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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Isabel

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

USD
$79-$89 per person

Pre-Hispanic Cooking Class with a Mexican Grandmother

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

Meet Isabel

A warm, dynamic and delightful Mexican grandmother (and former pediatrician), Isabel loves to garden and cook! She lives in a beautiful home and garden that she designed herself, located a 30-min drive northwest of San Miguel de Allende. Isabel learned to cook from her mother - she has fond memories of being in the kitchen with her mother who taught her to cook on pre-Hispanic clay grills and molcajetes. Isabel is passionate about teaching guests about Pre-Hispanic cooking - you will learn about the ancient milpa technique of farming (aka the three sisters method of growing food)! Mostly, Isabel loves to eat and embrace friends and family with food.

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.

Cooking experience: (2-7 guests) This is your quintessential Traveling Spoon experience where you learn to cook a seasonal and traditional Mexican meal with a warm and delightful Mexican grandmother. Isabel greets you at her beautiful home with a fresh margarita and a jicama and orange snack! Explore her garden and pick seasonal vegetables or herbs all while learning about the three sisters method of growing food. Next, join Isabel in her open kitchen to learn to cook pre-Hispanic Mexican dishes from recipes passed down through generations of Isabel's family. Learn about traditional pre-Hispanic cuisine and ingredients as you cook 3-4 dishes from scratch with Isabel in her kitchen. Isabel cooks seasonal, traditional dishes with a creative twist. Some of the dishes you may learn to cook depending on the season are nopales, ceviche, sopa de frijoles negros and pollo santo (chicken in green tomatoes, cilantro, and hoja santa - a traditional sauce) with a side of corn, mushrooms and squash blossoms. You might even learn to make salsa picante in a molcajete (Mexican mortar and pestle)! You will end your meal with a simple but traditional dessert called ate con queso and memories that last a lifetime.

Notes: If you choose the alcohol add-on, you will enjoy margaritas with Isabel! If not, Isabel offers agua de jamaica or horchata as non-alcoholic beverage options.

If you choose the transport add-on, you will be picked up from your location in San Miguel de Allende 30-min before the start time of your experience and be dropped off after your experience.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish, French and some Italian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Nopales salad (cactus, tomatoes, onion and cilantro in an oregano and vinegar dressing)
  • Sopa de frijoles negros (black bean soup topped with crispy tortilla strips)
  • Pollo santo (chicken or rabbit in a green tomato, hoja santo and cilantro sauce)
  • Side of corn, mushrooms and squash blossoms
  • Ate con queso

Traveler reviews

5.0 (24)
We had such a wonderful time with Isabela and her family. She picked us up and drove us about 30 minutes to her beautiful house in the country outside SMA which features an impressive garden and lovely grounds. The cooking experience was great fun: she’s a knowledgeable and patient teacher and we enjoyed learning and the hands-on experience of cooking with her. The food was wonderful and we truly loved it and the experience of dining with her family. Would highly recommend.
- john February 21, 2026
What a wonderful Valentine's day! My husband and I went to Isabel's home to cook and have a splendid lunch! Isabel is so welcoming, passionate about cooking and teaching and down to earth. She educated us about the foods of Mexican ancestors going back hundreds of years. We prepared a 4 course lunch with some ingredients that we were not familiar with, which was great. Our lunch was delightful and delicious. Everything we used was fresh and colorful, and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. We highly recommend this experience!
- amy February 15, 2026
This was really, truly, an awesomely unique experience and I very highly recommend it. Isabel picked us up, as well as drove us back, and that was such a bonus. She was on time, and a good driver. At her lovely home outside the city, she had everything prepped that needed to be prepped. She began with a short history of Mexican food and then we began to put the meal together. We started by making a tomatillo appetizer. Simple, but very tasty, with ricotta, tomatillos, serrano chile, cilantro, and salt, then tortilla soup, green sauce, and the main dish of nopal tlacoyos with puebla stye chicken. This had layers of refried black beans, pulled chicken, onions, sauce, shredded lettuce and sour cream on a cactus leaf. Yes, you eat the cactus leaf. It's OK! it tastes a lot like a green pepper. Yes, we made all this by ourselves under Isabel's gracious supervision. Although we didn't make a dessert, Isabel provided nuts, candied peaches, and some sweet square items. Her kitchen and premises are safe, and all the cooking items you need are there and ready to go. She has four very friendly dogs, and one very friendly husband, Rick, who returned from an appointment in time to have lunch with us. I have to admit, when I saw the prepped ingredients, I wasn't sure I'd like the result, but after putting everything together, I couldn't believe how good it was! I would do this activity again! Fun with comfortable surroundings. Isabel's English is good, and we wore aprons, washed our hands as needed, and stayed clean in a clean environment.
- russell February 10, 2026
Had a lovely time cooking with Isabel. We made a delicious traditional Mexican dinner at her beautiful country home. We felt very welcomed. The food was delicious.
- laurie February 07, 2026
What a beautiful experience to get picked up in town and shuttled out to Isabel's private home for a delicious meal. We enjoyed our experience because Isabel is so charming and knowledgeable about what she is making. We would recommend the experience to anyone who enjoys a good meal with friendly hosts.
- Clive November 21, 2025
Read More

Isabel

$79-$89 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
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $89 $79
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $26 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $89 $79
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $26 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:30pm-8:30pm

Meet Isabel

A warm, dynamic and delightful Mexican grandmother (and former pediatrician), Isabel loves to garden and cook! She lives in a beautiful home and garden that she designed herself, located a 30-min drive northwest of San Miguel de Allende. Isabel learned to cook from her mother - she has fond memories of being in the kitchen with her mother who taught her to cook on pre-Hispanic clay grills and molcajetes. Isabel is passionate about teaching guests about Pre-Hispanic cooking - you will learn about the ancient milpa technique of farming (aka the three sisters method of growing food)! Mostly, Isabel loves to eat and embrace friends and family with food.

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.

Cooking experience: (2-7 guests) This is your quintessential Traveling Spoon experience where you learn to cook a seasonal and traditional Mexican meal with a warm and delightful Mexican grandmother. Isabel greets you at her beautiful home with a fresh margarita and a jicama and orange snack! Explore her garden and pick seasonal vegetables or herbs all while learning about the three sisters method of growing food. Next, join Isabel in her open kitchen to learn to cook pre-Hispanic Mexican dishes from recipes passed down through generations of Isabel's family. Learn about traditional pre-Hispanic cuisine and ingredients as you cook 3-4 dishes from scratch with Isabel in her kitchen. Isabel cooks seasonal, traditional dishes with a creative twist. Some of the dishes you may learn to cook depending on the season are nopales, ceviche, sopa de frijoles negros and pollo santo (chicken in green tomatoes, cilantro, and hoja santa - a traditional sauce) with a side of corn, mushrooms and squash blossoms. You might even learn to make salsa picante in a molcajete (Mexican mortar and pestle)! You will end your meal with a simple but traditional dessert called ate con queso and memories that last a lifetime.

Notes: If you choose the alcohol add-on, you will enjoy margaritas with Isabel! If not, Isabel offers agua de jamaica or horchata as non-alcoholic beverage options.

If you choose the transport add-on, you will be picked up from your location in San Miguel de Allende 30-min before the start time of your experience and be dropped off after your experience.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish, French and some Italian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Nopales salad (cactus, tomatoes, onion and cilantro in an oregano and vinegar dressing)
  • Sopa de frijoles negros (black bean soup topped with crispy tortilla strips)
  • Pollo santo (chicken or rabbit in a green tomato, hoja santo and cilantro sauce)
  • Side of corn, mushrooms and squash blossoms
  • Ate con queso

Traveler reviews

5.0 (24)
We had such a wonderful time with Isabela and her family. She picked us up and drove us about 30 minutes to her beautiful house in the country outside SMA which features an impressive garden and lovely grounds. The cooking experience was great fun: she’s a knowledgeable and patient teacher and we enjoyed learning and the hands-on experience of cooking with her. The food was wonderful and we truly loved it and the experience of dining with her family. Would highly recommend.
- john February 21, 2026
What a wonderful Valentine's day! My husband and I went to Isabel's home to cook and have a splendid lunch! Isabel is so welcoming, passionate about cooking and teaching and down to earth. She educated us about the foods of Mexican ancestors going back hundreds of years. We prepared a 4 course lunch with some ingredients that we were not familiar with, which was great. Our lunch was delightful and delicious. Everything we used was fresh and colorful, and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. We highly recommend this experience!
- amy February 15, 2026
This was really, truly, an awesomely unique experience and I very highly recommend it. Isabel picked us up, as well as drove us back, and that was such a bonus. She was on time, and a good driver. At her lovely home outside the city, she had everything prepped that needed to be prepped. She began with a short history of Mexican food and then we began to put the meal together. We started by making a tomatillo appetizer. Simple, but very tasty, with ricotta, tomatillos, serrano chile, cilantro, and salt, then tortilla soup, green sauce, and the main dish of nopal tlacoyos with puebla stye chicken. This had layers of refried black beans, pulled chicken, onions, sauce, shredded lettuce and sour cream on a cactus leaf. Yes, you eat the cactus leaf. It's OK! it tastes a lot like a green pepper. Yes, we made all this by ourselves under Isabel's gracious supervision. Although we didn't make a dessert, Isabel provided nuts, candied peaches, and some sweet square items. Her kitchen and premises are safe, and all the cooking items you need are there and ready to go. She has four very friendly dogs, and one very friendly husband, Rick, who returned from an appointment in time to have lunch with us. I have to admit, when I saw the prepped ingredients, I wasn't sure I'd like the result, but after putting everything together, I couldn't believe how good it was! I would do this activity again! Fun with comfortable surroundings. Isabel's English is good, and we wore aprons, washed our hands as needed, and stayed clean in a clean environment.
- russell February 10, 2026
Had a lovely time cooking with Isabel. We made a delicious traditional Mexican dinner at her beautiful country home. We felt very welcomed. The food was delicious.
- laurie February 07, 2026
What a beautiful experience to get picked up in town and shuttled out to Isabel's private home for a delicious meal. We enjoyed our experience because Isabel is so charming and knowledgeable about what she is making. We would recommend the experience to anyone who enjoys a good meal with friendly hosts.
- Clive November 21, 2025
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $89 $79
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $26 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $89 $79
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $26 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:30pm-8:30pm
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 4% 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.