Local Market Tour and Traditional Cooking Class in Mexico City

"Fantastic experience! Margarita was very accommodating and responded quickly to all our questions before we arrived and planned foods that fit our dietary needs. We were interested to learn to cook with squash blossoms, and she was quick to accommodate us. Margarita is very knowledgeable and encouraging in the kitchen. She even shared pictures and recipes when we were finished. We highly recommend the experience. It was such a great way to learn more about the culture and connect with a local!"

"Margarita was very communicative and made sure we knew how to get there. Margarita has a beautiful home. She sat down and talked with us before starting. She explained all the recipes at the beginning and everything was well organized. She gave us the information for each dish and everything was tasty. These are recipes we may not have tried on our own. My sister and niece have never tried a cooking class in someone’s home and agreed it was a unique experience! She had us promise to make the dishes at home and also gave us alternative ways to change the dishes up. We also received restaurant recommendations for Mexico City which we appreciated! We are ready to tackle the menu at home!"

"Margarita was the most gracious, humble and interesting host. She lovingly welcomes you into her beautiful home and the fun begins. This is a true in-home cultural experience including a fabulous trip to her neighborhood market. Seasoned cooks and wannabes alike will truly appreciate Margarita, the food you make alongside her and the gorgeous setting. Worth every cent."

"Margarita was a terrific hostess and very accommodating. She checked in with us on menu since we had young children with us to make sure everything would be good for the whole family. The market tour was good and she helped us with navigating purchase of some things for our place as well. She was also very patient as I tried to improve my Spanish with her. Highly recommend."

"Margarita offers a very good cooking class, with instructions in English & Spanish. She took time to make sure we both understood all the ingredients & steps to make an appetizer, a main dish with side item, and dessert. She explained different ways we could adapt the dishes to meet our needs when we return to our own kitchen. We particularly loved the sauces we prepared. We learned an entirely new-to-us way to make rice as well. We dined al fresco on a lovely patio that felt like perfect oasis for our meal. The class was relaxed & felt like being taught by a close friend or family member. We recommend this class wholeheartedly."

"I just had the best mole I have ever tasted, and I'm sure I can and will repeat this recipe at home. Our entire menu was fantastic, fun and not too complicated to replicate back home. There was so much food that we couldn't eat it all! Margarita is lovely, a fantastic cook and teacher, very patient. She has a beautiful home in an old neighborhood with narrow, cobblestone streets. Just visiting a home in this area is a treat. It was a beautiful day, and we ate outside on her patio. The market tour was fun, and even though we are familiar with Mexican markets and food ingredients, we learned more. Margarita was also helpful about suggesting things we might see and do in the area, so that we walked from her home through that beautiful neighborhood to our next adventure."

"This was an absolutely wonderful experience, and it added so much to an already great trip. The sights and sounds of Mexico City are amazing. Meeting and cooking with Margarita - in her beautiful home - added another dimension. Margarita is fantastic - welcoming, warm, friendly, a fantastic cook -- and an excellent teacher. Our group of five enjoyed everything about this experience . From seeing the lovely home of someone who is a lifelong resident of the City, and working with her to prepare the meal -- and finally to enjoying a delicious meal and interesting conversation. Margarita was genuinely welcoming and we felt like we were friends from the moment we arrived. She was extremely well prepared for our lesson, and shared numerous helpful tips for recreating our feast when we returned home. Highly, highly recommend!"

"This was an absolutely wonderful experience, and it added so much to an already great trip. The sights and sounds of Mexico City are amazing. Meeting and cooking with Margarita - in her beautiful home - added another dimension. Margarita is fantastic - welcoming, warm, friendly, a fantastic cook -- and an excellent teacher. Our group of five enjoyed everything about this experience . From seeing the lovely home of someone who is a lifelong resident of the City, and working with her to prepare the meal -- and finally to enjoying a delicious meal and interesting conversation. Margarita was genuinely welcoming and we felt like we were friends from the moment we arrived. She was extremely well prepared for our lesson, and shared numerous helpful tips for recreating our feast when we returned home. Highly, highly recommend!"

"My sister and I had a wonderful time shopping and cooking with Margarita. Her recipes were delicious and easy to follow, in fact, we have been making homemade tortillas ever since we left! ☺️ If you are a foodie I highly recommend you book this tour and take take foodie adventures to the next level!"

"It was easy to get to the place by metro. Margerita was extremely nice and very informative on everything from the food to mexican culture in general. The food was really good and it was so nice that she prepared for us to cook the food that we suggested. A very good and authentic experience!"

"What a special evening!! Margarita was exceptionally gracious and patient. An exceptional cook, she guided us in making a delicious meal that was also simple so we can make it at home. speaking of homes, hers is lovely and the perfect setting for our meal. Cannot recommend Margarita more highly!!"

"I highly recommend the experience. The chef is an excellent host, attentive, knows the history of the dishes, real, elaborate Mexican food, top ingredients. (Google translated)"

"My partner and I had an absolutely wonderful time cooking with Margarita! She was very warm, and knowledgeable, and I really enjoyed our chats, and meeting her beautiful dog, Lola. The procession of the day was great, starting with traditional Sopes entrées, followed by stuffed peppers & a fried rice for lunch, and an elegant dessert, with guava & berry compote. The ingredients were so fresh, and every bite was delicious! Margarita's hospitality was wonderful, and she went into well considered detail about the process & describing the ingredients we might be able to substitute at home if needed. Her home was so beautiful also. We sat outside in her backyard, had some drinks together, and it was such a perfectly intimate occasion, and definitely one of my highlights for our holiday. Looking forward to making these recipes at home!"

"Our sunset cruise was everything we were hoping for. The Osprey (adults only) has comfortable cushioned benches lining the boat and a wee bar and restroom aft. The crew are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and best of all, for us, the Osprey was not sold out. So, there was room for those so inclined to move around a bit. Finding the actual boat for boarding can be a bit challenging as it seems the docking area is not always the same, but we managed in the end and the crew rounded up those who were still lost before we cast off. After a brief safety review, we were invited to get a drink if we wanted from the bar. For me, just being on the water with a refreshing breeze is enough, but there was more. The Osprey sails through an area where dolphin families hunt together, and we were treated to the sight of these beauties cresting in a glistening arc before diving again. They do it in synch and it's magical to watch. The pod we were following was being pursued by one or two males and their efforts were resisted by moms and "aunties" who help raise the baby dolphins. The older females would rise straight up and smack the water with their tails, an energetic and often effective way to scare off predatory males. All of this was described by our on-board tour guide and deck hand (or self-described XO, Mary) who gave provided great info and answered all our questions. She had the right balance of giving info and letting us just enjoy the cruise! We also cruised past the Castillo de San Marcos and learned how the design and materials used in its construction effectively warded off attacks. For those who've been at sea, you know that the jaw dropping spectacular sunset is never a guaranteed thing. But we struck lucky again and got a gorgeous one. And everyone on board got the chance to photograph it, with crew offering to take over cameras for couples and group photos. On our last leg of the cruise, we got another treat--the Bridge of Lions was opening for tall watercraft. And as a kind of mini-finale, one of the local pirate ships engaged in a mock battle with a much smaller, but nevertheless feisty opponent. Good to know: Have an early dinner at the nearby Kingfish Grill, which offers indoor and outdoor seating, good food, great service, and a 10% discount to those going on the cruise. The Osprey and the Sunset Cruise are just one offering of Florida Water Tours. There are family-friendly and party cruises as well. Good to know: The dock area can be challenging to navigate, but especially for those with mobility concerns. Our crew was very helpful to one passenger who needed a walker. We loved this cruise and would go again."

"We had such an amazing day with Margarita at her home. She was such a kind and patient host with our kids and taught all of us how to make an amazing mexican meal. Our time with her was the highlight of our trip and we cannot recommend her enough for those looking for an experience off the beaten track."

"An incredible experience! Margarita is such a great teacher/guide. She was super patient with us and helpful throughout the cooking class! We were able to explore the market before rolling up our sleeves and get to cooking. Margarita taught us how to make stuffed poblano peppers along with appetizers and a fruit dessert. Everything was delicious! Highly recommend!"

"We went as a family of four with our two kids age 8 and 9. Margarita was so welcoming and her house is absolutely lovely to spend the morning cooking in. We first went to the local market where she showed us local items and showed us common ingredients for Mexican cooking. I've never seen Molè paste before and such a variety. It was definitely an interesting experience for the kids, to see how locals live and shop which you would not get just by being on vacation while staying in a hotel. Margarita adjusted the menu for kid friendly cooking and the kids had a blast! We made sopes, queso fundido, two types of tacos and dessert that we will now be making on a weekly basis when we get home. Her house setting is magical and truly transports you to enjoy the meals we prepared. The kids said that her cooking class was the best part of their spring break!"

"Amazing food and education with Margarita. She had everything planned (including avoiding a food allergy). Clean and professional. Amazing experience."

"The best experience we could have asked for to kick off our México City trip. Margarita was a wonderful host. We made delicious traditional dishes and had wonderful drinks in her beautiful home. We cannot recommend this cooking class enough. Truly an amazing experience start to finish."

"We had a quick visit to San Angles market. Margarita taught us to cook a three course meal. Weather was amazing and we enjoyed few drinks in her beautiful backyard. She is an excellent host."

"We had such a great time with Margarita. Her home, where the cooking class was held, was welcoming and beautiful. Although we enjoyed the visit to the local market, it wasn’t really necessary to the experience. The best part about it was seeing the beautiful neighborhood around it. For the cooking lesson, Margarita had everything organized in advance and there was a lot of hands-on teaching which we loved. We learned how to make a variety of local dishes, and were given great advice on how to expand on the recipes to make other things. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone who enjoys cooking, experienced or not."

"I had an incredible time with Margarita! I highly recommend booking a class with her :) she is a wealth of knowledge."

"Thank you, Margarita for a wonderfully immersive experience! The neighborhood and dining setting was so lovely and peaceful. We learned about a lot of the buildings nearby, trees, plants and then settled into the kitchen to try some new fruits and begin the cooking process. Everything was so delicious and we learned so much! And Lola is precious!"

"Thank you, Margarita for a wonderfully immersive experience! The neighborhood and dining setting was so lovely and peaceful. We learned about a lot of the buildings nearby, trees, plants and then settled into the kitchen to try some new fruits and begin the cooking process. Everything was so delicious and we learned so much! And Lola is precious!"

"Wow!! What an awesome experience! My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed this unique experience! Imagine being welcomed into someone’s beautiful home and they feed you to your heart’s content?! Everything was beyond delectable. I will definitely recommend this experience to everyone!"

"Wow!! What an awesome experience! My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed this unique experience! Imagine being welcomed into someone’s beautiful home and they feed you to your heart’s content?! Everything was beyond delectable. I will definitely recommend this experience to everyone!"

"Cooking with Margarita and a private market tour was unquestionably the most amazing experience my husband and my friends have ever haGbeautiful, she wAas a gracious host and a wondertfuk chef. My friends, my husband and I love it MARGARITA is just superb!"

"Just amazing!!! We chose this experience as a birthday gift and it was the best! Margarita welcomed us to her beautiful home as she took the time to share her wisdom in teaching us how to cook traditional Mexican food! She was extremely organized as she had prepped a lot of the food! She would model what we had to do and encourage us to try our best in making it! We ate our food in her beautiful garden! She will e-mail all recipes that we practiced and definitely keep in touch! We whole-heartely recommend this experience!"

"Have been eating out every day on our CDMX vacation so a great change up to cook our own food. Great way to chop, prepare, cook, and eat as a family (with 2 teenagers) with Margarita and the lovely dog Lola in a lovely residential area. Ingredients were mostly prepared but still had few final preps. The kids chipped i. Which normally they would not. Learned a few thing to take with us in our own cooking. Great experience and especially on a US Thanksgiving Day."

"My partner and I booked this class with Margarita this past August and had an amazing time! we chose to do a private class as I am no chef and wanted to ensure I could ask as many questions as possible and not feel left behind. Margarita is incredibly knowledgeable and patient and we really enjoyed the class. Margaritas neighbourhood was also interesting to visit. We left totally full, learned a lot and she also sends you the recipes so you can cook these dishes at home! Would definitely recommend!"

"Margarita went above and beyond! She was so patient, caring, and knowledgeable. She was very organized, and made the process of learning the recipes so simple! She also had lots of wonderful recommendations for our time in Mexico City that we truly enjoyed. We definitely recommend this experience if you are looking to cook some great food and have a conversation with someone who understands the pulse of Mexico City."

"What a great experience it was! Margarita hosts the event in her beautiful home in Mexico City. She taught us several new cooking techniques and flavors which we will take home with us to share with friends and family. She also giving us great and unique recommendations for our time in Mexico. She is knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and has an inspiring appreciation for food and art."

"This was a great date night event. Margarita was a great host and the food was terrific!! Highly recommended!"

"This was a wonderful experience with my daughters for my birthday!"

"Margarita was a fantastic host! Simple to follow instructions and the recipe turned out wonderfully!"

"Margarita was wonderful! She was engaging, interested in our group and provided clear instruction as well as information about the Mexican culture and preferences. Highly recommend this experience."

"Taking this class with three of my friends was a blast! We have some ingredient hiccups during our class but Margarita remained patient, informative and very encouraging. I see many taco nights in my future...Thank you Margarita 🌮🍷"

"It was such a pleasure taking Margarita cooking lesson! Thank you!"

"Margarita is wonderful--our team has not been able to get together in person, and we've been looking for new ways to connect. Since then, so many of us have repeated what we learned from Margarita in our own homes and have shared our experience with others. We'll be back to Traveling Spoon, but specifically we'll also be back to Margarita."

"Margarita is a wonderful and engaging host. Our remote team was looking for a fun activity for a remote get-together so we weren't just staring at each other and talking (like we do most of the day as it is), and this class really wowed us. Great experience all around, and we're looking forward to trying another class (plus recommending Margarita's class to all of our friends)."

"Margarita was very accommodating with switching the class to zoom and 5 of us enjoyed the class from different homes! We would certainly book another class."

"We had the best time cooking Tortillas with Margarita. She immediately created a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It was fun to be with her and interesting to talk to her. She was open for questions, flexible and shared her experiences openly. The food was delicious. Overall, it was a really nice experience and it almost felt like cooking together with her in Mexico."

"We had a great experience cooking tacos and making salsa with Margarita. It made for a great ladies night in."

"Margarita was an amazing teacher! She went at a perfect pace and offered helpful feedback when we had questions about the recipe. The food turned out great! We never thought we would be so successful at making delicious homemade tortillas. We would recommend this experience to everyone!"

"Great experience. Margarita was very welcoming and friendly. The class was easy to follow along with. First time having Spanish meatballs and they were delicious. The cream cheese definitely adds a great touch. Would recommend this class."

"My family participated in a cooking class with Margarita. We had so much fun and I would 100% recommend this class. She explained all steps in an easy to understand way, was very engaging, fun and communicative. The food was incredible, fresh salsa, tortillas, chicken tacos and quesadillas. Needless to say, we enjoyed a mouth watering dinner afterwards! Thank you. "

"Margarita was great! She was very flexible with my schedule and really taught be step by step. Also they were unbelievably tasty!"

"Margarita was fantastic and the food was delicious!"

"Margarita's online Mexican Taco class was fantastic! I did this with my mother and all of us were in different countries, Margarita was able to accommodate the time difference and we had a great time preparing all the food. Margarita made it easy to follow and the pace was just right for us that aren't quite as experienced rolling out tortillas. We ended up with a fantastic meal and a completely different taste of Mexico for my mother, she is looking forward to trying it again, Margarita also gave us some good tips on some variations to try next time. Communication was easy and prompt and my mother and I have a lasting memory of our afternoon. Whenever I cook tacos I'll be reminded of this class and my afternoon with Margarita. Thank you!!"

"Visitamos la casa de margarita fue una excelente experiencia, aprendimos a cocinar comida típica mexicana. #calidad #buen ambiente #buena ubicación #buen precio"

"My wife and I had the good fortune of visiting the home of Margarita and her husband, Gonzalo, in Mexico City as part of a Traveling Spoon experience. It was so enjoyable! She is a food genius as well as an official "food stylist." Margarita made a variety of delicious food courses and explained the pertinent background details about them. I would highly recommend this if you are remotely a "foodie.""

"If you like cooking (or if you want to learn more about cooking) this experience is perfect. Margarita taught us how to make homemade tortillas, chili rellenos, and green salsa, among many other things (I'm just listing my favorites). My husband and I love to cook and bake, and this class provides something that a cookbook can not - a hands on approach. We learned what the texture of the masa/water ratio should feel like to make tortillas and the technique to roasting, peeling, and removing the veins and seeds from the poblano peppers before stuffing them for the chili rellenos . We were most excited at the opportunity to join Margarita in her home for the class. I think that is what makes it extra authentic, to be able to learn and cook in the same kitchen Margarita makes meals for her family and friends. The duration of our visit felt like spending time with a friend. We made appetizers, then enjoyed them in the garden with hibiscus tea and beer. Then we returned to the kitchen to complete the main course, before heading back out to the patio to eat, talk and drink wine. Her sweet dog Lola enjoyed laying in the sunshine and getting pets from me too!Come hungry and be prepared to leave full and satisfied."

"We (mother/daughter) had an incredible day with Chef Margarita! Everything from her warm welcome, beautiful home, market tour, and of course the cooking lesson were all wonderful! Having one on one lessons in the kitchen was definitely worth it. This also gave us a chance to enjoy an intimate setting and great conversation with Margarita. I highly recommend this experience, and I plan to schedule more cooking lessons in the future."

"Our host, Margarita, was incredible. Her home is lovely; she is knowledgeable, organized, and had all 3 of us participating in many aspects of preparing our multi course meal. Started out in a local market with many stalls offering a variety of local fresh ingredients. There is not enough room to describe this amazing experience, I cannot recommend Margarita more highly."