About Us and Our Work/Passion

We are a media & food production and research group with a focus on the cultural and social issues surrounding food and cooking in people’s lives.

gordiatasguacsmlWe are in Houston, Texas
T: 713-524-1628
F: 713-524-1648
Email: cholmes@jmcommunications.com

JM Communications was founded in 1985 to explore contemporary issues of culture and media.  In 2005 the culinary arts became the focus of our work: the cultural and social issues surrounding food and cooking in people’s lives.  Our activities are twofold: making food and making media.

Cooking food is essential to our work.  In our test kitchen we create specialized dishes that we cater for special occasions.  Our catering business is called “Truly Texas Mexican” and specializes in indigenous Texas Mexican cuisine.

Our three main interests are:

  • Cooking and serving delicious food that speaks to our identity at this time, in this place.
  • Producing and reflecting on everyday digital media practices that revolve around food production, cooking and eating.
  • Researching trends in contemporary cooking with a focus on Latin American and Texas Mexican.
    We define “Texas Mexican” as the cuisine of Texas Native Americans who eventually became the Mexican community in Texas. Texas Native American (“Indian”) cuisine dates back to AD 900 and predates both Texas and Mexico. The more widely used term, “Tex-Mex” refers to recent restaurant food whose origins date to the 1900s.
    We explore the following issues through cooking, media productions, research and symposia:
  • The history of authentic Texas Mexican cuisine dating back to the original Texas Native Americans, aka, Texas Indians,
  • Fine dining and sustainable food production,
  • Emerging digital media practices and their role in eating and cooking habits
  • The role of chefs in social and political discourse
  • Recipes that are authentic but also changing.
  • Cultural identity and methods of cooking
  • Entertainment and food
  • Centralized, corporate food production,
  • Best practices and fair wages in food production and transportation,
  • Food as Art.

carneguisadatacosmlThe background of Adán Medrano, principal, combines media and culinary arts.

Education
2010 Culinary Institute of America, Certificate in Culinary Arts

2007 Hotelschool Koksijde “Ter Duinen,” Belgium.
Restaurant Ten Bogaerde, Koksijde, Belgium

1995 Sabbatical: Implications of Digital Technologies for Non-profits

1985 Sabbatical: European Broadcasting Systems and Independent Not-for-Profit Producers

1977 Master of Arts in Radio, TV, Film, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas

1970 Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Journalism, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska

Career
Present JM Communications, Chef and Food Writer/Online Media Producer

Author: Truly Texas Mexican: A Native Culinary Heritage In Recipes published by Texas Tech University Press.

2012 Visiting Lecturer, “Texas Mexican Cuisine and History,” Colorado College, Department of Anthropology

2010 Chef, Radical Eats Restaurant, Houston, Texas

2009 Chef, Casa Juan Diego, Houston, Texas

1986-2008 JM Communications, Program Director of the Foundations Grant-Making Program in Media and Communications.

-Award financial grants and manage the grant-making program in support of educational, religious and social not-for-profit organizations in Latin American countries including Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Mexico and the Caribbean.
– Award financial grants and manage the grant-making program in support of educational, religious and social not-for-profit organizations in The Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia,
-Evaluate media projects that received Foundation financial support in Great Britain, Belgium, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Canada.

-Producer and Writer

1981  Founding President, Hispanic Telecommunications Network

1980  CBS Television Network, New York, national news producer

1975 Founder, Annual Chicano Latino Film Festival, San Antonio CineFestival

AMChefPicSmdgsmlSelected Professional Productions and Services

Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia (2012), Culinary Consultant

“Notes on Cooking” (2011). Video series on cultural and social issues surrounding contemporary food and cooking.

The Candy Shop,” an Art Exhibit (2011). Cook and present Mexican candies as art objects, a
collaboration with three visual artists and sculptors.

“adansblog.com” (2008). review of Texas Mexican food, resources, and history.

“Mexican American Cultural Center Mission” (2009) DVD documentary, Telly Award, The Communicatior Award

“Portraits of Faith: The Church in America” (2004) DVD documentary. Gabriel Award.  Fulton J Sheen Award, Telly Award.

“Belief in Media” (2004) Editor, co-edited book published by Ashgate Publishing Limited, Great Britan.

“Hope In A Time of AIDS”(2000) half-hour television program. Telly Award, American Medical Association Media Award.

“Soul Of The City” (1996). half-hour television program. International Film and Video Festival Certificate of Excellence. Gabriel Award. Broadcast on PBS and in Belgium.

“Living with AIDS: An Occasion of Grace” (1994) 30‑minute TV documentary. Gabriel Award, Gold Plaque at the Chicago International Film and Video Festival.

“Comunidad” (1993) 20‑minute video documentary. Proclaim Award.

“I Work The Land” (1990) Certificate for Creative Excellence, US International Film and Video Festival

“Vocación”(1994) 10‑minute video documentary. Proclaim Award.

“Quince Años” (1996) Bronze Plaque at the WorldFest Houston.

“Las Posadas” (1978) half‑hour Christmas TV Special. Certificate of Excellence, Information Film Producers of America, Inc.

Selected Professional Activities

THE WHITE HOUSE
.Consultant on development of policy for minority ownership in broadcasting

THE VATICAN, PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS
.Invited expert, committee to write the papal document, “Aetatis Novae”

TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS
.Commissioner, Appointed by Governor of the State of Texas

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
.Policy Panel for Media Arts

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
.Review Panel for Public Programs

CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
.Review Panel, Proposal evaluation

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS/UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
.Communications Committee

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON
.Film Committee

FRESH ARTS COALITION, HOUSTON
.Board of Directors

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO ARTS AND CULTURE
.Board of Directors

INTERNATIONAL STUDY COMMISSION ON MEDIA, RELIGION AND CULTURE
.Board of Directors

SOUTHWEST ALTERNATE MEDIA PROJECT
.President, Board of Directors

THE AURORA PICTURE SHOW
.Board of Directors

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
.Juror, The Ecumenical Jury

CARTAGENA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
.Juror, The Ecumenical Jury

SAN SEBASTIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
.Juror, The Ecumenical Jury

CULTURAL ARTS COUNCIL OF HOUSTON
.Board of Directors

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