Mexico -- One Plate at a Time: Television - Rick Bayless

MEXICO – One Plate at a Time
Season Six: Fiesta at Rick's
For five exciting seasons, the critically acclaimed MEXICO – One Plate at a Time has given public television viewers a taste of the flavors, the people, the stories, and the fun of Mexico. In each episode, beloved chef, restaurateur, author, teacher and culinary adventurer, Rick Bayless, seamlessly weaves techniques, recipes, cultural musings, and a generous helping of off-the-wall surprises to create a whole new kind of cooking show. Now, Frontera Media Productions proudly announces Season 6—Fiesta @ Rick’s—thirteen episodes with a common theme: entertaining.

But we’re not talking stuffy dinner parties. When Rick says “entertaining,” he means it literally. These shows are great TV that’s delightful to watch. In each episode, Rick presents a start-to-finish, Mexican-inspired party, showing viewers how to pull it all off with plenty of creativity, color and flavor—but without all the stress that usually comes with having people over. At these parties, even the host can join in the fun.

The shows are deeply rooted in the same kind of respect and love for Mexico that has made Rick one of the world’s leading authorities on the cuisine. Each begins with a Mexican inspiration—deep-sea fishing off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula, and making ceviche from the day’s catch…right on the beach; a visit to the vast Arroyo restaurant in Mexico City, where juicy pork carnitas are the centerpiece of a weekly fiesta for a thousand or more guests; a Sunday stroll through Coyoacán Square, where the street food stalls are a rollicking carnival ride of mouthwatering smells and flavors.

In each show, Rick transforms the essence of these thrilling Mexican experiences, into unforgettable parties to have at home—from extra-special suppers for six to casual backyard cocktails with friends and big, boisterous bashes for 25. There’s a sparkling fireside dinner party with a creamy potato-bacon soup, braised beef short ribs with tomato-arbol sauce, and an impossibly easy flan–chocolate cake dessert; a tamalada where guests make their own tamales, and the cooking is as much a part of the fun as the eating; an alfresco “raw bar” cocktail party with ceviche, shrimp and oysters; an abundant Sunday brunch a la Mexicana, with omelets any style; and much more. Every party also includes a creative signature drink that fits the theme and flavors of the occasion.

And, of course, it’s not just about cooking. Rick weaves in all kinds of cool ideas to make each party special. Not fussy “decorating tips,” but clever ways to make use of real-world, affordable stuff that anyone can buy or make—like serving tastes of ceviche in glass votive holders or transforming food from a supermarket salad bar into a hip Mexican crudité platter. To help set the mood, he offers party playlists featuring his favorite musical finds, plus gardening tips for growing your own great ingredients.

Mexican food, and the unpretentious, ultra-cool Mexican style of cooking, serving, and celebrating with friends, are a perfect fit for the way people love to get together and enjoy each other’s company today. That’s what these programs bring home for television viewers. And Rick’s good-natured, “come-along” spirit of adventure and wonder, his contagious love of Mexico and his practical strategies for making things work add up to an irresistibly watchable new series. Get ready for a whole new style of entertaining. It’s time to fiesta at Rick’s!

Episode Descriptions

Show Schedule

Season Six Recipes