A TASTE OF MEXICOA Culinary Exploration

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ITINERARYDay 1 Welcome to Mexico

Day 2 Street Food

Day 3 From Market to Table

Day 4 Chocolate

Day 5 Cocina Poblano

Day 6 Amazing Maize

Day 7 Marvelous Mezcal

Day 8 Oaxacan Roots

Day 9 Adiós

Mexican food may be a staple on U.S. grocery store shelves, but it

bears little resemblance to the authentic flavors, aromas and colors

that adorn the open markets and streets of Mexico. The country’s

cuisine is as diverse as the territories and geography it inhabits. The

food itself can tell a story or recount a cultural history that dates

back to pre-Hispanic civilizations. Join Los Angeles Times regional

culinary experts and local chefs as you explore Mexico from a culinary

perspective, from the bustling streets of Mexico City to the vibrant

markets of colonial Oaxaca pre-Hispanic villages observing centuries-

old traditions to beautiful agave fields. As you journey through central

and southern Mexico, gain an appreciation of the country’s rich cultural

history by tasting, savoring and experimenting with the very best the

country has to offer.

A Taste of Mexico A Culinary Exploration

3Call 855-890-5298 or visit LATexpeditions.com

DAY 1 Welcome to MexicoArrive in Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport. Transfer to your hotel and check in. Gather for a reception and welcome presentation by your LA Times Expeditions culinary expert on Mexican cuisine and culture. (R, D)

DAY 2 Street FoodDepart on foot from the hotel for a culinary adventure. Gain an overview of one of the most vibrant street food scenes in the world, set in a neighborhood full of hungry office workers. Moving from stand to stand, sample fresh tamales, squash flower burritos, tlacoyos (griddled corn masa patties topped with cactus) and more. Learn about the history of each dish along the way and discover a little more about how the street food system is organized in a typical neighborhood. Take a break at the Mercado Roma’s rooftop biergarten for a cerveza. After lunch, head south to the tree-lined streets of the of Coyoacán neighborhood. Visit Frida Kahlo’s home and studio, Casa Azul. A guide will discuss the private and public lives of Kahlo and husband Diego Rivera as you tour the unique artist’s home and workshop. For dinner, channel the coastal feel of Baja California at a trendy seafood restaurant. (B, D)

DAY 3 From Market to TableSet out for the Roma neighborhood for a unique cultural and culinary experience. Accompanied by two locally renowned cooks, start the morning next to the Medellin Market, where you will sample Mexican tortillas made with traditional dough. Discover the colors, aromas and deep-rooted tradition of an authentic Mexican market. With a shopping bag in tow, interact with local merchants while tasting spices, cheeses, ice cream, single-origin coffee from Chiapas and much more. After tasting and selecting the freshest ingredients for your menu, take a quick walk to Casa Jacaranda, a beautifully restored mansion, for a hands-on cooking lesson. Generations-old culinary secrets and techniques are shared during this gathering, while you chop, grill, marinate and steam to create a three-course menu with sauces and garnishes. Dine on your creations, teamed with Mexican wine and a tasting of craft mezcal from Oaxaca. Work off your culinary adventure this afternoon with a walk through Chapultapec Park. This evening, you are at leisure. (B, L)

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Start your day with a walking tour of the Centro Histórico and the Zócalo, including the Palacio Nacional, Mexico’s federal executive building. Trace Mexico’s political past, from pre-Hispanic civilizations through its colonial power structure through the Mexican revolution to its modern political state. Visit the cathedral and the pre-Hispanic ruins of the Templo Mayor. Get your first taste of chocolate at a boutique marketplace that houses artisanal chocolatier Qué Bo. Sample contemporary versions of traditional Mexican chocolate and exper-

ience flavors of fruit, caramel and flowers infused in the bonbons and truffles. Enjoy lunch at the Central Plaza and savor traditional mole. Then participate in a workshop at Mexico City’s chocolate museum, Mucho Mundo Chocolate. Learn how the native cacao bean has been used since pre-Hispanic times in foods both savory and sweet. Test your skills in chocolate production. This evening, bid farewell to Mexico City at one of the city’s up-and-coming restaurants. (B, L, D)

DAY 4 Chocolate

DAY 5 Cocina PoblanoCheck out of your hotel and board a bus to the historic town of Puebla, about 2.5 hours away. Experience a poblano-inspired private cooking class at Mesón de la Sacristía. Learn more about local cuisine, including salsa verde, salsa roja, chalupas, pipián verde, arroz con leche and freshwater hibiscus infusion while you prepare the dishes. Enjoy the fruits of your labor over lunch. Next, set out on a walking tour of Puebla. Founded in 1531, the city’s historic district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its older buildings are characterized by Baroque architecture. Explore Puebla on your own for dinner. (B, L)

DAY 6 Amazing MaizeCheck out of your hotel and board our motor coach for Oaxaca. En route, stop near the city of Tehuacán. The surrounding valley lays claim to the most ancient forms of cultivated maize, dating back more than 5,000 years. Enjoy lunch before continuing on the drive to the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca. After checking in to your hotel, enjoy a walking tour in Oaxaca’s historic city center. (B, L, D)

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ACCOMMODATIONS4 NIGHTS Marquis Reforma Located on Mexico’s most famous avenue, the Marquis Reforma is a premier luxury hotel equipped with all the modern amenities. Condé Nast named it one of the top hotels in the country.

1 NIGHT Hotel Casa Reyna This upscale, contemporary hotel occupies three former 16th century houses with original features. It’s a 14-minute walk from the main attractions. Featuring handcrafted wood furnishings, the refined rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars, as well as marble bathrooms.

3 NIGHTS Hotel Azul de Oaxaca Set in a traditional colonial structure with a central courtyard, this trendy boutique hotel is centrally located. Contemporary, minimalist rooms come with flat-screen TVs, minibars, iPod docks and free Wi-Fi.

DAY 7 Marvelous MezcalIn the morning, drive one hour to the Mixtec- archaeological site of Mitla, known for its unique stonework. Meet with a local family for a special cooking demonstration in their home. After lunch, continue through the valley of Oaxaca to visit two small towns: San Dionisio Ocotepec and Santiago Matatlán. The towns are premium mezcal producers with authentic distilleries that still use the traditional copper and pre-Columbian clay in their production. Taste such agave types of mezcal as tobala, espadin and cuishe and appreciate the nuanced flavors. Return to Oaxaca for dinner on your own. (B, L)

DAY 8 Oaxacan RootsStart your morning with a trip to the countryside with a local top chef to learn about the contemporary flavors that continue to attract international attention to Oaxaca. Visit the great central market and discuss the ancient traditions and alternative approaches to a range of local dishes, including fresh string cheese, agua de chocolate and even grasshoppers. After the market visit, the chef will guide you to experience different flavors of Oaxaca in a private cooking class while sharing his gastronomical knowledge. Enjoy your final special meal along with a selection of artisanal mezcals and celebrate your culinary adventure across Mexico. (B, L, D)

DAY 9 AdiósCheck out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

EXPEDITION EXPERT

Gustavo ArellanoGustavo Arellano is author of Orange County: A Personal His-tory and Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, the

California columnist for the Los Angeles Times’ op-ed section, an essayist for various publications and a frequent commentator on radio and televi-sion. He was formerly editor of OC Weekly, an al-ternative newspaper in Orange County California, and he penned the award-winning “¡Ask a Mexi-can!,” a nationally syndicated column in which he answers any and all questions about America’s spiciest and largest minority. Gustavo is the re-cipient of awards ranging from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Best Columnist to the Los Angeles Press Club President’s Award to an Impacto award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition, and he was recognized by the Cal-ifornia Latino Legislative Caucus with a 2008 Spir-it Award for his “exceptional vision, creativity, and work ethic.” Gustavo is a lifelong resident of Orange County and is the proud son of two Mexican immi-grants, one of whom came to this country in the trunk of a Chevy.

DATES PRICING SINGLE SUPPLEMENT DEPOSIT

May 27 – June 4, 2018 $6,495 $1,500 $500

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DATES & PRICING

WHAT IS INCLUDEDComprehensive educational program by content experts and professional on-site guidesAll accommodations and meals as outlined in the itineraryAll ground transportation within the itinerary unless otherwise indicatedAll sightseeing as specified in the itineraryEntrance feesGratuities to porters, drivers and guides for all included arrangementsTransfers to and from airports for those arriving or departing according to the designated itinerary (exceptions may apply)The assistance of an ATA expedition manager for comprehensive logistical and customer service management on the expeditionWireless listening devicesThe assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights or other servicesComprehensive pre-departure information about the destination and what to expect on the expedition, including a suggested reading list

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDEDU.S. domestic or international airfare or other transportation from your home to the departure point of the trip and from the end point of the trip to your homeTravel and trip cancellation insurancePassport, visa, airport departure and baggage feesMeals not specified in the itinerary, and food and beverages not part of the included mealsPersonal items such as telephone, fax and Internet charges, laundry, room service and alcoholic or other beverages not specified as includedGratuities for non-group servicesExpenses you may incur resulting from delays due to bad weather, road conditions, sickness, government action and flight delaysExpenses incurred in making individual travel arrangements in conjunction with the trip, and sightseeing not included in the itinerary

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