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pot luck

“Learn to Cook in Mexico this Christmas”

I don’t know about you, but I love Mexican food. Tacos, tortas, enchiladas, moles, posole, and on and on. But I really have very little experience cooking Mexican. (All of my talent lies with eating it.) But I have often thought how great it might be to travel to Mexico and learn how to prepare dishes from the source. Over the years, my friend Sue Torres, who some of you many know from her restaurants Los Dados and Suenos, has been telling me about a cooking retreat that she takes to Mexico, and I think it’s high time I share her little secret. Especially since Cocinar Mexicano is going to hold a special Christmas Cooking Feast workshop this December.

Cocinar Mexicano, a cooking school known for its master classes in traditional and contemporary Mexican cooking, is based in the exquisite mountain village of Tepoztlán, an hour outside Mexico City in the foothills of the great volcanoes. All of their programs give people a real immersion in Mexican life, both rural and urban, and feature hands-on classes, gorgeous accommodations, participation in village celebrations, curated dining in Mexico City and Cuernavaca, mescal and tequila tastings, and art/archeology excursions with their very own Tate-trained docent.

On your Christmas Feast, you’ll fly into Mexico City on December 20th, and be transported by private van to Tepoztlán, to your choice of accommodation—this can range from homestays with a local family to the luxurious Posada del Tepozteco, with its terraced gardens overlooking the square. (You decide based on the type of experience you want and budget you have.)

Your weeklong gastronomic immersion begins in earnest the next morning. Working with village women in Cocinar’s exquisite indoor/outdoor kitchen, you’ll learn the art of homemade tortillas, tamales, moles and pipián, as well as the chile-based sauces and appetizers for which the country is famous. Along with Chiles 101 and Margaritas 101, this workshop also features “A Tale of Two Moles,” in which two different moles are prepared and seasoned in the days leading up to Christmas. In between cooking sessions, you’ll visit the 10th century citadel of Xochicalco, as well as enjoy an exclusive museum trip to Cuernavaca, with curator Janet Dawson as your guide.

During the lead-up to Christmas, your group will take part in the traditional Posadas, the door-to-door singing and celebrations that culminate on Christmas Eve, when you’ll join local neighbors as they converge for an outdoor mass in the main churchyard.

After five days of hands-on workshops and processions, your two moles return as the centerpiece of a spectacular Christmas dinner. Generally a low-key day in Tepoztlán, this is your day for a massage, a morning eco-hike, or an escorted climb to the 14th century pyramid that overlooks the village (one of only two mountaintop pyramids in all of Mexico).

Your week culminates in Mexico City. En route, you will visit the colonial neighborhood of Coyoacán, home to painter Frida Kahlo, and tour one of the city’s famous markets before checking into the JW Marriott, in posh Polanco, from where you will depart for a special closing dinner at one of Cocinar’s affiliated restaurants. The workshop ends after breakfast on Saturday morning, December 27th, when you’ll fly back home, with great memories and recipes.

Prices range from $2495 to $2895  a person, depending on exact length and season, not including airfare. To sign up email director@cocinarmexicano.com or call, toll-free, 866-779-4330. For more information visit www.cocinarmexicano.com.

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Posted: October 11, 2008

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