kit ($55) has protein options like skirt steak fajita or citrus-braised Chihuahua-style carnitas. It also comes with eight fresh corn tortillas, sides of beans and rice, and a tres leches cake . A portion of each takeout or delivery sale is donated to Tables Without Borders, helping refugee chefs find jobs, and Friends and Family Meal, supplying groceries for DC’s hospitality industry.”

“We live in a country whose culture has turned into 'out of sight, out of mind,' whilst forgetting that we live in a country that was forged and built by immigrants whom without, most of what we have now would not exist. From buildings and railroads, to farmlands and foods. My hopes are that people see this vulnerable and marginalized faction of the industry, whom without it wouldn't exist, and push for better legislation, immigration policy, equal pay, and humane working conditions through the entire landscape starting now and building towards a better future for the hospitality industry.” —Christian Irabien, executive chef of Muchas Gracias in Washington, DC

“Video oficial de Noticias Telemundo. El chef latino Christian Iriabién tenía planeado abrir un restaurante exclusivo en Washington D.C. pero tras el inicio de la pandemia tuvo que adaptar sus ideas. Ahora promociona su mercado ‘Muchas Gracias’ y ayuda a la comunidad de inmigrantes generando nuevas fuentes de empleo.”

“Las personas que habían planeado tener nuevos negocios han visto su vida de cabeza. Precisamente, esto le paso a uno de los mejores chef de comida mexicana en la capital. Él iba a abrir un restaurante pero cambio todo su concepto por la pandemia.”

“A D.C. chef is not only trying to keep some of his own employees working, but also helping families struggling with the collapse of the local economy. News4’s Jackie Bensen reports.”

“The former Oyamel sous chef came up with Muchas Gracias, a mercadito and Latin American eatery now open in Chevy Chase. The pop up will offer delivery and takeout grocery items, a forthcoming CSA, and a daily menu culled from the flavors of Irabién’s childhood in Chihuahua, Mexico, and southern Texas. One of the market’s main motives will be to support the area’s immigrant families with free delivered meals and farm pantry boxes as business gets underway.”

“The chef says Muchas Gracias is a big “thank you” note to the regional cuisines and immigrants from Latin America. The pop-up will deliver free meals and farm-direct pantry boxes to families in need. A portion of sales will be donated to Tables Without Borders, which helps refugee immigrant chefs find jobs, and Friends and Family Meal, which connects groceries to those in need. A market will soon be rolled out to stock customers’ home with CSA boxes, supporting farmers by selling their cabbage, mushrooms, potatoes, and more.”

“The market will soon be stocked with staples that are sold out at bigger grocery stores, like toilet paper, flour, and yeast. Also coming shortly: CSA boxes filled with produce and other goods from the farmers Comet, Buck’s, and Irabién have worked with. Customers will have the option to either buy a single box, or buy one and donate another to out-of-work immigrants in the restaurant community. Some proceeds will also benefit two non-profits: Tables Without Borders and Friends and Family Meal.

Irabién’s new menu is more streamlined than the original one, since his supply chain has somewhat diminished. The Chihuahua native can no longer get, say, cactus. It’s also more traditional: “there is no push here to be a chef-driven concept.” A masa ball soup that was inspired by local cookbook writer Joan Nathan’s matzo-ball version is about as whimsical as it gets. In the future, Irabién hopes to expand beyond Mexican into other Latin American cuisines.”