Zihuatanejo has rich variety in its cuisine and, if you want to discover it in a true local experience, Mónica will take you there! It is more than a cooking class, it is an immersive food and culture tour. You will discover the harmonious connection between land, sea, local products, and how they are cooked every day on the coast of Guerrero.
Everything starts very early at 8:00 am when you meet at Patio Mexica, located in Colonia Madera. After a brief explanation of the class and some fresh Jamaica water to stay hydrated, you take off for the tour!
Getting to know the market. First you leave for the market that is just a few blocks away After crossing the Kyoto Square, you arrive at the municipal market that covers an area of at least three blocks, and is full of local products and exotic fruits and vegetables. After, it is off to Café Caracol, where you take a moment to taste the coffee that is produced in this region, and the tamarindo pulps. By the way, did you know how many things are produced from coconut? Here you discover that and also get to try incredible flavored mezcals.
The Mercado Campesino (peasant market). Within the area there is a special place; The peasant market, as its name translates to, is a group of locals that offer products that they themselves grow, so it is common to find seasonal fruit, corn, herbs, fresh cheeses (which you can also try), poultry and, fish. You also visit a dried chili shop where you can hear an interesting explanation of the processes of some spices and chilies that are common in Mexican cuisine.
The whole tour is extremely interesting, even if you are Mexican there is much to learn, not to mention enjoy getting to know the market directly from local people. At the end of the tour, you stop by an excellent barbecue taco stand where you are given a taste of this delicious traditional dish.
Let's cook. At this point, you return to Patio Mexica to begin the class; The time I went,, Monica taught us how to prepare the famous Zihuatanejo fish strips, "tiritas", a ceviche, and fish tacos. The class is very entertaining and interactive, and we had the opportunity to cut the fish for the preparation of the strips and the ceviche. All the staff that supported Monica are extremely friendly and attentive.
Eating, the best part. Delicious fish tacos accompanied with salsa, ceviche with a lot of avocado, toast with fish strips, everything was delicious, we enjoyed fresh food in a very open and friendly environment; in fact, it is of the house. Taking a cooking class at Patio Mexica is an excellent way to immerse yourself in Mexican culture, and getting to know it further by trying local food. In my opinion, the best part was venturing into the market, since it is a place where you cannot always have a guide, or know in depth, on your own.
At the end you will receive a recipe book of what was prepared during class so that you can put it into practice at home and surprise everyone. I highly recommend this activity, it is incredibly culturally enriching.
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