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Host: Alex and Ale

Mexico City, Mexico

USD
$83-$191 per person

Modern Mexican cooking in Mexico City with a food loving couple

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Alex and Ale

Alex lives with his wife Alejandra (Ale) in downtown Mexico City, just blocks from the Plaza de la Constitución. Alex is a K3 teacher in the American School Foundation, while Ale is a professional tour guide who is passionate about sharing her Mexican culture and cuisine with guests. Ale has a wealth of knowledge about the country's history, anthropology, folklore, and of course, culinary traditions.

Alex drew inspiration to cook from his grandfather who would serve delicious nopales (grilled cactus paddles) at his home every Sunday. He learned to cook watching his mother and experimenting in the kitchen after watching food shows on TV. The smells and flavors of his childhood and family meals inspired him to cook more, and now he loves sharing this knowledge with his 6-year old students during their regular cooking class. Both Alex and Ale love sharing meals with friends and family as much as they enjoy cooking.

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: (2-6 guests) Enjoy a homemade Mexican meal in Alex and Ale’s simple yet modern and vibrant apartment. The food that they serve is a mix of modern Mexican dishes as well as Pueblan cuisine, where Ale comes from. While you sip on your welcome drink, Alex and Ale will talk to you about the importance of food in Mexican culture. Then sit down together to enjoy a meal that includes 3-4 dishes and one or two salsas followed by a dessert. Your meal will be accompanied by beverages like fresh hibiscus water and if you select alcohol, beer and mezcal. Your menu may include traditional and modern Mexican dishes such as picadillo tostadas, enmoladas or flautas or a variety of tacos which will be served with a selection of salsas like salsa verde or roja. Your meal will conclude with a dessert like sweet Mexican corn cake.

If there is a particular Mexican dish you are eager to try, please let Alex know when making your booking.

Cooking experience: (2-4 guests) Join Alex in their home kitchen for this Mexico City cooking class and learn to cook 3-4 traditional Mexican dishes. You might learn dishes such as flautas, tostadas or enmoladas which are corn tortillas stuffed with chicken in a mole sauce. Mole is a dark chocolate-based sauce with lots of spices that is very popular in Mexico and easy to cook - a great sauce to add to your Mexican cooking repertoire. As Alex and Ale have a small kitchen you can expect to do the cooking preparation in the bar area and use the kitchen for the final cooking. You can also let Alex and Ale know at the time of booking, if you want to learn a particular dish in your Mexican cooking class.

Market visit: (2-4 guests) Alex and Ale will accompany you to the San Juan market, a traditional Mexican market in the historic center of Mexico City that specializes in gourmet and exotic foods. It is known for its selection of exotic meats, including venison, crocodile, wild boar and even lion meat. Alex and Ale will guide you through the market and describe the different items for sale, from fresh produce to dried chiles, spices, mole mixes, and much more. As you tour the market you might taste a few local specialties before walking home together to begin your cooking experience.

Please make sure to meet Alex at his home on time for your market tour as the market closes at 5pm and he does not want you to feel rushed.

Notes: This Mexico City cooking class is great for families with children.

As Alex works during the day, he can only do dinners (not lunches) on weekdays. Market tour + cooking class + dinner experiences are unavailable on Wednesdays. On weekends, Alex and Ale are available for any experience type for both lunch and dinner.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

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

We felt like two more Mexico downtown residents during the time we spent with Alex and his wife Ale. First in the exotic market of San Juan, where Alex invited us to try some gourmet baguettes (mascarpone, honey, strawberry and pecan nuts) before showing us the most typical stands there (which include tiger and crocodile meat!), then while cooking enmoladas and philosophizing about gastronomy and Mexico, sipping mezcal.

Alix, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

4.97 (32)
We had a lovely afternoon with Mariana and Geraldine. The market is an open air market and Mariana does a great job at explaining lots of items that may appear strange/new. The home of Geraldine is in a posh part of town/neighborhood, very quiet, large and has a wonderful back patio and yard for enjoying the lunch. The cooking experience we were thinking we all would have more of a hand in making the dishes but the kitchen space makes it harder for multiple people to be chopping while Mariana is explaining the dish ingredients/method. We mainly watched while they cooked. We did get to chop some onion, help mash salsa and roll/press out the sopes, which my son loved. The food we made during the demonstration all tasted wonderful as well (ceviche, pork, salsa, sopes). And you can bring your own wine to enjoy over lunch as well. Overall a great afternoon.
- JamieY June 25, 2024
Traveling Spoon knocks it out of the park again. This time we ventured to the gorgeous San Angel neighborhood of Mexico City. The neighborhood is best known for their very lively Sábado Mercado, we went on a sleepy Tuesday! Mariana and Geraldine invited us into their stunning home filled with artwork and a back garden filled with shade and birds. We started our time together at the market. They were immensely helpful educating us on mole pastes, powders, chilis and spices. After buying provisions, we headed home to cook. Finally got a good handle on making sopas. Also made salsa, red rice and pibil. They broke the steps down and explained the rationale for various tasks. Highly recommend their class and shopping around the plaza.
- esemm May 29, 2024
Alex was personable and made our group of four women feel comfortable in his home. As someone who grew up eating a lot of Mexican food, I wasn’t certain how much I would learn, but I learned a LOT. It was fun, interactive, and the food? delicious. Easy walk up a flight of stairs from the street and a clean, small apartment. Nice to do a private event and let our teens be loud and have fun. We also enjoyed this was at night, so we could spend the day exploring, rather than many other classes are in the middle of the day. Alex planned a perfect meal for a cool night and accommodated our dietary restrictions, nicely. He was prepared and professional.
- leah_Y January 16, 2024
We took a lesson with Luis Delgado at his home in Condesa. Him and wife treated us like family and we had an amazing time learning to make different salsas and traditional Mexican dishes. Will definitely be back to see Luis and his new restaurant when we’re back in Mexico City!
- Carson_B March 10, 2023
Alejandro was a wonderful and gracious host! We got stuck in horrible traffic and were an hour late. He completely accommodated us and was not upset at all. We went on a lovely tour of a market and then had such a nice time cooking in his home. He accommodated our dietary restrictions and was wonderful company. Highly recommend!
- sdahuja October 11, 2022
Alejandro was kind, funny, talented, knowledgeable and a marvelous cook/teacher!!!! Loved learning about the different peppers
- Patricia_L October 08, 2022
This experience was wonderful!! We felt welcome and at home immediately, like we came over for a dinner party at a friend's house. Alex has so much great knowledge to share about his culture, food, the city and country, and cooking techniques. We are all experienced home cooks, but still learned multiple new techniques that we will use right away. The meal was delicious and we appreciated the chosen menu because it highlighted food we were not expecting. Thank you!!
- Emilie May 24, 2022
One of the best experiences you can book if you want to get to know Mexican cuisine and locals. Our guide was the most wonderful and we had a great time with nice drinks and food. We will definitively book again.
- Camila May 04, 2022
We could not have asked for a better experience!! Alex welcomed us in and made us feel like we were at home, right from the beginning. He picked the perfect menu, we thoroughly enjoyed learning about the dishes, while cooking them and sharing the meal together was outstanding! We will definitely be making these dishes again, at home, to share with family and friends. We look forward to cooking with Alex & Ale again the next time we visit Mexico City.
- Amy March 29, 2021
Simply put, our experience with Alex could not have been better. We learned so much about the neighborhood, the market, the history of both, and of course the food. Alex's apartment is beautifully appointed and comfortable. We had the best time cooking the dishes, and Alex was adept at directing us and sharing information about the meal. He is the perfect host.
- Shaensly December 29, 2019
My mother and I really enjoyed this day! We loved the market and took away great, easy recipes! Fun day!
- Tara B December 14, 2019
My friends and I had the pleasure of experiencing a hands on cooking class and tour of Mercado de San Juan with Alex (unfortunately his wife could not join us). It all started with a trip to the market and it was a joyous sight here to see- one of the best markets I had been to while in Mexico City. After picking up all the items for our dinner, we went to Alex’a beautiful home where the cooking class began. It was such a joyful and fun experience and Alex was so personable, friendly, and a great teacher. I learned so much about local cuisine and culture. He taught us how to make delectable dishes. I had never participated in a cooking class like this and now I would definitely want this to be part of my future trips. Thank you Alex for adding to our wonderful memories of Mexico City.
- melmana2018 October 25, 2019
We had such a lovely time with Alex and Ale! From the ease of communication before our home cooking lesson to the beautiful and delicious food we made. Such a unique and memorable experience - I highly recommend working with Alex and Ale!
- pinkshoes81 October 01, 2019
Our cooking class with Alex and Ale was a real highlight of our trip. From the visit to the San Juan Market to bustling around in the kitchen learning new things kept us laughing and sharing with Alex. Both Alex and Ale were a delight welcoming us into their home and enjoying the meal we cooked. Can’t recommend this experience enough.
- Fisherbeer September 04, 2019
What a privilege it was to have the opportunity to be in Alex & Ale’s home. Sadly Ale was working, but Alex was so easy going & interesting to chat to. I enjoyed the hands on experience of cooking & feeling totally at home in the kitchen. It was my first experience of “real” Mexican food & I thoroughly enjoyed it. The trip to the market was interesting & I got to try crickets - garlic ones are best! We made red and green salsas which were delicious on chalupas, and flautas ahogadas that we’re divine. I can’t remember what the yummy corn ‘muffins’ were called but drizzled in vanilla syrup were also delicious. Thank you Alex for such a wonderful afternoon, it was a pleasure meeting you and thank you for teaching me a few tricks of the trade! What a great way to start my Mexican food adventure.
- xtinart July 19, 2019
Our tour with Alex was superb. First he took us to a wonderful market and showed us many local specialties. We got a hands-on feeling for the food culture of Mexico City. The venders were friendly and generous with samples. Then, ingredients in hand, we returned to Alex's apartment to prepare several sauces, sides, a main, and dessert. I still don't know how he did it, but he guided us through with amazing organization and attention to detail. And then we ate! Oh my my, everything was delicious. We will definitely want to try these recipes at home. Alex was a kind and generous host who also introduced us to mezcal and micheladas. I guess you can tell, we highly recommend this tour.
- ab1122 May 05, 2019
My husband and I took the market tour and cooking class with Alex. He knew a ton about the history of Mexican cuisine and even more about cooking it plus he was great to talk to during the dinner itself! I would recommend anyone going to Mexico City take this tour and class. It’s 100% worth it! :)
- megandH1194ND April 08, 2019
My sons and I loved our time with Alex. He took us to a market not far from his home that for Mexico City standards was easy to navigate and allowed us to sample some new and unique foods that were delicious. Once we were back at Alex's apartment he guided us through cooking a delicious vegetarian meal that my whole family enjoyed. We loved learning more about the city and it's culture through our conversations and felt welcomed as friends in his home. Highly recommend!
- mazilombard April 04, 2019
We had the best day with Lucia! We were a group of 6 friends in our 30s and this was one of the best experiences from our trip! Lucia met us at the San Angel Market where she showed us many different stalls and introduced us to a couple of new ingredients. Lucia then drove us to her BEAUTIFUL home -- but along the way we stopped for both tamales and tacos from street vendors she knew. Hands down, they were some of the best tamales and tacos we've ever had! Once we arrived, we immediately felt at home! The space is bright, beautiful, clean, and all around lovely. Lucia was an amazing host. We cooked many different dishes, had drinks, listened to music, and learned about Mexican food/culture. It was a highlight of our trip. Following the class, Lucia recommended a great spot nearby to get drinks (absolutely beautiful). Lucia is incredibly knowledgable (she is a professor of pre-hispanic cuisine) and a delight to be around. We would recommend a cooking class with Lucia without hesitation.
- Natalie M April 04, 2019
Lucia was a gracious host and led us to explore native Mexican produce and techniques in a relaxed and enjoyable lunch. This was our 3rd day in Mexico, our family (2 adults, 2 children) took an Uber to meet her at the market where we sampled mole and mangos while learning about unique local foods and food prep technique. On the way out, we stopped for green chile tamales before heading to her house to make lunch. Our kids enjoyed helping cook while we prepared traditional hand-made corn tortillas for tacos and quesadillas. We snacked on local fruits while preparing tasty sauces and a sweet fruit pudding. It was a relaxing experience, her home is great, complemented by the excellent view from her back patio. Our kids had a great time.
- Lucia L March 28, 2019
A friend and I were visiting Mexico city for five days. We basically came to the city to eat. Thesis: Learn how to cook from Alex. This was the best tourist experience of my trip.Alex is a true chilango and was a breath of fresh air interposed in a series of strange tourism experiences we had over the course of our trip. He teaches english for a living, we were able to have deep conversations about travel, food, and life. He has been cooking for several years and has a solid fund of knowledge to suit an amateur cook such as myself.Our experience began at his apartment where he greeted us with a drink. We had recently finished a bike tour and in my correspondence with Alex (over text) he made accommodations to meet us earlier than normal so that we wouldn’t have dead time between one tour and the start of his experience.We were exhausted and Alex recognized this - in our tour of the market he bought me an espresso. Clutch! Then we had a quick taco at what I would say was my favorite Al pastor street vendor from the entire trip (i ate a glorious amount of different tacos).He talked to us about the history of Mexican food and the history of Mexico City. On the market tour he discussed the uses of different chiles. Then he began to explain to us the importance of mole. For dinner we made chicken enchiladas with mole, chicharron de queso, and corn cakes. We also made guacamole and roasted tomato salsa.He served microbrewed local beer, tequila, and mezcal. He also gave us some amazing recommendations for a market where we could buy gifts for our girlfriends and other loved ones. Truly an exceptional experience.
- Anand S March 27, 2019
We had wonderful evening cooking, talking, eating, and drinking with Alex. He introduced us to several types of mezcal and a new-to-us Mexican beer. The menu he planned for us was catered to our tastes (spicy!) and we can't wait to prepare the dishes on our own back at home. Alex is really a wonderful host and a very patient teacher...it felt like we were just hanging out at the home of a friend. This experience was one of our favorite parts of our time in CDMX! Gracias Alex :)
- lauraeZ8678FO March 20, 2019
This was definitely the highlight of our trip! Alex had extensive knowledge of regional Mexican cooking, and he clearly knew his way around the kitchen. He individualized our menu for our taste and dietary restrictions easily, and the food we made was SO GOOD! If we come back to Mexico City we definitely want to do this experience again.
- Keith G March 12, 2019
Alex was a fantastic host, teacher and conversationalist. We mentioned we had experience with Mexican cooking already so he was very happy to teach us special dishes including pozole, chicharron de queso and huitlacoche quesadillas, which we had never cooked ourselves before. Even his salsa was a new approach which we will be remaking in Canada as soon as we can. All served with generous quantities of beer, mezcal and agua de jamaica. Alex is warm, friendly and knowledgeable. He was happy to answer all of our questions about daily Mexican life and we learned a lot. His English is perfect, which makes conversation easy and fun.An evening cooking with Alex is highly recommended. It is a highlight of our trip, which says a lot given the number of cultural wonders in Mexico City. Don't miss a chance to cook with him!
- Mara S January 25, 2019
Alex is a personable, knowledgeable and talented cook. We had fun shopping at the nearby market for ingredients for our 6 dish dinner, tasting tropical fruit and other goodies along the way.Our private class in Alex's home was a highlight of our 1 week stay in Mexico City. We were assigned small tasks to help prepare and learn about the dishes we were making. I enjoyed learning about cooking with fresh and dried chilis. The menu was quite ambitious, preparing several appetizers, the main dish and dessert. Alex made it fun and effortless.Taking a class in someone's private home is so much better than at a cooking school. We felt a personal bond form.
- Barbara F January 18, 2019
I have taken cooking lessons practically all over thevworld and this one was up there as one of the best!Alex tookus to the local markets to buy groceries and ingredients for the lesson... explaining histories, cultural significances and the importance of Mexican culinary traditions.The menu items in our lesson in Alex and Ale's adorable and very functional kitchen made was simplistic in design, full of flavour and colour and easy to prepare in any kitchen environment...The culminating meal was on the top 3 highlights of our trip! And... we made two friends as well! CHEERS to Alex and Ale!
- joblokhed January 07, 2019
If you are on the fence about doing a cooking class in Mexico let us put your mind at ease. Vault that fence as fast as you can! As two non Spanish speakers who’d spent the last 24 hours struggling to order as many tacos and beers as we needed (Australians can’t roll their “r”) it was a huge relief to be met by a smiling face and perfect English. We had the most amazing time exploring the San Juan markets with Alex and Ale, going back to their wonderful flat that’s in an amazing historic building right in the mix of downtown. Alex and Ale were so welcoming, informative and extremely generous with the information they shared about their lives. We found out so much about Mexico that we were completely ignorant of. Then there’s the food. Oh my word, that food. Coming from Australia, we have seriously no idea about Mexican food. We both love cooking and often will cook “Mexican for dinner” but after seeing the amazing fresh produce and simple seasoning that Alex and Ale showed us, we won’t be bothering with any of those Tex Mex recipes again. The beer and mezcal flowed, we learned knew skills and had a once in a lifetime meal with two genuinely interesting, funny and generous people. Close the other tabs you have open. You won’t find a better experience than this for your visit to Mexico City to get a feel for modern Mexico. We’re hoping to come back and visit for one of Ale’s taco tours as well as her Puebla tours.
- David R July 23, 2018
Excellent experience. Farid was prompt in replying to emails, very kind and considerate. His apartment is lovely and we felt comfortable and welcome. The food was delicious with lots of opportunities to try different food. Farid speaks fluent English and we had many interesting conversations, was great to learn about his family. He had some excellent tips for places to visit and explore in the city
- stancyandtodd June 01, 2018
I hardly know where to begin it was such a great experience. My friend and I (the lesson was just the two of us) met Ishmael not far from the market and after a short walk we were surrounded by sights and smells and tastes that were just delightful. We got to try cherimoya, the freshest mangos and figs I've ever had, plus edible flowers, and that was just at the fruit vendor. Ishmael suggested the menu--guacamole, lime soup, chicken adobo tacos, zapote and we bought all our ingredients there at the market. We also bought some crickets. Yes, I said crickets, they're nicely crunchy and go great on a guacamole taco. We took an Uber to Ishmael's home (and met several family members) where we started cooking. Besides learning a lot about the ingredients and the recipes, we got to try making tortillas.While we cooked, we tasted frequently for spice/salt levels so we knew we'd like everything. I feel we got a great feel for Mexican cooking, some excellent recipes, and a warm welcome in to Ishmael's home. I highly unreservedly recommend this excursion.
- Kate K November 15, 2017
Our time with Alex and Alej was fantastic. They were both extremely friendly and easy to talk to. They provided us with a great experience and tons of local knowledge. The food we prepared was amazing.
- Derrick February 19, 2017
- Thomas February 17, 2017
Traveling Spoon gave me the chance to connect with a city in a way I had never thought possible. It is one thing to go to a city and travel around but another entirely to get to interact with the people within it. I always find something missing from my usual vacations, something real. But with Traveling Spoon, I felt I actually connected with the culture and learned something about both Mexico City and myself. It was a phenomenal experience that broadened my horizons.
- Kevin January 08, 2017
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Alex and Ale

$83-$191 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $104 $83
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $135 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $191 Not offered
Alcohol
$24 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $104 $83
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $135 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $191 Not offered
Alcohol
$24 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
1:00pm-3:00pm 7:30pm-9:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
12:00pm-3:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
11:00am-3:00pm 3:30pm-7:30pm

Meet Alex and Ale

Alex lives with his wife Alejandra (Ale) in downtown Mexico City, just blocks from the Plaza de la Constitución. Alex is a K3 teacher in the American School Foundation, while Ale is a professional tour guide who is passionate about sharing her Mexican culture and cuisine with guests. Ale has a wealth of knowledge about the country's history, anthropology, folklore, and of course, culinary traditions.

Alex drew inspiration to cook from his grandfather who would serve delicious nopales (grilled cactus paddles) at his home every Sunday. He learned to cook watching his mother and experimenting in the kitchen after watching food shows on TV. The smells and flavors of his childhood and family meals inspired him to cook more, and now he loves sharing this knowledge with his 6-year old students during their regular cooking class. Both Alex and Ale love sharing meals with friends and family as much as they enjoy cooking.

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: (2-6 guests) Enjoy a homemade Mexican meal in Alex and Ale’s simple yet modern and vibrant apartment. The food that they serve is a mix of modern Mexican dishes as well as Pueblan cuisine, where Ale comes from. While you sip on your welcome drink, Alex and Ale will talk to you about the importance of food in Mexican culture. Then sit down together to enjoy a meal that includes 3-4 dishes and one or two salsas followed by a dessert. Your meal will be accompanied by beverages like fresh hibiscus water and if you select alcohol, beer and mezcal. Your menu may include traditional and modern Mexican dishes such as picadillo tostadas, enmoladas or flautas or a variety of tacos which will be served with a selection of salsas like salsa verde or roja. Your meal will conclude with a dessert like sweet Mexican corn cake.

If there is a particular Mexican dish you are eager to try, please let Alex know when making your booking.

Cooking experience: (2-4 guests) Join Alex in their home kitchen for this Mexico City cooking class and learn to cook 3-4 traditional Mexican dishes. You might learn dishes such as flautas, tostadas or enmoladas which are corn tortillas stuffed with chicken in a mole sauce. Mole is a dark chocolate-based sauce with lots of spices that is very popular in Mexico and easy to cook - a great sauce to add to your Mexican cooking repertoire. As Alex and Ale have a small kitchen you can expect to do the cooking preparation in the bar area and use the kitchen for the final cooking. You can also let Alex and Ale know at the time of booking, if you want to learn a particular dish in your Mexican cooking class.

Market visit: (2-4 guests) Alex and Ale will accompany you to the San Juan market, a traditional Mexican market in the historic center of Mexico City that specializes in gourmet and exotic foods. It is known for its selection of exotic meats, including venison, crocodile, wild boar and even lion meat. Alex and Ale will guide you through the market and describe the different items for sale, from fresh produce to dried chiles, spices, mole mixes, and much more. As you tour the market you might taste a few local specialties before walking home together to begin your cooking experience.

Please make sure to meet Alex at his home on time for your market tour as the market closes at 5pm and he does not want you to feel rushed.

Notes: This Mexico City cooking class is great for families with children.

As Alex works during the day, he can only do dinners (not lunches) on weekdays. Market tour + cooking class + dinner experiences are unavailable on Wednesdays. On weekends, Alex and Ale are available for any experience type for both lunch and dinner.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

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

We felt like two more Mexico downtown residents during the time we spent with Alex and his wife Ale. First in the exotic market of San Juan, where Alex invited us to try some gourmet baguettes (mascarpone, honey, strawberry and pecan nuts) before showing us the most typical stands there (which include tiger and crocodile meat!), then while cooking enmoladas and philosophizing about gastronomy and Mexico, sipping mezcal.

Alix, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

4.97 (32)
We had a lovely afternoon with Mariana and Geraldine. The market is an open air market and Mariana does a great job at explaining lots of items that may appear strange/new. The home of Geraldine is in a posh part of town/neighborhood, very quiet, large and has a wonderful back patio and yard for enjoying the lunch. The cooking experience we were thinking we all would have more of a hand in making the dishes but the kitchen space makes it harder for multiple people to be chopping while Mariana is explaining the dish ingredients/method. We mainly watched while they cooked. We did get to chop some onion, help mash salsa and roll/press out the sopes, which my son loved. The food we made during the demonstration all tasted wonderful as well (ceviche, pork, salsa, sopes). And you can bring your own wine to enjoy over lunch as well. Overall a great afternoon.
- JamieY June 25, 2024
Traveling Spoon knocks it out of the park again. This time we ventured to the gorgeous San Angel neighborhood of Mexico City. The neighborhood is best known for their very lively Sábado Mercado, we went on a sleepy Tuesday! Mariana and Geraldine invited us into their stunning home filled with artwork and a back garden filled with shade and birds. We started our time together at the market. They were immensely helpful educating us on mole pastes, powders, chilis and spices. After buying provisions, we headed home to cook. Finally got a good handle on making sopas. Also made salsa, red rice and pibil. They broke the steps down and explained the rationale for various tasks. Highly recommend their class and shopping around the plaza.
- esemm May 29, 2024
Alex was personable and made our group of four women feel comfortable in his home. As someone who grew up eating a lot of Mexican food, I wasn’t certain how much I would learn, but I learned a LOT. It was fun, interactive, and the food? delicious. Easy walk up a flight of stairs from the street and a clean, small apartment. Nice to do a private event and let our teens be loud and have fun. We also enjoyed this was at night, so we could spend the day exploring, rather than many other classes are in the middle of the day. Alex planned a perfect meal for a cool night and accommodated our dietary restrictions, nicely. He was prepared and professional.
- leah_Y January 16, 2024
We took a lesson with Luis Delgado at his home in Condesa. Him and wife treated us like family and we had an amazing time learning to make different salsas and traditional Mexican dishes. Will definitely be back to see Luis and his new restaurant when we’re back in Mexico City!
- Carson_B March 10, 2023
Alejandro was a wonderful and gracious host! We got stuck in horrible traffic and were an hour late. He completely accommodated us and was not upset at all. We went on a lovely tour of a market and then had such a nice time cooking in his home. He accommodated our dietary restrictions and was wonderful company. Highly recommend!
- sdahuja October 11, 2022
Alejandro was kind, funny, talented, knowledgeable and a marvelous cook/teacher!!!! Loved learning about the different peppers
- Patricia_L October 08, 2022
This experience was wonderful!! We felt welcome and at home immediately, like we came over for a dinner party at a friend's house. Alex has so much great knowledge to share about his culture, food, the city and country, and cooking techniques. We are all experienced home cooks, but still learned multiple new techniques that we will use right away. The meal was delicious and we appreciated the chosen menu because it highlighted food we were not expecting. Thank you!!
- Emilie May 24, 2022
One of the best experiences you can book if you want to get to know Mexican cuisine and locals. Our guide was the most wonderful and we had a great time with nice drinks and food. We will definitively book again.
- Camila May 04, 2022
We could not have asked for a better experience!! Alex welcomed us in and made us feel like we were at home, right from the beginning. He picked the perfect menu, we thoroughly enjoyed learning about the dishes, while cooking them and sharing the meal together was outstanding! We will definitely be making these dishes again, at home, to share with family and friends. We look forward to cooking with Alex & Ale again the next time we visit Mexico City.
- Amy March 29, 2021
Simply put, our experience with Alex could not have been better. We learned so much about the neighborhood, the market, the history of both, and of course the food. Alex's apartment is beautifully appointed and comfortable. We had the best time cooking the dishes, and Alex was adept at directing us and sharing information about the meal. He is the perfect host.
- Shaensly December 29, 2019
My mother and I really enjoyed this day! We loved the market and took away great, easy recipes! Fun day!
- Tara B December 14, 2019
My friends and I had the pleasure of experiencing a hands on cooking class and tour of Mercado de San Juan with Alex (unfortunately his wife could not join us). It all started with a trip to the market and it was a joyous sight here to see- one of the best markets I had been to while in Mexico City. After picking up all the items for our dinner, we went to Alex’a beautiful home where the cooking class began. It was such a joyful and fun experience and Alex was so personable, friendly, and a great teacher. I learned so much about local cuisine and culture. He taught us how to make delectable dishes. I had never participated in a cooking class like this and now I would definitely want this to be part of my future trips. Thank you Alex for adding to our wonderful memories of Mexico City.
- melmana2018 October 25, 2019
We had such a lovely time with Alex and Ale! From the ease of communication before our home cooking lesson to the beautiful and delicious food we made. Such a unique and memorable experience - I highly recommend working with Alex and Ale!
- pinkshoes81 October 01, 2019
Our cooking class with Alex and Ale was a real highlight of our trip. From the visit to the San Juan Market to bustling around in the kitchen learning new things kept us laughing and sharing with Alex. Both Alex and Ale were a delight welcoming us into their home and enjoying the meal we cooked. Can’t recommend this experience enough.
- Fisherbeer September 04, 2019
What a privilege it was to have the opportunity to be in Alex & Ale’s home. Sadly Ale was working, but Alex was so easy going & interesting to chat to. I enjoyed the hands on experience of cooking & feeling totally at home in the kitchen. It was my first experience of “real” Mexican food & I thoroughly enjoyed it. The trip to the market was interesting & I got to try crickets - garlic ones are best! We made red and green salsas which were delicious on chalupas, and flautas ahogadas that we’re divine. I can’t remember what the yummy corn ‘muffins’ were called but drizzled in vanilla syrup were also delicious. Thank you Alex for such a wonderful afternoon, it was a pleasure meeting you and thank you for teaching me a few tricks of the trade! What a great way to start my Mexican food adventure.
- xtinart July 19, 2019
Our tour with Alex was superb. First he took us to a wonderful market and showed us many local specialties. We got a hands-on feeling for the food culture of Mexico City. The venders were friendly and generous with samples. Then, ingredients in hand, we returned to Alex's apartment to prepare several sauces, sides, a main, and dessert. I still don't know how he did it, but he guided us through with amazing organization and attention to detail. And then we ate! Oh my my, everything was delicious. We will definitely want to try these recipes at home. Alex was a kind and generous host who also introduced us to mezcal and micheladas. I guess you can tell, we highly recommend this tour.
- ab1122 May 05, 2019
My husband and I took the market tour and cooking class with Alex. He knew a ton about the history of Mexican cuisine and even more about cooking it plus he was great to talk to during the dinner itself! I would recommend anyone going to Mexico City take this tour and class. It’s 100% worth it! :)
- megandH1194ND April 08, 2019
My sons and I loved our time with Alex. He took us to a market not far from his home that for Mexico City standards was easy to navigate and allowed us to sample some new and unique foods that were delicious. Once we were back at Alex's apartment he guided us through cooking a delicious vegetarian meal that my whole family enjoyed. We loved learning more about the city and it's culture through our conversations and felt welcomed as friends in his home. Highly recommend!
- mazilombard April 04, 2019
We had the best day with Lucia! We were a group of 6 friends in our 30s and this was one of the best experiences from our trip! Lucia met us at the San Angel Market where she showed us many different stalls and introduced us to a couple of new ingredients. Lucia then drove us to her BEAUTIFUL home -- but along the way we stopped for both tamales and tacos from street vendors she knew. Hands down, they were some of the best tamales and tacos we've ever had! Once we arrived, we immediately felt at home! The space is bright, beautiful, clean, and all around lovely. Lucia was an amazing host. We cooked many different dishes, had drinks, listened to music, and learned about Mexican food/culture. It was a highlight of our trip. Following the class, Lucia recommended a great spot nearby to get drinks (absolutely beautiful). Lucia is incredibly knowledgable (she is a professor of pre-hispanic cuisine) and a delight to be around. We would recommend a cooking class with Lucia without hesitation.
- Natalie M April 04, 2019
Lucia was a gracious host and led us to explore native Mexican produce and techniques in a relaxed and enjoyable lunch. This was our 3rd day in Mexico, our family (2 adults, 2 children) took an Uber to meet her at the market where we sampled mole and mangos while learning about unique local foods and food prep technique. On the way out, we stopped for green chile tamales before heading to her house to make lunch. Our kids enjoyed helping cook while we prepared traditional hand-made corn tortillas for tacos and quesadillas. We snacked on local fruits while preparing tasty sauces and a sweet fruit pudding. It was a relaxing experience, her home is great, complemented by the excellent view from her back patio. Our kids had a great time.
- Lucia L March 28, 2019
A friend and I were visiting Mexico city for five days. We basically came to the city to eat. Thesis: Learn how to cook from Alex. This was the best tourist experience of my trip.Alex is a true chilango and was a breath of fresh air interposed in a series of strange tourism experiences we had over the course of our trip. He teaches english for a living, we were able to have deep conversations about travel, food, and life. He has been cooking for several years and has a solid fund of knowledge to suit an amateur cook such as myself.Our experience began at his apartment where he greeted us with a drink. We had recently finished a bike tour and in my correspondence with Alex (over text) he made accommodations to meet us earlier than normal so that we wouldn’t have dead time between one tour and the start of his experience.We were exhausted and Alex recognized this - in our tour of the market he bought me an espresso. Clutch! Then we had a quick taco at what I would say was my favorite Al pastor street vendor from the entire trip (i ate a glorious amount of different tacos).He talked to us about the history of Mexican food and the history of Mexico City. On the market tour he discussed the uses of different chiles. Then he began to explain to us the importance of mole. For dinner we made chicken enchiladas with mole, chicharron de queso, and corn cakes. We also made guacamole and roasted tomato salsa.He served microbrewed local beer, tequila, and mezcal. He also gave us some amazing recommendations for a market where we could buy gifts for our girlfriends and other loved ones. Truly an exceptional experience.
- Anand S March 27, 2019
We had wonderful evening cooking, talking, eating, and drinking with Alex. He introduced us to several types of mezcal and a new-to-us Mexican beer. The menu he planned for us was catered to our tastes (spicy!) and we can't wait to prepare the dishes on our own back at home. Alex is really a wonderful host and a very patient teacher...it felt like we were just hanging out at the home of a friend. This experience was one of our favorite parts of our time in CDMX! Gracias Alex :)
- lauraeZ8678FO March 20, 2019
This was definitely the highlight of our trip! Alex had extensive knowledge of regional Mexican cooking, and he clearly knew his way around the kitchen. He individualized our menu for our taste and dietary restrictions easily, and the food we made was SO GOOD! If we come back to Mexico City we definitely want to do this experience again.
- Keith G March 12, 2019
Alex was a fantastic host, teacher and conversationalist. We mentioned we had experience with Mexican cooking already so he was very happy to teach us special dishes including pozole, chicharron de queso and huitlacoche quesadillas, which we had never cooked ourselves before. Even his salsa was a new approach which we will be remaking in Canada as soon as we can. All served with generous quantities of beer, mezcal and agua de jamaica. Alex is warm, friendly and knowledgeable. He was happy to answer all of our questions about daily Mexican life and we learned a lot. His English is perfect, which makes conversation easy and fun.An evening cooking with Alex is highly recommended. It is a highlight of our trip, which says a lot given the number of cultural wonders in Mexico City. Don't miss a chance to cook with him!
- Mara S January 25, 2019
Alex is a personable, knowledgeable and talented cook. We had fun shopping at the nearby market for ingredients for our 6 dish dinner, tasting tropical fruit and other goodies along the way.Our private class in Alex's home was a highlight of our 1 week stay in Mexico City. We were assigned small tasks to help prepare and learn about the dishes we were making. I enjoyed learning about cooking with fresh and dried chilis. The menu was quite ambitious, preparing several appetizers, the main dish and dessert. Alex made it fun and effortless.Taking a class in someone's private home is so much better than at a cooking school. We felt a personal bond form.
- Barbara F January 18, 2019
I have taken cooking lessons practically all over thevworld and this one was up there as one of the best!Alex tookus to the local markets to buy groceries and ingredients for the lesson... explaining histories, cultural significances and the importance of Mexican culinary traditions.The menu items in our lesson in Alex and Ale's adorable and very functional kitchen made was simplistic in design, full of flavour and colour and easy to prepare in any kitchen environment...The culminating meal was on the top 3 highlights of our trip! And... we made two friends as well! CHEERS to Alex and Ale!
- joblokhed January 07, 2019
If you are on the fence about doing a cooking class in Mexico let us put your mind at ease. Vault that fence as fast as you can! As two non Spanish speakers who’d spent the last 24 hours struggling to order as many tacos and beers as we needed (Australians can’t roll their “r”) it was a huge relief to be met by a smiling face and perfect English. We had the most amazing time exploring the San Juan markets with Alex and Ale, going back to their wonderful flat that’s in an amazing historic building right in the mix of downtown. Alex and Ale were so welcoming, informative and extremely generous with the information they shared about their lives. We found out so much about Mexico that we were completely ignorant of. Then there’s the food. Oh my word, that food. Coming from Australia, we have seriously no idea about Mexican food. We both love cooking and often will cook “Mexican for dinner” but after seeing the amazing fresh produce and simple seasoning that Alex and Ale showed us, we won’t be bothering with any of those Tex Mex recipes again. The beer and mezcal flowed, we learned knew skills and had a once in a lifetime meal with two genuinely interesting, funny and generous people. Close the other tabs you have open. You won’t find a better experience than this for your visit to Mexico City to get a feel for modern Mexico. We’re hoping to come back and visit for one of Ale’s taco tours as well as her Puebla tours.
- David R July 23, 2018
Excellent experience. Farid was prompt in replying to emails, very kind and considerate. His apartment is lovely and we felt comfortable and welcome. The food was delicious with lots of opportunities to try different food. Farid speaks fluent English and we had many interesting conversations, was great to learn about his family. He had some excellent tips for places to visit and explore in the city
- stancyandtodd June 01, 2018
I hardly know where to begin it was such a great experience. My friend and I (the lesson was just the two of us) met Ishmael not far from the market and after a short walk we were surrounded by sights and smells and tastes that were just delightful. We got to try cherimoya, the freshest mangos and figs I've ever had, plus edible flowers, and that was just at the fruit vendor. Ishmael suggested the menu--guacamole, lime soup, chicken adobo tacos, zapote and we bought all our ingredients there at the market. We also bought some crickets. Yes, I said crickets, they're nicely crunchy and go great on a guacamole taco. We took an Uber to Ishmael's home (and met several family members) where we started cooking. Besides learning a lot about the ingredients and the recipes, we got to try making tortillas.While we cooked, we tasted frequently for spice/salt levels so we knew we'd like everything. I feel we got a great feel for Mexican cooking, some excellent recipes, and a warm welcome in to Ishmael's home. I highly unreservedly recommend this excursion.
- Kate K November 15, 2017
Our time with Alex and Alej was fantastic. They were both extremely friendly and easy to talk to. They provided us with a great experience and tons of local knowledge. The food we prepared was amazing.
- Derrick February 19, 2017
- Thomas February 17, 2017
Traveling Spoon gave me the chance to connect with a city in a way I had never thought possible. It is one thing to go to a city and travel around but another entirely to get to interact with the people within it. I always find something missing from my usual vacations, something real. But with Traveling Spoon, I felt I actually connected with the culture and learned something about both Mexico City and myself. It was a phenomenal experience that broadened my horizons.
- Kevin January 08, 2017
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Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $104 $83
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $135 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $191 Not offered
Alcohol
$24 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $104 $83
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $135 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $191 Not offered
Alcohol
$24 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
1:00pm-3:00pm 7:30pm-9:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
12:00pm-3:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
11:00am-3:00pm 3:30pm-7:30pm
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

    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.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.