The Story
Bone Garden Cantina is owned by Michael and Kristen Benoit, a husband and wife team in love with Mexican food and agave spirits. Michael has over 20 years experience in the restaurant business as the owner of The Vortex Bar & Grill, which he opened in Atlanta back in 1992. A few years after getting married, Michael and Kristen opened Bone Garden Cantina in 2008 with a mission to serve authentic Mexican food made from scratch every day. They chose a tiny location off the beaten path, and filled it with colorful folk art inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday. Michael, with years of experience as a working artist prior to his start in the restaurant industry, created much of the artwork for Bone Garden. Over time, many other local painters, tattoo artists and friends have helped fill Bone Garden’s walls with original art that reflects Mexico’s vibrant culture.
Day of the Dead or “Dia de Los Muertos” is an ancient custom of honoring ancestors and departed loved ones during the days of October 31st through November 2nd. Observed with reverence and excitement across Mexico, the celebrations and gatherings of friends and family reveal a uniquely positive outlook on life. Tequila and Mezcal have been a part of this tradition for centuries, as Mexico has a rich history of producing the oldest distilled spirit in the western hemisphere. Bone Garden Cantina offers many opportunities to enjoy and discover Agave Spirits, through an extensive menu selection, delicioso cocktails, ongoing Tequila Tastings, Mezcal workshops and educational information.
DAY OF THE DEAD IN MEXICO
This slideshow is a collection of photos from two recent trips Kristen and Michael took to Mexico during Day of the Dead. Here are some of the traditions, preparations and celebrations they discovered while exploring big cities and small villages, rural and urban cemeteries, and various Tequila and Mezcal distilleries.
