Señora Nadina was having breakfast at the terrace of her fazenda when came the nagual with big ears who bared his teeth and was breathing warmly. She thanks the Virgin of Zapopan because the nagual only wanted to eat the apple tarts from the table and not her.

The demon of the gluttony possessed everyone in the house. We ate without a break whatever comes to hand. We became so fat that I couldn’t get in my dresses. Then I asked Saint Paschal Baylon for a help. The saint took mercy upon us, and our voracious hunger started to decline thanks to the fact that the saint chased the demon out from our kitchen. Now we are eating much less and are losing weight.

Doña Concha’s tavern

Many thanks, Saint Paschal, because you gave good taste to doña Concha’s dishes. and one really enjoys her food.

Benito Carmona

Señora Joaquina Ramirez brings the present retablo to Saint Martin the Cavalryman thanking him for her cemitas are so popular she even thinks to open another shop.

Laura and Catalina Peña were in a bad financial position. But since they were good pastry cooks, they had an idea of selling cakes. They thank Saint Paschal Baylon, a patron saint of cooks, because now they make enough money to support themselves and even to save something for hard times and also to treat themselves time to time.

I wanted to impress my girlfriend and prepare a romantic dinner for our anniversary. I don’t know how to cook so I checked the recipes on the internet. I give thanks to Saint Anthony for my girl didn’t break up with me that night because the food was very bad, I messed up with salt and seasoning. At the end we ordered a pizza.

Efrain Tellez \ Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas

Thanks to my Guardian Angel because I, a hunger student, came to parents for vacation, and they had a sack full of dressed chicken!!! I was so happy that I’d gorge myself with them, I even threw the chicken in the air and cried delightedly: “Fly, doves, fly!”

I dedicate the present retablo to Saint Paschal Baylon thanking him because my grandmother Petra instilled me love for the kitchen since childhood. She was a great cook, and I inherited this from her. I discovered my vocation, and I’m a professional chef now. I proudly bring the taste of the traditional Mexican cuisine to the entire world.

Catalina Muñoz \ Oaxaca, Mexico

My son Paquito lied to me saying that he ate good and healthy food that I packed him for school lunch. But in reality he was buying sweets and junk food. Because of that he got stomach pain. I thank the Holy Child Doctor for his illness wasn’t serious and he learned his lesson—he shouldn’t lie and he must eat healthy for his own good.

Margarita Hernandez, Puebla

The opening day in the doña Guadalupe’s tavern one of clients choked on a big piece of grilled neat. The woman was suffocating and even her eyes popped out. Doña Lupe thanks the Virgin of San Juan for the woman didn’t choke to death. Otherwise, it would have been bad luck for her tavern to have a dead customer.

I bring this humble retablo to Saint Patrick for having won the prize of the contest of eating more chiles habanero in less time. I also thank for not getting gastritis. This spicy gig was worth it because with this money I can pay a knee surgery for my mom who cannot walk. And I’d do everything for her.

José Castillo \ Mérida, Yucatán

To you, Miraculous Virgin of Guadalupe, I offer this retablo thanking for saving my tit when I accidentally got it in my mortar while grinding corn. I was in a terrible pain but you helped me. I also thank you, Saint Paschal Baylon, because despite all this my mole wasn’t bitter and everyone liked it. I give thanks for this favor.

Agustina Perez—Puebla de los Angeles—August 17, 1937

My mother-in-law always criticized my food because she didn’t like me as a daughter-in-law. It was very difficult for me when we were eating. I was in such despair so I entrusted myself to Saint Paschal. Little by little she changed her attitude towards me. Now she even admits that I cook very well, and there is peace among us now.

Guillermina Tehutle
Cholula, Puebla, 1947