Mexican Cooking Vacation
Spend a week learning authentic Mexican Cooking and dining in gorgeous San Miguel de Allende, Mexico while on a Mexican Cooking School Vacation at Arcos Del Atascadero B&B!
Read my blog about my stay at Arcos del Atascadero!
As a Cooking Vacation student you will receive the following Complete Package:
* FREE VAN or CAR TRANSPORTATION to and from Leon/Bajio Airport (90 minute trip)!
* 6 nights' accommodations at the school B&B site in San Miguel Allende (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
* 26 hours Mexican Cooking instruction from Patricia Merrill Marquez, Monica Navarrete and native guest instructors
* 1 Daytrip to the City of Guanajuato, also UNESCO World Heritage Site!, stopping for "gorditas" on the way and returning via Dolores Hidalgo, the City where Mexico's Independence began, where you will taste locally-made ice cream, lunch included.
* 6 days' Breakfasts and Lunches and evening snacks.
* Afternoon and evening freetime to explore San Miguel de Allende and dine at your choice of fine restaurants featuring Mexican cuisine.
* Guided Tour of the people's mercado for fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs & spices.
* "Kick-up-your-heels" musical & culinary nights-on-the-town
Dates & Rates
2010
September 5-11
November 7-13
Rates vary with room choice. Non-cooking persons sharing the room are discounted 50%.
Rates include tax.
LLamarada & Plumbago Rooms
$1,650 per student for a comfortable shared room with shared bath and shower. Only 4 student registrations available per session (2 students per room). $2,000 U.S. if you want the room to yourself in either of these two rooms.
Gloria de La Manana & Jazmin Rooms
$1,750 per student for a shared room with private bath and shower. Only 4 student registrations available per session (2 students per room). $2,300 U.S. if you want the room to yourself in either of these two rooms.
Girasol & Vista Rooms
$1,700 per student with 2 persons sharing this room which has a double bed. Private room with private bath and shower. $2,100 U.S. if you want the room to yourself.
Casita Chiles
$1,850 per student with 2 persons sharing this room which has two twins in a trundle bed setup. Private room with private bath and shower, small kitchen, sitting/dining area. $2,400 U.S. if you want the room to yourself.
NEW! Patricia Merrill has just published "The Buen Provecho Book": Capturing the spice of Mexican cooking through popular food and sayings.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Sunday 
Arrival into Leon/Bajio Airport and transfer to San Miguel de Allende
Monday
* 8:30 BREAKFAST: Juice, Huevos a la Mexicana, tortillas, fruit and pastries, coffee and lemongrass tea.
* 10:00 Market Tour
* 11:00 Class: Tortillas, chiles, menu for the day: you will make a tortilla
* 1:30 COMIDA
Margaritas
Sopes with tinga de chipotle and sopes de garbanzo with nopal
Salsa cruda aka Salsa Mexicana
Caldo Tlalpeño
Pollo enchilado estilo Ana
Mexican red rice
Chayote Salad
Lemonade with chía seeds (Mexican limones)
Flan de coco /coconut flan
Té de azahares (citrus blossoms tea)
Garbanzos en escabeche prepared for Friday's meal.
* 7:30 Evening out for a drink and wonderful “champiñones al ajillo” at festive Mama Mías restaurant
Tuesday
* 8:30 Leave Arcos del Atascadero for Guanajuato Adventure
* 9:15 BREAKFAST: Best gorditas ever at La Sauceda, everyone's favorite.
* 11:00 Arrival in Guanajuato:
- Tour of the city, designated Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO, in the vehicle through the subterranean streets, followed by a walking tour of Guanajuato's unending Plazas and Callejones, wonderful Market, Main Plaza…so much to see.
- COMIDA at Motel Guanajuato for Xoconoxtle soup and Enchiladas Miner's style.
- Visit to Valenciana church.
- Return through Dolores Hidalgo for one of their famous ice creams in the Main Plaza of this, Mexico 's cradle of Independance.
Wednesday
* 8:30 BREAKFAST: Juice,eggs scrambled with nopales in Pasilla sauce, Tortillas, Fruit, rolls, cinnamon tea 
and Café de Olla
* 10:00 Class on Prehispanic cuisine, foreign influences and the resulting syncretism.
* 11:00 Preparation of Menu for the Day:
* 1:30 COMIDA
Cuba Libre
Guacamole with green tomatillos
Sopa de Tortilla aka Sopa Azteca aka Sopa Tarasca II
Stuffed Chiles Tolucos
White rice
Tamarind drink
Capirotada with Mamey ice cream
Hierbabuena (mint) tea
* Free afternoon for visiting Craft's Market, shops and art galleries.
Thursday
* 8:30 BREAKFAST: Juice, Ranchero eggs with “Mole” sauce, Tamales, atole blanco and champurrado. (Atole de cáscara)
* 10:00 Class on Maiz and Nopal, preparation of menu:
* 1:30 COMIDA
Licor de damiana
Tequila con Sangrita
Tostadas de ceviche Avocado soup
Mexican bolillos
Fish Veracruz style (Huachinango /red snapper or Tilapia)
Arroz verde (Green rice)
Platano Macho Borracho
Budin de elote (corn pudding cake)
Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus blossoms)
Áte and Manchego cheese
Té de limón
* 5:00 Optional tour of San Miguel de Allende
Friday
* 8:00 BREAKFAST: Juice, Arcos chilaquiles verdes with chicken, frijolitos de la olla, fruit, Mexican style 
chocolate, molletes dulces.
* 10:00 Class on herbs, teas and regional dishes, preparation of menu.
* FINAL EXAM.
* 1:30 COMIDA:
Corona beer
Flautitas de deshebrada
Sopa de fideo (vermicelli soup)
Chicken steamed in Banana leaf, with avocado leaf
Frijoles negros (black beans) with epazote
Nopal salad
Agua de “tuna” or zapote
Don Ricardo's Avocado Mousse
* FREE AFTERNOON
* 7:00 Graduation dinner at Bugambilias Restaurant.
