Modern Mexican Cooking in Puerto Vallarta with a Local Chef

Host offerings

Meet Manuel

Manu is a professionally trained chef who loves to create innovative, modern fusions of classic Mexican dishes. After completing culinary school in his hometown of Guadalajara, he traveled abroad and lived in Canada, Spain, and Norway where he worked in a series of professional kitchens. After being away for 6 years, Manu returned to Mexico where he could indulge in his love of the food from home. Now happily settled in Puerto Vallarta, Manu is a private chef, and works in the tourism industry. Feel free to ask him for his recommendations for the best places in town to get truly authentic dishes such as aguachile and pozole, or amazing street food such as tacos al pastor and churros. Manu lives in a small, but cozy house located close to the center of the city. He is experienced in catering to all types of tastes, allergies, and dietary restrictions. Upon booking, please be sure to let him know your preferences. "I love to cook and to share my experiences and knowledge of food!"

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal (1 - 12 guests) In-home dining experience in Puerto Vallarta at a local chef's home, Manuel. Manu's style of cooking is rooted in authentic Mexican cuisine, but includes influence from Asia and the Mediterranean. You can look forward to enjoying dishes such as fresh ceviche, shrimp enchiladas or crispy volcan taco or chiles rellenos (stuffed chilies) and Vallarta style gorditas (stuffed corn masa dough that is baked or fried) or shrimp aguachile (shrimp marinated in lime juice and chili) or ribs or chicken in salsa verde. Enjoy a unique blend of flavors and a truly personalized dining experience that highlights the best of Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant culinary scene.

Cooking experience (1 - 12 guests) Join Manu in his cozy home kitchen for an authentic Mexican cooking class in Puerto Vallarta. In this hands-on experience, you'll learn to prepare three traditional dishes from scratch, such as fresh ceviche with the catch of the day, panela enchiladas, and shrimp or octopus or mushroom al ajillo. Using traditional techniques and local ingredients, Manu will guide you through each step of the cooking process. After about an hour of cooking, enjoy the meal you've created together. If you prefer a meat-based menu, let Manu know in advance for a customized experience with dishes like beef shanks.

This authentic Mexican cooking experience is perfect for food enthusiasts, home cooks, and anyone looking to explore the rich flavors of Puerto Vallarta in a fun and interactive setting.

Market visit (1 - 12 guests) Embark on a guided Puerto Vallarta market tour with Manu at Mercado Cinco de Diciembre, just an 8-minute drive from his home. Immerse yourself in the vibrant sights, sounds, and smells of a traditional Mexican market as you explore fruit and vegetable stalls, a tortilleria (tortilla factory), carnicería (butcher), and pescadería (fish market). Learn how to select the freshest ingredients for your meal. Afterward, return to Manu's home, where you'll use the ingredients you bought at the market to cook an authentic Mexican meal together.

This Puerto Vallarta market tour and cooking experience is perfect for travelers seeking an authentic, hands-on cultural experience. Learn about Mexican ingredients, traditional cooking techniques, and savor the vibrant flavors of the region in a local, personalized setting.

Notes: Manuel can offer a vegetarian meal on request. So if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please inform him in advance while booking your Mexican cooking class in Puerto Vallarta online.

Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007ffaf2901560>

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.

Traditional panela or shrimp enchiladas or Crispy volcan taco or Chiles rellenos
Catch of the day ceviche like mahi mahi or red snapper or Shrimp or Octopus al ajillo
Vallarta style gorditas or Shrimp aguachile or Ribs or Chicken in salsa verde

GOOD REVIEWS
{ "trip_advisor" : [{"author_name" : "Briantraveler", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Terrific recipe for ceviche and enchiladas. Highly recommend taking the class!! Manu is a terrific teacher and very interesting and worldly young man. \r\nKim"}, {"author_name" : "Heidi Y", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Whether this is your first visit to Puerto Vallarta or your tenth, spending a few hours with Chef Manu will delight and inspire you. A professional chef with impeccable technique, creativity and a deep knowledge of Mexican traditions, Manu responded to our request for contemporary seafood dishes with a menu of two different ceviches, a simple octopus preparation and fantastic shrimp enchiladas. Going to the market with him was an education. His English is native-speaker level. A personal experience well worth the time and expense."}, {"author_name" : "M3567AJmgg", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Met Manuel at his home, discussed food options then headed to local produce, fish & tortilla markets...all were just a few minutes from his house. My wife & I really enjoy going to local markets & selecting fresh ingredients. We returned to Manuel's house and prepared 3 delicious courses; red snapper ceviche, octopus and enchiladas. We're looking forward to trying some of the new methods for cooking each that Manuel shared with us. Can't recommend this experience enough...we'll definitely sign up for another cooking lesson with Manuel again."}, {"author_name" : "AlaskaKevinR", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Relaxed, informative, and easy. The first thing that set Manuel's class apart from similar classes is the menu is not fixed. When my wife and I arrived at Manuel's home we discussed our likes, dislikes, and what we were hoping to get from the class. Once we selected our dishes it was off to the market, which is a place you would not likely see by venturing off on your own. At the market, an item we had not planned on, caught my wife's eye- No problem, Manuel is flexible.Back at the house, we got busy cooking and hands-on time is entirely up to you. The dishes were amazing, of course, but what impressed me most was the simplicity of both ingredients and preparation. I left fully confident that I could duplicate what I learned at Manuel's. He's and excellent teacher and I learned far more than I expected.I highly recommend Manuel's class. Entirely worth the price."}], "ambassador" : [{"author_name" : "Ismael", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Manu is very easy going and nice to talk to. We had a fun conversation and he shared a ton of interesting anecdotes to accompany the meal. The dishes had a traditional feel with some modern touches, he is a really fast cook and really neat at that! I truly recommend him as a Traveling Spoon Host."}], "travel_agent_partner" : [{"author_name" : "Paul", "rating" : 5, "body" : "I'm a Signature Network travel advisor and tried Manu's experience with my wife. We had an amazing experience! From beginning to end, Manu was very intuitive to our food tastes and made it a very memorable experience. He also shared his knowledge of great restaurants to try. We may be headed back in March with a group of friends and if so, we plan on another dinner."}] }

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW

A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Manu is very easy going and nice to talk to. We had a fun conversation and he shared a ton of interesting anecdotes to accompany the meal. The dishes had a traditional feel with some modern touches, he is a really fast cook and really neat at that! I truly recommend him as a Traveling Spoon Host.

Ismael, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

4.99 (185)

$49.0 - $88.0

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Pricing (per person)*

	1 person	4 people	5+ people
In-Home Meal	Not offered	$54	$49
Cooking Experience + Meal	Not offered	$64	$59
Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal	$88	$74	$69
Alcohol	$8 per person
	*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.

Experience Timings

	Lunch	Dinner
In-Home Meal	12:00pm - 02:00pm	4:00pm - 06:00pm
Cooking Experience + Meal	10:00am - 01:00pm	4:00pm - 07:00pm
Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal	9:00am - 01:00pm	2:00pm - 06:00pm

ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

Cancellations and refunds
You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.
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