I give infinite thanks to Saint Paschal Baylon to commend my dog Pancho to eat a red snapper that was spoiled and to save us all from a serious illness. I beg, please, always bless this kitchen.

July 3, 1893, Ciudad del Carmen

I thank Saint Paschal because, this season of chiles en nogada, I was selling them very good. Many people ask me what’s the secret of its taste. And I answer that it’s the love I put into them while cooking and my eternal devotion to Saint Paschal.

Carmelita Reyes

Cholula, Puebla

My patrons asked me to cook some mole and two turkeys. I was feeling bad to kill birds. I thank Saint Paschal because I convinced my patrons to have another dish and they even gave me those two turkeys as a gift. I took them back to my hut, and I’m very glad.

Asuncion Toxqui ~ Cholula, Puebla

Rosario Hernandez was in love with the foreman of the ranch. She asked Saint Paschal for help and managed to made the foreman fell in love with her, with her dishes. She dedicates this retablo for that, with great faith and devotion.

Tecamachalco, Puebla

Thanks for I didn’t go crazy when the pig spoke to me and demanded that I wouldn’t make pork carnitas anymore.

With this retablo, I testify my gratitude to Saint Paschal Baylon for giving a great taste to my dishes, especially to chiles en nogada which is one of my favorite dishes.

Puebla, 1925

The Day of the Dead, I decided to put an altar for my recently deceased wife and I cooked her favorite dishes. At night I heard some voice calling me. I went to the sitting-room and I saw, to my astonishment, that it was my wife scolding me for bad cooking and oversalting the food. I thank Saint Michael the Archangel for it was only that night when I saw my grumpy complaining wife, since she was also unbearable when she was alive.

Aniceto Ruiz ~ Puebla

Juaquina Coyotzi brings this retablo to Saint Paschal Baylon showing her gratitude because he adds a great taste to her chiles en nogada.

Puebla, 1917

I am thankful to the Blessed Genius who invented Bunnings. These Australian hardware stores have become de facto quee clubs for DIY queers, especially lesbians, to meet each other. On any given weekend the inner Melbourne Bunnings are teeming with cute bitches & masc sorts ogling the power tools, & handsome types lining up for their Bunnings sausages (not a euphemism). It really is homo heaven.

Chavelita Robledo became a widow. In order to cover the funeral spendings, she began selling hojaldras pastries at the cemetery. The things went very well, and she thanks the Virgin of Juquila with the present retablo for such good luck.

One night in the month of May, I was preparing meal to celebrate my wedding anniversary. I decided to make a tortilla soup, although I didn’t know how to cook it. Some time later I didn’t know should I let the soup boil any longer or not. When I lost my hope, I entrusted myself to Saint Paschal Baylon. In his infinite mercy, he enlightened me, and I managed to prepare the soup by leaving it boil just the right time.

Sandra Perez, Mexico City, 2015

Take fresh hot bread, salty, sweet and with butter.

I offer this exvoto to Saint Jude Thaddeus as dispensation for having broken my promise not to eat sweet pastry. I beg his pardon because if not it’d be easier for me to change my religion then to give up pastry. I beg for pardon doña Conchita Madalena whom I’ve promised to have a great body this year.

2021, Mexico City

I love spicy food, but my Conchita was always overdoing it by putting too much chili in her dishes. I asked Saint Paschal for his divine help because I couldn’t take this devilish burning her food gave me. Now my wife knows to put the right amount of chili.

Casiano Hernandez ~ Puebla, Mexico