October 2024, Written by Teri Portugal
In many cultures, conversations about death are often avoided, creating a distance from one of life’s most inevitable experiences. The Life Death Dinner offers a way to approach this challenging subject through the lens of food and community, inspired by the traditions of Día de los Muertos. This celebration, which has been observed in Mexico for generations, honors both life and death, acknowledging the presence of those who have passed while also fostering a deeper connection with the living.
At the heart of this experience is Chef and Death Doula, Teri Portugal, whose work merges culinary creativity with the compassionate care of a doula for the dying.
By blending these roles, she opens a space for reflection on mortality through the act of sharing a meal. Food, often a source of comfort and connection, becomes a medium for engaging in conversations that many find difficult or even taboo.
What makes this approach unique is how it uses the sensory experience of food to facilitate dialogue around death. Rather than viewing death as a finality, the event invites participants to see it as a part of the continuum of life. By invoking the memories of loved ones who have passed, it also offers a chance to explore grief, healing, and the ways in which we remember those who came before us.
“We were so touched by Teri and her divine gifts and the subject matter. It is wonderful to know there are death doulas in the world, available to help at the most important moments in our lives – we didn’t know there was such a thing! Teri was clearly born to do this work.”
– TJ, Infinite Passage Client
In a time when death is often hidden from public discourse, initiatives like the Life Death Dinner create much-needed spaces for open conversation. They encourage us to reframe our relationship with death, not as something to be feared, but as something to be understood and embraced. This shift in perspective can have profound effects on how we live our lives, making room for deeper human connections and a fuller appreciation of the present moment.
By weaving together her roles as chef and death doula, Teri Portugal, founder of Infinite Passsage, offers a new way to engage with these complex ideas, using food as a powerful connector between life, death, and community. Through this, we are reminded that talking about death can be both a healing and enlightening experience.
Through this Community Table event, we continue this celebration of life, creating a safe space to explore end-of-life topics, foster greater awareness, and accept death as a natural, shared experience.
First Date: October 29th
Second Date: November 5th
Time: 6:00PM
Location: Hidden Leaf Baja
💲Cost: 1,500 MXN
Sign up today and bring a friend you’d like to share this conversation with.
Learn more and register for this event here.
