Dine in the garden at El Zaguán
A Fundraising Event for HSFF
Thursday, August 6, 2026 | 6-9 pm
ONLY 46 TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS EVENT | 25 SEATS REMAINING
Menu
Passed Hors d’oeuvres
• Heirloom cherry tomato, sweet onion & basil salad
with Cypress Grove goat cheese on red chile palmier crust
• Lobster, caviar, and cucumber in lemon-thyme gougère
• Roasted NM green chile chicken, white posole purée, pickled radish,
and cilantro, served in a porcelain spoon
(+ GF, veg and vegan options)
Appetizer
• Sweet corn gazpacho with fennel-roasted red pepper bruschetta and edible flowers
Choice of Entreé
• Flat iron steak with NM green chile curry sauce, roasted onion in crispy tulip,
eggplant caviar, lime candied carrots, spiced cauliflower, and crispy polenta
manchego cubes
• Olive oil poached, herbed salmon with Lisa’s garden greens, fresh avocado and
avocado pudding, pickled haricots verts, marinated baby potatoes, lemon-
buttermilk vinaigrette gelée, parmesan grissini
• Roasted beech mushroom “Wellington” filled with Cypress Grove goat cheese
and herb mousse, wild mushroom, and scallion compote, and served with
caramelized fennel, NM red chili, candied endive, sherry vinegar pickled chard,
cornbread sauce and eggplant pudding
Dessert
• Mandarin mousse and hibiscus mousse with cardamom goat’s milk pudding
and candied ginger
• Strawberry curd eclair, red chile Mexican chocolate ganache, dried strawberries
and black peppercorn
$300 each | $140 *fmv
$1,800 table of 6 | $840 *fmv
$1,200 table of 4 | $560 *fmv
Local wines, mocktails, and sparkling water are included.
*Fair Market Value
This is a benefit dinner. Proceeds from the “Garden To Table Dinner” directly supports HSFF’s mission.
Donation letters will be issued for the ticket price, less the fair market value.
Suggested additional donations are fully tax-deductible:
$100 | $500 | $1000 — or other
A highlight of the evening will be the opportunity to meet artist and curator George Alexander, an Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) alumnus who is helping shape the Santa Fe art scene. Following his own standout exhibition at El Zaguán in early 2026 and ahead of his upcoming show at Gerald Peters Gallery during Indian Market 2027, Alexander has partnered with El Zaguán Gallery Director Anne Kelly for his curatorial debut (Read more on this page below).
The Rook Garden in Santa Fe
Join Us for an Enchanting Evening
Join us for an enchanting evening where Santa Fe's history, art, music, and local ingredients come together at our exclusive benefit dinner. Hosted by the Historic Santa Fe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, this unique event will take place in the serene historic garden of El Zaguán. Dating back to the 1850s, this beautiful property has served as our cherished headquarters since 1961. Your participation directly contributes to the preservation of Santa Fe's historic architecture and cultural heritage, all while you enjoy fine food, art, and music under the stars.
A Garden-to-Table Culinary Journey
Indulge in a distinctive garden-to-table culinary experience featuring a four-course plated dinner accompanied by local wines. The chefs of The Rook will prepare your meal using hyper-local ingredients harvested directly from their garden in Seton Village. This culinary journey not only celebrates our region's flavors but also honors the historical cultivation of the land and the vital role of water for sustainable agriculture in Northern New Mexico — roots that run deep right here at El Zaguán, which was historically sustained by traditional acequia systems.
Contemporary Art & Live Music
Complementing the evening's culinary experience will be live music in the garden and an exclusive exhibition in El Zaguán’s gallery. Curated by dynamic Santa Fe artist and IAIA alumnus George Alexander, this unique showcase spotlights six emerging creators from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Guests will have the special opportunity to meet Alexander, learn about his debut as a curator, and enjoy a guided walkthrough of the exhibit. HSFF Gallery Director Anne Kelly will also be present to discuss the current exhibition, along with upcoming shows. (Read more about the featured artists at the bottom of this page).
Support the Mission
Your ticket purchase directly supports Historic Santa Fe Foundation's mission to preserve, protect, and promote the historic properties and diverse cultural heritage of the Santa Fe area. Since 1961, HSFF has been actively engaged in the community, inspiring generations through educational programming that spans from children to adults and highlighting the enduring importance of preservation. The evening also presents the opportunity to connect with Executive Director Melanie McWhorter to hear firsthand about the exciting initiatives on the horizon for the foundation.
This limited-capacity event promises an intimate and unique experience. Secure your tickets today and become an essential part of Santa Fe's ongoing preservation story!
*HSFF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Gifts to HSFF are tax-deductible.
Contact Anne Kelly with questions or inquiries about table purchases anne@historicsantafe.org or
505-983-2567
WHERE YOU WILL DINE
The Garden at El Zaguán
About the Garden
Located in the heart of Santa Fe on Canyon Road, the historic garden at El Zaguán is a vibrant, living sanctuary meticulously cared for by the Historic Santa Fe Foundation and the Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners. Originally designed and constructed in the 1850s as a Cottage-style flower garden by Maria Jesus Johnson, the space has long stood as a botanical testament to the city's changing eras. While it initially relied on the historic Canyon Road Community Ditch (acequia) during the property's mid-19th-century years as a family estate under merchant James L. Johnson, the grounds continued to evolve over the decades. Around 1880, Maria introduced the property’s magnificent European Horse Chestnut trees; today, the surviving 140+ year-old tree remains a treasured, resilient centerpiece of the grounds. In 1928, preservationist and sufferagist Margretta Dietrich acquired the estate and worked with designer Kate Chapman to reshape the layout into a formal, sweeping garden that beautifully reflects the Colonial Revival movement while honoring its early roots. Today, featuring a rich seasonal tapestry of traditional perennials, annuals, and shrubs, the garden remains a serene, meditative haven celebrating Northern New Mexico’s deep cultural and horticultural heritage.
Featured Garden Dinner Artworks
On view in the gallery at El Zaguán:
IAIA Exhibition, co-curated by George Alexander
Opening, Friday, July 31, 5-7 pm
On view July 31 through August 22, 2026
Garden to Table Dinner, Thursday, August 6, 6-9 pm
Contact Anne Kelly with questions or inquiries about table purchases anne@historicsantafe.org or
505-983-2567
Brynn Torres
Mayta Katari Vizcarra Wood
About the Exhibition
A highlight of the evening will be the opportunity to meet artist and curator George Alexander, an IAIA alumnus who is helping shape the Santa Fe art scene. Following his own standout exhibition at El Zaguán in early 2026 and ahead of his upcoming show at Gerald Peters Gallery during Indian Market 2027, Alexander has partnered with El Zaguán Gallery Director Anne Kelly for his curatorial debut.
Believing in their work and unique perspectives, Alexander has curated this exhibition to spotlight six exceptional emerging creators from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), each bringing a distinct voice and medium to the gallery:
Brynn Torres(Walker River Paiute Tribe) – Painter and tattoo artist utilizing bold, vibrant geometric shapes to explore symbolic body mapping.
Celia Calabaza(Jicarilla Apache / Kewa Pueblo) – Painter and digital illustrator creating narrative-based imagery centered on healing and intergenerational connection.
Isabella “Izzy” Mondragón(Chickasaw Nation / Xicana) – Two-Spirit interdisciplinary artist utilizing mixed media and portraiture to honor community matriarchs and invite collective healing.
Mayta Katari Vizcarra Wood(Quechua) – Sculptor blending traditional Andean aesthetics with modern technology to create striking, concept-driven cast bronze works.
Michael Patton(Oglála Lakȟóta / Isleta Pueblo descendant) – Multidisciplinary artist and fabricator drawing from Lakȟóta philosophy to express the balance between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Tru West(Diné) – Multimedia creator and environmental advocate using interactive, eco-focused displays to examine our connection to the natural world.
George Alexander will be in attendance at the dinner to meet with guests, share his experience bringing this first exhibition together, and lead an informal walkthrough of the gallery. Accompanied by live music, this component of the evening brings us together to celebrate the living voices defining the vibrant future of Santa Fe's artistic community.
Contact Anne Kelly at anne@historicsantafe.org or 505-983-2567