Cañada de la Virgen

HOST & NON-PROFIT PARTNER: The Cañada de la Virgen Foundation (FCDLV)

GUEST CHEF: Donnie Masterton | The Restaurant

CChef Donnie Masterton’s restaurant is a favorite among both locals and visitors to San Miguel de Allende. After 16 years exploring the region surrounding SMA, Donnie has discovered many fabulous places for the OITF table. One of these locations, Cañada de la Virgen, features a Mesoamerican pyramid.

Our event takes place at an archaeological site believed to have been constructed around 530 AD by the Otomi people—dedicated celestial observers who studied star cycles and their relation to the timing of key agricultural tasks such as seeding and harvesting.

Thanks to ranch matriarch Sophia Trapp, whose family advocated for the pyramid’s preservation, the pre-Hispanic ruins are now a national park. We will set our table above the imposing Cañada de la Virgen, a spectacular canyon that cuts through central Mexico’s high-elevation plateau.

Wild horses within view at full gallop have been a feature of this event in the past. It’s suggested we’ll see an encore performance this winter. We will learn about the area’s fascinating history and then sit down for one of Chef Donnie’s unforgettable meals.

This event benefits The Cañada de la Virgen Foundation (FCDLV), which supports the pioneering efforts of the Nature Reserve Cañada de la Virgen (CDLV) in restoring the region’s vibrant semi-desert ecosystems. The foundation’s mission is to protect endemic wildlife while fostering sustainable, circular economic systems that promote healthy local communities. Proceeds from this event will help fund endangered species habitat restoration and scientific monitoring projects, including the installation and maintenance of wildlife cameras.