Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from September 15 to October 15, and it celebrates the rich cultural heritage of many countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Spain, and more.

Each country and region offers its own distinct cuisine, any of which could be good places to find inspiration for your menu this month.

Tell Your Authentic Story

Often, in an effort to appease a mass audience, immigrant culture dulls some of the vibrant flavors and spices of its native cuisine. For this Hispanic Heritage Month, put your flavors on display, highlighting menu items that are unique to your experience. Make sure staff has a chance to taste and learn about these items in advance so that they can help share your story and explain the menu to guests.

Talk About Influence

Hispanic Heritage Month reflects the influence of Hispanic culture on the United States, and that influence is huge! Look at cookbooks from Hispanic authors like Margarita Carrillo Arronte, Zarela Martinez, Francis Mallmann, and Ana Sofia Pelaez for inspiration. Think about ways to combine Hispanic flavors and ingredients with existing menu items to show the intersection of cultures. Be careful not to appropriate culture, but rather highlight the contributions of Hispanic culture in a respectful way.

Create a Passport

Offer a taste of several different Hispanic cuisines, and create a simple passport that guests can have ‘‘stamped’ with each visit. Once they hit a certain number of items, they can turn in their passport for a free dessert.

Don’t Forget the Cocktails

There are so many exciting opportunities to highlight Hispanic influences on the cocktail menu, from margaritas to palomas. Look for spirits made in the countries you’re including on your menu. Tequila and mezcal are both of Hispanic origin. Develop drinks around ingredients used in Hispanic foods, like cactus (prickly pear gives drinks a bright pink hue and tangy flavor), limes, tropical fruits, etc.

Save Room for Dessert

The dessert menu offers another chance to represent Hispanic culture. Think churros, flan, tres leches, tembleque (a Puerto Rican coconut pudding), and alfajores (sweet sandwich cookies). Combining chiles and chocolate is another classic Hispanic dessert pairing.

Spread the Word

Use your email newsletter and social media to spread the word about your Hispanic Heritage Month activities, and share the news with local press in a quick note to let them know what you’re offering.