For those of you who bemoan D.C.’s lack of authentic Mexican food, this week is your chance to break the cycle of bad Tex Mex and sugary margaritas. The Mexican Embassy and Mexican Cultural Institute are hosting “A Taste of Mexico in DC“, a week-long tribute to Mexican food and culture.

The festivities started on Saturday at the Mexican Cultural Institute open house. Activities included cooking demonstrations, lectures, live music, and several free food and beverage tastings. In the morning, local Mexican cooking instructor Patricia Jinich taught on class on the different varieties of Mexican chilies, offering up four different preparations for guests to sample. Steve Olson, Bon Appetit Wine and Spirits Consultant and all-around lover of tequila, was on hand in the afternoon to give a lecture on artisanal tequilas. Weaving together tidbits of history, culture and distillation techniques, Olson introduced the crowd to the complex world of agave plants, which, like grapes, are affected by the regional climate and soil conditions. Participants then got a chance to taste five different varieties of handmade tequila, ranging from blanco (not aged) to extra añejo (aged a minimum of 3 months in oak barrels), that Olson had brought back from Mexico himself.