Oaxacan Foods

Guelaguetza Trip - Oaxaca, Mexico
July 17th to July 24th, 2008

This tour is limited to no more that 12 participants and is accompanied by Ron Kent and Zaida Maria Kent of Oaxacan Foods, manufactures of authentic Oaxacan food products. The company is based out of Palo Alto, California, Ron and Zaida have led tours to Oaxaca since 1991.

Oaxaca has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage City. From its magnificent colonial churches to its wonderful surreal zocalo, from the ancient city of Monte Alban to pre-colonial ball court of Yagul, it is easy to see why. Then there is the cuisine, famous throughout Mexico and increasingly attaining world-renowned status among food connoisseurs. This is surely one of the great food cities of the world. Please read our itinerary, join us on a trip of a lifetime.

Trip Itinerary
A special Oaxacan Breakfast is offered at the hotel daily. Other meals included each day as part of the program are noted by (B,L or D): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Note: This schedule may change due to unforeseen circumstances and, if so, participants will be informed on a daily basis.

Day 1 - Thursday, July 17

Travel Day - Arrive in Oaxaca, Mexico. You will be picked up at the airport and brought to the Hotel , your home for the next eight days. From an amazing balcony window overlooking the zocalo, we will have an equally spectacular dinner above the busy square. The restaurant will feature many of the dishes that you will be learning about during the week ahead. (D)

Day 2 - Friday, July 18

Breakfast first, then we will be off to San Barstool Coyotepec the black pottery village. We will go to the studio of famous potters studio. Next, we will go to a small demonstration Cochineal Farm and Museum, we will see the ancient Oaxacan tradition of harvesting insects, which thrive on the thick leaves of the nopal cactus. The insects are dried, and used as pigment in dyes by Oaxaca's weavers and woodcut figures artisans. San Martin Tilcajete is our next stop, we will visit a family of artisans in there home as they make the alebrijes, the woodcut figures that occupy the shelves of craft stores the world over. The rest of the day you will have free time to explore, you may want to visit the Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Historic Art. We will meet you again back at the hotel, where Ron will give his first class featuring Oaxaca's regional Tamales, Ensalada de Nopal, Arroz, Frijole Negro, and Agua de Horchata.(B,L,D)

Day 3 - Saturday, July 19

After breakfast, We will head to the predestinated Alcala and to the 16th-Century Marvel Santo Domingo de Guzman. The Renaissance facade of the church is striking. The inside, described as "exuberant baroque," is overwhelming, with it's gold leaf and religious iconography. We will continue down the Alcala with all of it's interesting shops, restaurants and galleries. After we will walk through the zocalo to the 20 de Noviembre Market. Have a great lunch at the grill in the market, then explore Mina Street and shop at a local chocolate mill. There you can have their own personalized blend of cacao beans, sugar, cinnamon and almonds, ground to their own specifications for making hot chocolate. We will part and let you stroll at your leisure amongst the beauty of Oaxaca. We meet again near the Centro Historico for the Procession of the Delegations (Calenda), then up to the Auditorio Guelaguetza for Bani Stui Gulal, a dramatic presentation of how Guelaguetza was celebrated in different epochs. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Sunday, July 20

After breakfast, we will travel to a market on market day. We will then go to the important Mesoamerica ruin site of Mitla, after our exploration we will sample some great ice cream (why is it they always have the best ice cream near ruins?). Next, we will go to a city that is home to Mexico's premium Mezcal. There we will go to a small distiller of premium Mezcal, you will learn first hand how this beverage is made. For a light comida, we will go to a famous restaurant, and visit with its owner Abigail Mendoza. We will then visit with a family of weaver's with over 450 years of heritage in the town of Teotitlan del Valle. The rest of the afternoon you are free, it is highly recommended that you take a guided tour of the Ethnobotanical Gardens behind the Regional Museum. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Monday, July 21

We will start are day at one of the great Fondas in Oaxaca. It is in one of the truly great neighborhood markets in Oaxaca. After breakfast we will ascend the great stone steps that lead to the Auditorio Guelaguetza for the feature presentation of Guelaguetza. We will have lunch after this amazing performance and the rest of the afternoon will be left to you and this beautiful city. We meet again for dinner and taste the great food the city has to offer.(B,L,D)

Day 6 - Tuesday, July 22

After breakfast, we will go to the town of Etla and learn how to make the famous Quesillo de Oaxaca, as well as, Queso Fresco and Requeson. Our guest artisan has been producing and selling her cheeses for over 20 years. Next we are invited into the home of a very good friend, we will learn to make two drinks that you will find all over Oaxaca, Chilacayota and Agua de Limon. The next stop is a bakery that produces the special breads of Etla to both the Abastos and the Etla Markets. We will have lunch at a restaurant near the market, before heading back to Oaxaca. There is a little down time, before a very traditional dinner. We cap the night off at the Auditorio Guelaguetza for the presentation of Donaji - La Leyenda, the story of the last Zapotec Princess. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Wednesday, July 23

This morning we are heading to the Etla Market to see the cheese we made the other day, as well as, the amazing Etla Market on Market day. We will lunch on antojitos of Empanadas, the great array of Tamales, salads and other offerings of the market. We will then go on to Monte Alban, Oaxaca's major archeological site was the elite center of Zapotec culture from 500 BC to 800 AD. The rest of the day, we leave you on your own to explore. Farewell dinner at one of the truly authentic restaurants of Oaxaca.

Day 8 - Thursday, July 24

Breakfast at the hotel , then travel to the airport for your flight home. (B)