Adán Medrano

Adán Medrano is a writer, chef and award-winning filmmaker specializing in Indigenous foods of Texas and the Americas. His book, "Truly Texas Mexican" received the Finalist, Book Of The Year from Foreword Reviews. Subsequent books include "Don’t Count The Tortillas: The Art Of Texas Mexican Cooking," and the just-released, "The Texas Mexican Plant-Based Cookbook." He is the editor of the Texas Tech University Press book series, “Indigenous Foodways of Texas and Northern Mexico,” and president of the not-for-profit, Texas Indigenous Food Project.

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Awards: His recent documentary feature film, Truly Texas Mexican, won Best Documentary, New York Independent Cinema Award; Audience Choice Award at Hill Country Film Festival; His book, "Truly Texas Mexican" awarded "Finalist, Book Of The Year" Foreword Reviews.

Communities: LGBTQ+, Hispanic or Latinx, Indigenous or Native American

Truly Texas Mexican Plant-Based Cooking

Author and chef Adán Medrano, a Coahuiltecan descendant, will showcase vibrant, plant-forward dishes rooted in Texan and Mexican traditions. Infuse your comida casera (home cooking) with ancient ingredients and simple techniques that originated in indigenous cooking and culture.

Culinary Stage (Seats 265)  
Sat, Mar 14, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Multigenre
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Central Mall (following presentation)  

Panelist: Adán Medrano
Moderator: John Birdsall
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Arizona Appliance and Home, Michael and Marjorie Lipson

Food and Culture: Hay Comida en la Casa

These cookbook authors are a recipe for success! Enjoy a taste of delicious conversation with Adán Medrano, Rick Martínez, and Sean Sherman as they chew over topics such as cooking, culture, and more. Each of them brings rich and varied personal experiences to the table.

Nuestras Raíces Stage (Seats 150)  
Sun, Mar 15, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Nuestras Raices
Signing area: Pima County Public Library/Nuestras Raíces/Craft Tent & Signing Area (following presentation)  

Panelists: Rick Martínez, Adán Medrano, Sean Sherman
Moderator: Jose Contreras
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Pima County Public Library

Food in Culture and Community

Join authors John Birdsall, Michael Shaikh, and Adán Medrano to discover how food shapes identity, memory, and community across cultures. Through personal stories, culinary research, and literary perspectives, they’ll examine the politics of taste, migration-driven recipes, and the rituals that keep traditions alive.

Student Union Kachina (Seats 100)  
Sun, Mar 15, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Multigenre
Signing area: Sales & Signing - UA Campus Store (Mall) (following presentation)  

Panelists: John Birdsall, Adán Medrano, Michael Shaikh
Moderator: Edie Jarolim
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Elizabeth Green, Judith Marro, Jim and Kim Rosborough

Books:

The Texas Mexican Plant-Based Cookbook

Nuestras Raices
Texas Tech University Press
August 2025
ISBN 9781682832738
224 pages
Buy now

Truly Texas Mexican

A Native Culinary Heritage in Recipes
Nuestras Raices
Texas Tech University Press
January 2014
ISBN 9780896728509
186 pages
Buy now