Pati is invited to cook a special Cinco de Mayo dinner at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. The James Beard Foundation is a non-profit culinary arts organization, which hosts frequent meals typically prepared by esteemed chefs, like Pati, who take pride in sharing their culture and cuisine with the world. Before she leaves New York, Pati visits three authentic Mexican-American culinary establishments around the city. While tasting and enjoying traditional Mexican breads, tamales, and chilaquiles, Pati learns the stories of chefs using food as a way of pursuing their dreams in America, creating their own successful businesses and honoring traditional Mexican recipes and ingredients.