Gastronomy of East Morelos with Paola
Experience a one-of-a-kind culinary adventure with Chef Paola and three culinary matriarchs as they showcase the rich and undiscovered Mexican culinary traditions from Mixtec Indigenous culture and diverse Pueblas. Harvest, discover native plants and prepare traditional dishes using modern and traditional cooking techniques, all set against the backdrop of breathtaking rural beauty.
- Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $1955
- Additional guest(s) (max 4)
- USD $1320
Meet the Artist
Paola is a visual artist and expert chef who draws inspiration from Mexico's natural world, gastronomy, and local markets. For the past two decades, she and her partner Julio, a renowned sculptor, have been immersed in exploring the cuisine of East Morelos. Both come from families deeply rooted in Mexican food traditions and have extensively traveled rural Mexico, learning about diverse plants and cooking methods.
Working in a kitchen sculpted by Julio, complete with handmade utensils and appliances, Paola focuses on uncovering the lesser-explored aspects of Mexican gastronomy. Her practice involves preserving indigenous knowledge about local plants, infusing it with creativity, and presenting food uniquely. Paola collaborates with three women from her community, each having inherited culinary knowledge through generations, representing the region's cultural diversity from pre-Columbian times.
Doña Magda, from the neighboring town Tecajec, specializes in ancient corn processes and cultivation, from seed to handmade dough. Doña Gil, from nearby Huazulco, concentrates on traditional and seasonal dishes prepared in her firewood kitchen. Doña Clara possesses a treasure trove of family recipes, which she cooks in her beautiful open kitchen. Together, Paola and her community aim to share their culinary secrets through art, agriculture, and gastronomy, creating a circle of culinary knowledge with you.
Working in a kitchen sculpted by Julio, complete with handmade utensils and appliances, Paola focuses on uncovering the lesser-explored aspects of Mexican gastronomy. Her practice involves preserving indigenous knowledge about local plants, infusing it with creativity, and presenting food uniquely. Paola collaborates with three women from her community, each having inherited culinary knowledge through generations, representing the region's cultural diversity from pre-Columbian times.
Doña Magda, from the neighboring town Tecajec, specializes in ancient corn processes and cultivation, from seed to handmade dough. Doña Gil, from nearby Huazulco, concentrates on traditional and seasonal dishes prepared in her firewood kitchen. Doña Clara possesses a treasure trove of family recipes, which she cooks in her beautiful open kitchen. Together, Paola and her community aim to share their culinary secrets through art, agriculture, and gastronomy, creating a circle of culinary knowledge with you.
VAWAA Includes:
- Learn to cook traditional foods of East Morelos using modern and traditional cooking methods.
- Discover endangered knowledge about the nutritional qualities of native plants and vegetables.
- Harvest fresh ingredients from Paola’s land and the countryside, where Julio preserves local plants from all over Mexico.
- Visit the local market and learn about the region’s different fruits and vegetables, including those from the mountains (cold varieties) and the hot lands (warm weather varieties).
- Experience four immersive cooking sessions in different kitchens alongside Paola and her collaborators, each day showcasing a unique gastronomic tradition from ancient seed to corn dough processes and recipes, traditional sauces, seasonal cooking on firewood, family recipes, and modern cooking methods using utensils and ovens, sculpted by Julio.
- Take a relaxing stroll in the fields, or sketch and read in Paola’s studio and extensive library.
- Explore the beautiful rural landscape marked by the Popocatepetl Volcano and visit the Chalcatzingo Ruins.
- Visit the different Zacualpan Historical Hood Chapels.
- Enjoy the town’s traditional festivities and visit one of the town’s 14 puppet and mask workshops.
Explore Zacualpan de Amilpas, Morelos
Zacualpan de Amilpas is a hidden gem within Mexico's vast gastronomic heritage. Shaped by centuries of cultural convergence since pre-Columbian times, this area is a unique blend of gastronomic traditions from different Pueblas and the Mixtec Indigenous culture from the mountains of Guerrero. The region's distinctive weather, geography, and abundance of local herbs and plants have contributed to cultivating a discreet gastronomy culture that is often overlooked and deserves recognition and exploration.
The town is more than just a food destination: art lovers will appreciate Zacualpan de Amilpas's colorful historic center and well-preserved colonial architecture. You won't want to miss a visit to the Chalcatzingo Archaeological Zone, with many pre-Hispanic ruins, including temples and pyramids, just on the outskirts of town. Immerse yourself in Zacualpan de Amilpas's spirited, close-knit community, and learn why the town has been a regional pull for millennia.
The town is more than just a food destination: art lovers will appreciate Zacualpan de Amilpas's colorful historic center and well-preserved colonial architecture. You won't want to miss a visit to the Chalcatzingo Archaeological Zone, with many pre-Hispanic ruins, including temples and pyramids, just on the outskirts of town. Immerse yourself in Zacualpan de Amilpas's spirited, close-knit community, and learn why the town has been a regional pull for millennia.
Additional Details
Zacualpan de Amilpas is a great year-round destination with mild winters and seasonal ingredient variations. Enjoy the Peanut and Zompantle Flower Mole from mid-January to February. March and April are hot, with floral blooms and Catholic holidays. September hosts the main festival, showcasing Mojigangas and marking the corn harvest. Visit from October 30-November 1 for Dia de los Muertos celebrations with a mix of pre-Hispanic foods and Spanish treats.
If you are pregnant or allergic to mosquitoes, it’s best to avoid the monsoon season, from June-September.
This session can be extended for up to 6 days based on seasonality. Children, elders, and people who have accessibility issues or special needs are welcome to participate, although wheelchair accessibility is not available due to a lot of steps. Please add a note in your booking request.
Paola speaks Spanish and English.
If you are pregnant or allergic to mosquitoes, it’s best to avoid the monsoon season, from June-September.
This session can be extended for up to 6 days based on seasonality. Children, elders, and people who have accessibility issues or special needs are welcome to participate, although wheelchair accessibility is not available due to a lot of steps. Please add a note in your booking request.
Paola speaks Spanish and English.