Traditional Yucatecan Cooking Class in Merida in a Cozy Home

Host offerings

Notes: Sofia's home is also a homestay. While your Traveling Spoon experience will be private, there may be other guests present in her home. Also, there is no AC in Sofia's home. If you choose the optional alcohol add-on (at an additional cost), Sofia serves two glasses of local Yucatan beer.

Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007ffad95e9ee0>

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.

• Dulce de Papaya
• Sikilpak (squash seeds and tomatoes dip)
• Chile Kut (Yucatecan habanero sauce)
• Sopa de Lima
• Pollo Pibil

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GOOD REVIEWS
{ "trip_advisor" : [{"author_name" : "Odyssey787305", "rating" : 5, "body" : "The six of us spent the day with Sophia and experienced authentic Yucatecan cooking, from shopping in the beautiful local Mexican market to preparing 7 wonderful dishes in her home. Sophia is a joy, English is good and she prepares recipes passed down from generations. We all left with a new appreciation of Yucatecan tradition, some family history and printed recipes. Gracias Sophia."}, {"author_name" : "charlottew514", "rating" : 5, "body" : "We spent a day with Sofia, cooking traditional Yucatan recipes and had a fantastic experience. She is very knowledgable and incredibly chatty, a lot of fun and made us (two twenty something year old girls) feel very welcome - even when our chopping was sub par! We left with a recipe book and incredibly full stomachs (though don’t go hungry, it’s five hours of prep to get through!) Would recommend to anyone in Merida, as it’s a lovely day out. "}, {"author_name" : "aureliegonzalo", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Pasé un día extraordinario en esta clase de cocina.Sofia fue increible durante todo el Día. Comparte su amor por la cocina Yucateca y por su región.La visita del Mercado fue fenomenal. Me mostraba cada ingrediente y me explicaba los origenes de cada uno, y como se cocinaba. Me llevó a todos los sitios, frutas y hortalizas, especies, carne, pescado, artesania, etc. Fue muy interesante la visita y ayuda mucho en saber lo que vas a cocinar.Luego cocinamos casi 4 horas. Varias entrantes muy tipicas y deliciosas, y pollo pibil con arroz y platano frito. Sofia explica muy bien cada etapa, y otra vez, comparte toda su pasión por la cocina.Recomiendo 300% una clase con Sofia en Merida. Merece mucho la Pena."}, {"author_name" : "HannekeJanssen", "rating" : 5, "body" : "We (family with 2 children - age 10 and 12) had a superb day with Daniel and Julieta: the visit to the market and the cooking and eating in the lovely house of Julieta. Learned a lot about the Yucatan cuisine and the food was delicious. I would really recommend this tour to anyone who likes to do something different then the 'usual tourist activities'. Especially for families with children/teens I can recommend it. Our girls really enjoyed it: they learned a lot about fruits, herbs and veggies at the market and now they know how to make a perfect guacemole and banana empanadas!! Thanks again Daniel and Julieta!!"}, {"author_name" : "Trudy B", "rating" : 5, "body" : "To say that Sophia Casellas goes the extra mile does not describe our amazing day with her! We had suggested a few Yucatacan recipes that we would like to make and Sophia made them all. Sophia picked us up at our hotel and we headed to Luis Galvez market, the largest market in Merida, where we spent a full morning enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the market. At the market Sophia carefully selected every fruit and vegetable that was to go into our meal. She described what each item was and what was in season at the time of our visit. The market was pretty overwhelming but Sophia knew which vendors had the best fruits, vegetables and spices.After shopping, Sophia drove us to her home where we began preparing our feast. We made: guacamole, sikil pak (a dip with tomatoes and ground pumpkin seeds), empanadas de chaya, tortitas de chaya, ceviche (this she had prepared the night before), salsa de tomate (tomato sauce), chile kut (a sauce made with roasted habaneros, lemon and garlic), pollo pibil (chicken in annatto or achiote, sauce), rice, fried plantains, picked onions, and for dessert, mousse de mamey (a fruit indigenous to the Yucatan). After an afternoon of cooking, we moved to a beautifully set table on her patio where we enjoyed an amazing meal. Sophia is, to put it mildly, amazing! Not only is she an incredible cook, she explained the native fruits and vegetables and how they are used in Yucatanian cooking. At the end of the evening, she presented us with all of the recipes we had prepared and what we could substitute for the Yucatan items. If you have an opportunity to take one of her classes, jump at the chance. You will not be disappointed!"}], "ambassador" : [{"author_name" : "Heather", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Sofia did an incredible job of introducing me to both Mayan and Yucatecan cuisine. Every dish we made was steeped in tradition and history. I loved making my own tortilla chips and dips, as well as trying lesser-known dishes like spiced fish steamed in banana leaves. Everything we made was mouth watering, and Sofia offered cooking tricks and tips every step of the way. She truly loves Yucatecan culture, and is always happy to talk about its history, its traditions and, best of all, its food!"}] }

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