Elegant plated dish with fresh salmon, crispy garnish, and lime half on a red ceramic plate atop a wooden table.

Documenting the roots, makers, and flavors of Mexican culinary craft.

KEJ CABAN // FROM SOURCE TO TABLE

To truly understand a culinary concept, you have to go back to its roots. I joined Lisa & Hector from Kej Caban on a journey through Mexico to document the raw, unfiltered story behind their restaurant. Shooting the people, landscapes, and craft that define their identity. Tracking the journey from artisanal makers in Mexico to the premium dining experience in the Netherlands, this archive is split into two chapters: the authentic origins and the warm, pure flavors on the table.

Person crushing garlic on a stone surface with a large knife in rustic kitchen setting.

PART I

THE ORIGIN

The Journey Through Mexico. Capturing the raw textures of the land, the dedication of local artisans, and the heritage behind traditional mezcal production. Authentic and unfiltered storytelling.

Elderly farmer in straw hat and green jacket stands in a livestock barn, looking at the camera.
Elderly Latin woman in checkered apron stands by yellow wall and tree trunk, looking at camera with calm expression.
Elderly farmer pushing a red wheelbarrow past white adobe buildings in a rural Latin American village.
Man tearing fresh flatbread by hand near a rustic wood pile, showcasing artisan bread making.
Tomatillos roasting inside a rustic stone oven, bathed in warm light for traditional Mexican cooking.
Shadow of hands holding small figurine and bottle cast on warm golden wall with tropical plant silhouettes.
A man processes coconut fiber, creating dust clouds in a rustic workshop setting.
Close-up view of a green agave plant showing radiating spiky leaves from the center rosette.
A hand with a bracelet rests on grape pomace in a wooden fermentation barrel during winemaking.
Aerial view of an ancient brick kiln filled with terracotta pottery and clay bricks in various stages of firing.
A craftswoman in a Taller Ruta López apron carefully shapes dark clay pottery pieces by hand in a workshop.
Hands clinking shot glasses over a candlelit dinner table with wine glasses and warm ambient lighting.

PART II

THE CUISINE

Warm & Pure Flavors. When you step inside, it instantly feels like you're in Mexico. From original products personally imported from Mexico, such as the ceramics on the table, the carpets on the wall, and the traditional comal in the kitchen. Rich colors, Mexican heritage, and honest plates are captured with soft, warm lighting that emphasizes texture and taste.

Dark plate with plums, orange tomato, and a wooden bowl of fruit chutney with spoon on rustic table.
Black and white close-up of fresh savoy cabbages showing intricate leaf vein patterns and textures.
Chef carefully garnishing green leaf appetizers on wooden boards in a professional restaurant kitchen.
Hand placing a rustic ceramic plate with sesame-crusted fish and fresh green salad on a linen tablecloth.
Elegant plated dish with fresh fish, crispy garnish, and lime half on a red ceramic plate atop a wooden table.
Black and white photo of hands holding a stack of woven wicker baskets.
A hand holds open a leather-bound book displaying elegant typed text on cream paper in warm ambient lighting.
Server in brown apron smiles while holding a bottle, chatting with a bald bearded man at a candlelit restaurant table.
Dried mixed mushrooms with golden enoki on a white textured plate atop a rustic wooden table.
Chef arranging elegant appetizers on rustic clay plates with silver spoons during fine dining service preparation.
A frothy cappuccino with coffee beans on top sits in a glass cup on a warm wooden table in soft light.