Authentic cuisine, warm hospitality, Mayan Pyramids and Yucatan
cooking lessons is just part of what we're serving up here at Vagabond Gourmet. Come kick back with us in Mexico and
treat yourself to a sweet week south of the border.
January 14 - 21, 2009 - Cost: $3,350.00 per person
Double Occupancy, Exclusive of Airfare
•
2-day Cooking Class
at the exclusive Los Dos Cooking School with
David and Keith
•
Welcome dinner and Wine & Chocolate Tasting
•
La Venta Park and Museum Visit
•
Mariachi Welcome Party at La Villa Merida
•
Lunch at El Principe
•
Dinner at Hacienda Xancantan
•
7 Nights Lodging
•
All In House Meals and Beverages
•
Izamal and Chichen Itza. Tour:
• Ground Transportation and Transfers
• Guided Carriage Tour of Merida
• Cooking
Lessons at Villa Merida
TRAVEL ICONS
Los Dos & Local Cuisine
In Merida, your gourmet dreams will come true at the fantastic "Los
Dos Cooking School", a unique and casual culinary institution owned and run by chefs David Sterling and Keith Heitke. Los Dos is the first school in the country devoted exclusively to Yucatan cuisine.
Featured in magazines such as Condé Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure
and Gourmet, and on Oprah Winfrey's Oxygen channel, Los Dos has become a "must-do" destination in Yucatan, along with the spectacular Mayan ruins and many natural wonders.
Follow these inventive chefs around the local market, then roll up your sleeves and get cooking!
Yucatecan food is little known outside the area, so you are taking with you a real secret. It has even been said that Yucatecan cooking the first "fusion" cuisine. True or not, this culinary tradition is a blend of ancient Mayan and Spanish techniques and ingredients, with just a soupçon of French and Caribbean influence... Like much of Mexico, Yucatecan cuisine has its native ingredients and its indigenous population to thank for the core of its cuisine. Items like: epazote, oregano Yucateco, and one of the world's hottest chiles, the habanero, are found in many recipes.
At Los Dos we will learn how the cacao bean is turned into chocolate, and we will make one of the most famous sauces in the world - mole Poblano, a thick, rich sauce of chilies, peanuts and chocolate. Elsewhere, we will have a demonstration by a local chocolate maker on traditional methods of preparing the Mayan chocolate beverage.
Merida
Our south of the border journey is set in picturesque Merida, a city with fascinating roots and history. This is one of Mexico's most hospitable and nostalgic colonial towns, and combines colonial- era architecture with a rich Indian heritage. Attractions center on the Plaza Mayor, bordered by graceful colonial buildings and shade trees.
Numerous museums bring to life the area's vibrant Mayan culture and further afield are some of the world's most important ancient and impressive archaeological sites. The cities of Chichen
Itza, Uxmal, Sayil, Kabah, Labna, and Edzna are within a 120 mile radius of Merida.
Merida is filled with churches and temples, each with its own small plaza, where people congregate to enjoy salbutes, panuchos, and other corn dough based street snacks. Between those and the fruit ices, we were never long without a delicious tidbit to 'tide us over' between meals.
The local markets are another enlightening culinary experience. Bright mounds of recados, or seasoning pastes, are logically displayed next to the isles of chickens with which they are most commonly served. Sunday in Merida is a day filled visits to the old mercato market and off the main streets to visit small little shops brimming with delicious treats.
Home sweet home
Like all our tours, your home away from home will be as memorable as the meals you will eat, and they will be memorable.
The delightful La Villa Merida is our hacienda for seven days. The 7-room auberge is located in the heart of Merida. An oasis of urban tranquility, the original buildings date back to a 19th century nobleman's estate and have been restored with modern touches to create a sense of luxury and grace typical of the palatial haciendas of the Yucatan.
Merida is a nonstop festival of daily events to attract all tastes just steps from our Villa in the Heart of the City. Each day of the week features everything from traditional dancing, concerts, serenading, theatre, a Big Band dance party and even performances by the Mexican Folkloric Ballet.
Still More…
Our goal on any tour is to meet the colorful people who call the region home, and to seek out authentic foods!
Along this path, we will
meet Mayan women who show us the art of making tortillas by hand
and Izamal's famous sopa de lima, as well as, parchment-wrapped
chicken, pork empanadas and a traditional atole called tanchucuá, made with fresh corn, chocolate, allspice and sugar. After lunch, we will visit the brand new and proudly Yucatecan sisal distillery, where we will learn about the process of making a liquor very much like tequila (tasting is encouraged!).
You cannot fully enjoy the food of the Yucatán without enjoying a meal in a cocina económica or in the tiny stalls found in markets and parks. Here you will find the real food of the people: the authentic comida
Yucateca. While not known for their decor, these venues often have an ambience that is charming; but whether dowdy or quaint, it will always be sincere. Exclusively family-run, sometimes in the same family for generations, these mini-restaurants often out do the larger establishments in their consistency and sheer passion for the cuisine. Compliment the owner/chef on her tamales, and watch the smiles spread.
Luckily for us, David at Los dos knows the best nooks and crannies and we get to tag along with him too.
The Puuc and Uxmal regions are also on the agenda and offer a glimpse into the glorious Mayan past. Just 1.5 hours from Merida this important Mayan region is dotted with pyramids and ancient structures. A visit to the famous ceramics town of Ticul will not only provide an opportunity to find some town selling a variety of Yucatecan antojitos
Pollo Ticuleno, a succulent chicken backed in banana leaves, via the traditional method of chochinita
pibil, or a pit oven in the ground!
The town of Mani and restaurant El Principe are a must and you will be treated to lunch under a palapa in this charming colonial town. The restaurant, it is said, has the world's best Poc
Chuc, pork cutlet in sour orange juice grilled over a wood fire.
Is your mouth watering?! Join Vagabond Gourmet south of the border and taste the sizzle!
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In Merida, your gourmet dreams will come true at the fantastic "Los
Dos Cooking School", a unique and casual culinary institution owned and run by chefs David Sterling and Keith Heitke. Los Dos is the first school in the country devoted exclusively to Yucatan cuisine.
Yucatecan food is little known outside the area, so you are taking with you a real secret. It has even been said that Yucatecan cooking the first "fusion" cuisine. True or not, this culinary tradition is a blend of ancient Mayan and Spanish techniques and ingredients, with just a soupçon of French and Caribbean influence... Like much of Mexico, Yucatecan cuisine has its native ingredients and its indigenous population to thank for the core of its cuisine. Items like: epazote, oregano Yucateco, and one of the world's hottest chiles, the habanero, are found in many recipes. 
Our south of the border journey is set in picturesque Merida, a city with fascinating roots and history. This is one of Mexico's most hospitable and nostalgic colonial towns, and combines colonial- era architecture with a rich Indian heritage. Attractions center on the Plaza Mayor, bordered by graceful colonial buildings and shade trees. 
Like all our tours, your home away from home will be as memorable as the meals you will eat, and they will be memorable. 
Along this path, we will
meet Mayan women who show us the art of making tortillas by hand
and Izamal's famous sopa de lima, as well as, parchment-wrapped
chicken, pork empanadas and a traditional atole called tanchucuá, made with fresh corn, chocolate, allspice and sugar. After lunch, we will visit the brand new and proudly Yucatecan sisal distillery, where we will learn about the process of making a liquor very much like tequila (tasting is encouraged!). 
The Puuc and Uxmal regions are also on the agenda and offer a glimpse into the glorious Mayan past. Just 1.5 hours from Merida this important Mayan region is dotted with pyramids and ancient structures. A visit to the famous ceramics town of Ticul will not only provide an opportunity to find some town selling a variety of Yucatecan antojitos
Pollo Ticuleno, a succulent chicken backed in banana leaves, via the traditional method of chochinita
pibil, or a pit oven in the ground! 
