Instagram story viewer> @mariaponcebar> Posts

Maria Ponce

@mariaponcebar

1.9K

followers

2454

following

Chef 👩🏻‍🍳 @lataqueria @chupitococteleria
Modern Mexican • Land & Sea cuisine 🌊
🇲🇽 Sonora roots | 🇨🇦 Vancouver
Behind the scenes → @mchefskitchen

POSTS STORIES REELS

Día de los Muertos is about remembering the people we love through food, and this dinner was built around that.

Flavours like aguachile, salsa macha, hoja santa, and tajín met local Pacific Northwest ingredients, and every course came with its own cocktail or wine pairing.

📍 Botanist, Fairmont Pacific Rim, 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver

(media hosted)

#BotanistVancouver #DiaDeMuertosDinner #MexicanChefsYVR

Botanist Vancouver, Día de Muertos dinner Vancouver, María Ponce chef, Hector Laguna chef, Mexican fine dining Vancouver, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Chupito Cocteleria by @mariaponcebar

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS 💀 🇲🇽 l BOTANIST
@botanistdining l @fairmontpacific

Last night at Botanist, celebrating Día de los Muertos with a beautiful collaboration bringing together chefs Hector Laguna, Amanda Healey, María Ponce and Chad Yamagata. @hectorlaguna1 l @aj205 l @mariaponcebar l

A six-course menu celebrating Mexican traditions through the ingredients and flavours of the Pacific Northwest.

A look at five of the evening’s courses:

Scallop Aguachile — Serrano pepper, green apple, ikura.

Wagyu Sope — Black beans, salsa macha.

Pork Belly — Fermented peach mole.

Arroz Tumbado — Lobster tail, sablefish.

Lomo de Cordero — Lamb loin, poblano verde, seasonal vegetables.

Dessert escaped the camera, unfortunately.

Thank you to the chefs and the entire Botanist team for a memorable night. by @mariaponcebar

For Chef Maria, cooking is more than a profession. It’s a connection to her roots, her culture, and the people who shaped her. @mariaponcebar l @lataqueria l @chupitococteleria l @cantinasocialclub l @pinchetacoshopyvr

From Mexico to Vancouver, her journey is one of resilience, ambition, and a deep respect for ingredients.

I sat down with Maria to talk about her journey, her philosophy, and the stories behind her cooking at Chupito.

Gracias Maria.

Full article on Vancouver Is Awesome.
@viawesome l @forkingawesomevancouver

Christian ✌🏼
@vancouverchefs l @icondinners by @mariaponcebar

So happy to be back on CTV! Thank you for having me! ❤

#CTV #CTVMorningLive #MexicanChef #MexicanCuisine by @mariaponcebar

Market-to-Club is the new farm-to-table 😎
NEW MENU COMING TO CANTINA SOCIAL CLUB TONIGHT

#cantinasocialclub #cantina #newmenu #farmersmarket #summermenu by @mariaponcebar

There was something really special about the Día de los Muertos dinner @botanistdining last night. I loved seeing how @fairmontpacific brought chefs and bartenders together to celebrate such a meaningful tradition and how beautifully and thoughtfully it was all done.

Living in Canada, where so many cultures come together, I think these experiences are so important. It also became unexpectedly personal for me…bringing back memories of my grandfather, who lived here in Vancouver.

Stay tuned for a series of intimate conversations I had with the chefs and bartenders about taste, cultural memory, identity and the way food and drink carry traditions across generations and cultures❤️

MAREA
SCALLOP AGUACHILE / @mariaponcebar
sliced scallop, cucumber, serrano, crisp green apple, ikura, shallot oil
MALINALCO / @chupitococteleria
patrón silver, cocchi americano, fino sherry, chamomile, green apple & tonka

BRASA
SOPE DE WAGYU / @hectorlaguna1
grilled caviar, epazote, black beans, salsa macha
SPICY MANGO LOMA / @fomabar.mx
patrón silver, yuzu, grapefruit, mango, cardamom, habanero, CO2

ESTOFADO
PORK BELLY & PEACH MOLE / CHEF MARIA PONCE
crisp slow-braised pork belly terrine, fermented peach mole, charred leeks, pickled cauliflower
PATZCUARO / CHUPITO
martini rosso, campari, palo santo, salted peach & sonic

OLEAJE
ARROZ TUMBADO / CHEF HECTOR LAGUNA
lobster tail, sablefish, hoja santa
PEPPER-ITA / FORM + MATTER
patrón reposado, bell pepper, pink peppercorn, thyme, tomato

TIERRA
LOMO DE CORDERO / CHEF AMANDA HEALEY
“north arm’ hakurei turnip, requeson gnudi, poblano verde, marigold, black cardamom jus
GOLDEN MEAN / @botanistdining
patrón reposado, mezcal, cardamaro, squash, plantain, chili, hoja santa

DULCE
MANGO CON CHILE Y LIMÓN / CHEF CHAD YAMAGATA
creamy mango, lime sable, fresh mango, lime jelly, tajin, mango sorbet
TWENTY PETALS (FREE-SPIRIT) / BOTANIST BAR
marigold, honey, peach, hay, verjus

#botanistdining #fairmontpacificrim by @mariaponcebar

NUEVO ✨ NUEVO ✨ NUEVO ✨

We’re so excited to share our Fall Menu at Chupito!
This season, chef @mariaponcebar is showcasing her take on her favourite Mexican dishes, made with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients from BC!

From fresh and zesty tostadas, new aguachile, to comforting dishes like Cazuela de Mariscos, Coliflor al Horno and Grilled Fraser Valley Porkchop, this season we’re bringing even more Mexico to the heart of Mount Pleasant!

Come hungry!!

See you at Chupito!

PS. NEW DRINK MENU IS ALSO IN THE WORK 👀

#chupito #chupitococteleria #newmenu #fallmenu #mexicanfood by @mariaponcebar

PAN DE MUERTO 💀

Honoring Día de Muertos the traditional way. Our pan de muerto will be available this Sunday and Monday, November 1st & 2nd, while quantities last.

Soft, fragrant with orange blossom, and finished with sugar.

#LaTaqueria #vancouvereats #vancouverfoodie #burnabyeats #yvreats

pan de muerto vancouver, dia de muertos burnaby, mexican bakery yvr, brentwood dining, seasonal mexican food by @mariaponcebar

Tortilla de harina, costra de queso, y carne bien servida.

That’s a burrita. Simple, messy, and ridiculously good.

#PincheTacoShop #vancouverfoodie #vancityfoodie #mexicanosvancouver #yvreats

Burritas downtown Vancouver, authentic Mexican food Vancouver, street tacos YVR, casual dining Vancouver, downtown Vancouver food spots by @mariaponcebar

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOU ❤️🫶

Thank your for celebrating with us. Thank you for the support this last five years. Thanks for the love!

Special thanks to our friends @ddmau_chinatown and @vinvan.ca for being a part of this special day!

Here’s to many many many more years of Chupito!
See you next summer, back patio!

Te queremos ❤️❤️❤️

#chupito #chupitococteleria #thanksgiving #patioparty #mountpleasant by @mariaponcebar

HAPPY BIRTHDAY @chupitococteleria

5 years of wonderful memories, life changing events, world class drinks & unforgettable food!

Huge shout out to @__taradavies @_v_erick & @mariaponcebar for running such an amazing restaurant and bar. It’s a community home for so many of us in the industry, you give so much to everyone around and we love supporting you back.

I’ll never forget working with you all when I first moved to Canada and you made me feel like family. A feeling that will never change.

Here’s to many, many, many more years to come!!!! by @mariaponcebar

CHUPITO TURNS 5 THIS SUNDAY!

We can’t believe it’s been 5 years since we opened our doors in the back alley of Gastown for the first time during the pandemic back in 2021.

It’s been our immense pleasure and honour to have met all of you throughout our journey, and to have you dined and drank at our neighborhood spot, to be able to share our stories and love of Mexico through each dish chef @mariaponcebar created, and each cocktail @__taradavies and @_v_erick poured!

Thousands and thousands of Chupitos later, we can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with all of you, the people that have made this all possible— our regulars, friends, family, neighbours, and friends of the industry, come and join us for our 5th anniversary tailgate party!

Chef @t_hoang192 and @kimbotran from @ddmau_chinatown will be making snacks alongside chef Maria, and our friends @vinvan.ca will park their cute van in the back patio to pour some wines!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 2026
1PM-8PM
Chupito BACK PATIO!
We will have heaters to keep everyone warm, of course!

No reservations nor tickets needed!

Come have a drink, and raise a glass with us!

Here’s to many many more years of Chupito!

Please swipe through these images for some memories of Chupito and some words from Tara and Erick 🫶

SEE YOU THERE!

#chupito #chupitococteleria #cocteleria #mexicanrestaurant #mexicanbar by @mariaponcebar