Food as a time machine

Nostalgia has always been a defining part of who I am. Perhaps that’s why storytelling, exploring feelings across time and space, is at the heart of my work. Being Mexican is deeply tied to this, especially because of one powerful way to travel through time: food.

In a culture where food and family are intertwined, growing up surrounded by both shapes how you appreciate the world. Your senses are awakened by smells, tastes and textures, and you learn to anchor them to moments, people, or even emotions.

Every year on my birthday, I prepare something that takes me back to one of my earliest memories of cooking—making quesadillas with refried beans and a big glass of Chocomilk for my grandma while she was living with us. We spent the evenings watching cartoons and eating together. She always praised my cooking and gave me the confidence to keep experimenting. I was only 6 or 7.

I use tortillas from my local tortillería back in Mexicali. I freeze them and save them for special occasions. The same goes for my chocolate. Cooking this meal every August 26 feels like reading a love letter—one I write to myself every year, even though I’ve been far from home since 2018.

Every two years, when I visit home, my mom packs a care package filled with more than just food; it’s full of memories that transcend time.

Alberto Zamaniego Figueroa is a Mexican documentary photographer based in Birmingham, UK. His work focuses on food and people, collaborating with chefs and restaurants across the country to bring their brands to life through storytelling. Website: www.zamaniegostudio.com Instagram: @zamaniegostudio