We booked our first lesson for yesterday with our two visits=ing friends and we had a FANTASTIC time! We learned the history of PV, Gabby's restaurant, and all of us received a digital copy of chefs 95 page cookbook. We started with a trip to the markets to purchase our lunch supplies, then we headed back to the restaurant to cook the dishes (as a group). We ended up producing a full "Taco Cart" worth of condiments, Ceviche, Chicken Mole (the sauce has 40 ingredients alone!), Guacamole (two ways), Mexican Rice, and Margaritas. The class starts at 9AM and ended at 2:30PM, it's a full day and a FULL lunch. Plan to eat a light or late dinner that night. Would 100% recommend this class :) read more

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Had a wonderful birthday celebration in San Jose! Francisco and his family were wonderful hosts. The food was great and the hibiscus margarita not to be forgotten. Thank you for a fantastic evening! read more

Cookin' Vallarta - Great Hosts! - Cooking Classes Near Me

Must do experience in Los Cabos! Tours can be hit or miss, but now I know why this was so highly recommended. Issi was a great guide - perfect English, lovely humor, very knowledgeable, and an expert cook. My husband and I enjoyed the friendly family environment, meeting other interesting travelers, and of course, eating the delicious food we prepared (the margaritas were awesome also)! read more

Cookin' Vallarta - Issi showing us how to make world class margaritas! - Cooking Classes Near Me

What a fun way to spend a day in Puerto Vallarta. We signed up for Cookin Vallarta and had a really fun day. We met at one of the markets where the locals shop and picked up everything we were going to cook with, including going to the taco shop where they made fresh tortillas. We jumped in Enrique's big van and headed to his beautiful contemporary home with a large showplace kitchen. Our group was quite eclectic with people from South Carolina, New Zealand or and us from California. The age range for us about 25 to however old l am. He started with guacamole, which was a little too different than the way I've made it in the past and put it in individual presentations, which were quite lovely. Instead of tortilla chips we had for pork rinds to eat it with. I must admit it was quite yummy! Everyone took a turn working on it and plating it to make it beautiful. He had a large table ready for us, so we all sat down and devoured the first course. I forgot to mention we had margaritas made in a new way for me using pomegranate juice. After this delicious snack, we finished preparing his version of Mexican tortilla soup. No chicken, but the soup was delicious and the presentation was lovely too! For our final course, we all participated in making fresh corn tortillas, and ate them with pork he had simmered with spices over banana leaves in the oven. He added white beans, plated, and we all sat down to enjoy our meal. We had a great time! But I've decided that most people that love to cook are fun! In this case I was right! Alfonso is full of knowledge and a fun fellow to take a class from! I can't wait to see what we cook next year! read more

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Exceeded expectations - Chef Enrique created a memorable, educational, and very tasty experience for us. Entire group participated in making all the salsas, sauces, drinks, etc - with tips and tricks woven in along the way. Especially liked the smaller group size (though it sounds like arrangements can be made to accommodate larger groups). Will definitely return upon our next trip to PV!! read more

Cookin' Vallarta - Chicken with mole sauce and Mexican rice (third course we made). - Cooking Classes Near Me

We were a party of 6, two of whom had taken classes with ISSI before. We loved both of the previous classes and convinced friends/family to do this with us. We decided to do the private evening class so that what we cooked wound up being our dinner. We were greeted at the meeting place by Carolina, ISSI's sister. Even though this tour didn't advertise that it included the ingredient shopping we had done for previous classes, we were pleasantly surprised that Carolina did take us shopping and had us help pick ingredients! We selected the birria option and everything that we cooked was AMAZING! Nothing was a repeat of what we had done in previous classes, not even the guacamole or the salsas. Carolina threw in a mashed potato dish that blew us all away. After the class, we received a 47 page PDF & a 2nd email with recipes for what we had cooked - and even more! I'm still trying to get her to send us that potato recipe, as it wasn't part of all that we received. After we finished class and our delicious dinner, we were returned to our original meeting place where we did mezcal tasting and had churros. This was also an unexpected treat! read more

We booked this experience to celebrate two milestone birthdays on a Friday night. It was nonstop entertainment with no lulls. Carina kept the flow going giving us a chance to chit chat and enjoy. They even allowed us to have the place to ourselves. The experience started with a tequila tasting where we actually learned about tequila. Then a Margarita making lesson. Followed by making tacos and Paloma's. Weaved into all of that was dancing. The food was delicious and they accommodated our dietary preferences. The music was provided by the incredibly talented band. Don't snooze book this experience for any occasion even if you don't have anything to celebrate. read more

Cookin' Vallarta - Cooking Classes Near Me

We had a wonderful taco tour with David. The selected spots were so different and delicious. Loved the history lesson along the way. David was so great about answering questions and letting us try so much. Definitely arrive hungry as there's tons of food! read more

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What an incredible experience! I learned so much from Enrique throughout the entire day, beginning with key things to look for when picking out your ingredients, nuances in how you treat the corn before it goes into a tortilla, etc. He, his wife, and his sister were so kind and hospitable, and the quesadilla and chile relleno with mole we learned how to make from scratch were both the best I've ever had. The margarita's were fantastic too! Can't recommend this more highly. Absolutely great experience! read more

My wife, daughter and I had a chance to attend Cookin Vallarta class, We started off at the market, learning about the markets, buying bread, fish and tacos; culture and how each region cooks food slightly different. We went to Chef Enrique house to prepare the meal. We learn more about cooking, making margaritas, different types of salsas and cooking carnitas. A great time by all - Thank you Chef. We will go back again! read more

We were on a Carnival Cruise and while in Cabo enjoyed a Juan More Taco tour. David was our tour guide and he was awesome - knowledgeable and personalable. All stops offered deliciously authentic food. We stopped for ice cream and enjoyed an impromptu tequila tasting. Definitely worth it to book with Juan More Taco. read more

Cookin' Vallarta - Our awesome tour guide, David. - Cooking Classes Near Me

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Our group of 15 loved every minute of our food tour! Miguel and Shorty were absolutely incredible guides - they not only provided and ton of history and information, they were just an overall good time. Every bite (and sip!) we tried was outstanding and it was such a great experience getting to try some of the more authentic and local-approved Cabo spots. I highly recommend! read more

On our honeymoon in Vallarta, my husband & I joined Chef Enrique, his lovely wife, & their team for a full day of their signature tamale & mole cooking class/market tour. This was such a cool experience that I don't even know where to begin. We were with a bunch of other folks on our tour (maybe 20 people total?), but each and every person was able to get hands-on & benefit from the actual cooking and the market tour. The market tour was possibly my favorite part (before eating tamales, which were amazing-- so that is saying something!). We were led through the tortilleria (where we learned about the process of making tortillas & sampled a hot, fresh one), a butcher's, a fishmonger's (where we learned how to select the freshest seafood), and of course learned all about how to choose the highest-quality produce to cook with. Afterward, we were shuttled over to Enrique's home (which is adorably appointed & very comfortable), where we set to work with learning & cooking (and eating-- I'd definitely recommend having breakfast before this tour, because the food preparation does take time). We made 2 salsas, guac, tortillas, tamales, and 2 kinds of mole. Oh, and they had plenty of tequilas & mezcals our to sample-- along with a lesson on the differences between them. So fun! Whenever we come back, we will definitely have to try one of their other tours, because this was just a blast. read more

David (Shorty) was our guide on the taco tour in Cabo San Lucas. He was energetic, knowledgeable, fun and knew the area really well. He took us to 5 different taco restaurants, a dessert place and we got to take tamales home. It was so much food and delicious! To end our tour, we did a wonderful tequila tasting with Karina. She educated us on the process of making tequila and was delightful. The whole team was welcoming and made our downtown. Cabo experience amazing! read more

Chef Enrique is very knowledgeable about the history of foods in Mexico. His cooking class is an enjoyable and immersive experience I will remember for a long time. This was my second class with him and I hope to return for another in the future. I feel more confident about taking some of the recipes and techniques home with me. read more

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this cooking class with Chef Enrique in early September 2022. Shopping in the market, learning about the various ingredients, etc. was interesting. When we got to the Chef's home the cooking class began. Lots of hands on to make Mole, tortillas, various sauces, a soup, and margaritas. The food and drinks we had were very tasty and made by the attendees. Chef was assisted by his wife and a helper. Our class was limited to eight people. Once you meet at the market and Chef has made the purchases, he drives you to his beautiful house. Once the class is over you take a taxi or Uber back to your hotel or wherever you're going. Total time from leaving our hotel to the end of the cooking class was about six hours. Lots of fun and a truly enjoyable experience. read more

We had an absolutely wonderful time cooking with Alma in Playa Del Carmen. A less than 20 minute inexpensive taxi ride from Grand Velas Resort! This was our second visit with her and we had a group of four kids, ages 10 to 17, my husband and me, plus grandma! Our kids went on and on about how this is their favorite activity of all of our vacation activities! Alma lights up the room with her warmth and kindness. She did such a great job explaining everything about the history of the area while we started to dive into our cooking fun. We made blue corn tortillas from scratch, the most delicious chicken tinga, chili pasilla, and birria from scratch! we had the most incredible meal--a taco symphony!-- we literally have ever had and we can't wait to come back. We ate sooooo much. tipped off with fried plantains and ice cream with caramel sauce. oh and the mole last year was EXTRAORDINARY AS WELL! The best part is that we get all of the recipes so that we can attempt to create this masterpiece at home. The kids are already asking me to do so. Wish me luck. Alma is a genius in the kitchen. Thank you, Alma and Gladys! You made our vacation extra special. read more

Wow! If you miss this one you have missed the boat! Enrique the chef and his team were amazing. Love Erie, Carmen, Cesar and the others! Enrique was so informative on the Mexican culture and how to select the best seafood and vegetables. The kitchen was spotless and so inviting! Foodies - come to this cooking classes to get the best ropes and techniques!!' FANTASTIC!!!! read more

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Irma was our guide for our walking taco tour. We had a private tour with her and she was wonderful! We walked to five taco places and a bakery. We also traveled to the market and walked into the oldest cemetery in Puerto Vallarta. It was a great day, walking the neighborhoods downtown and the Mexican culture. read more

Wonderful experience! What a memorable way to spend an afternoon enjoying the company of a local chef who is passionate and motivated about food. We were thrilled to learn we would be cooking at Chef Rosaella's home to study how to cook several traditional Mexican dishes. After shopping locally in the city we headed to her home and learned what it took for her to build her business. She is a partner to the owner and because it was just us two we enjoyed the unique and specialized event. If you're looking to immerse yourself into the local flair I'd highly recommend this event. I recommend Chef Rosaella as you will be guaranteed an experience you'll never forget and go home with local recipes you can share an experience with friends and family. read more

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Enrico & his family were absolutely fantastic. My husband & I enjoyed the journey from beginning to end. Trip advisor reviews are very informative so I will just say, you won't be disappointed. This is not a typical tourist filled tour where you feel like your just being pushed through a routine, it's intimate & meaningful. At least it was for us, especially when your invited to their beautiful home. read more

Enrique is so talented, he not only is a great chef, but has so many interesting stories about the food, ingredients, etc. We were involved in the buying of the food, prep and cooking it all up, then of course eating what we cooked. Just a fun experience and a must do while in Puerto Vallarta. read more

We went on the Juan More Taco walking taco tour and it was great! We had fun, tasted good that was all new to us and all very good, and learned some local culture from our guide. It is 100% worth the money...come hungry...we were STUFFED by the end!! Issi was our guide and he was great but we also spoke to some of the others there and they all seemed like wonderful people. It's a family owned business and we'll worth supporting!! read more

We had an amazing time with Chef Enrique at Cookin' Vallarta. We met at a market place where Chef told us how to pick fresh produce, fish, meat and cheese. We went to the tortillas factory and saw how they are made and about Mexican culture. Then Chef took us to his beautiful home where his wife and friend welcomed us. We sat around the kitchen island where we learned and helped prepare a meal. It was so much fun and we got to eat everything we prepared. It was a perfect day! read more

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We had an amazing time with David on our Cookin Cabo Juan More Taco Tour. We tried many different types of tacos, homemade ice cream, sopas, and the tour ends with churros and tequila tasting. It was nice to go to all the great little local places. Bring a BIG appetite! Try their cooking classes also as they are the best there is and so much fun. read more

Cookin' Vallarta provides a really fun day if you want to see how the locals shop, cook, and eat. Enrique met us at the local Starbucks and from there he took us to a little local market where we shopped for the ingredients for our meal. We visited the tortillaria, the pesce vendor, and the queso stand which were located at a market with little vendor stalls. Then we went across the street to the fruit and vegetable vendor. While we were shopping, Enrique spoke about the history, growth, and development of Puerto Vallarta including the people, the culture, the food, etc... From there he took us to his house! As he liked to say, "Mi casa es su casa" and it really was. There was a total of 15 of us and he had two long tables set up in his kitchen/dining area. Our menu consisted of chips with guacamole and salsa (2 kinds), chicken tamales with mole, and a verde pozole soup with tortillas. This class was a combination of hands on and a demonstration. Everyone got to help with making some portion of the meal. And we also had a little tequila and mezcal tasting, too! I guess the menu changes daily, so you can go more than once and still have a new experience. Enrique and his wife (and all the sous-chefs), were really nice and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this activity while in PV!! read more

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I was an excellent small class. I picked up some new techniques as well as some Mexican food history.

My fiance and I went on a food and taco tour with Gil during our first trip to San Jose Del Cabo. Gil was super personable and knowledgable-we learned so much about Mexico's history and culture. The food was delicious as well, of course. We were definitely happy that we decided to do this food tour and would highly recommend it! read more

We had the best time with Enrique and Cookin' Vallarta! We've been to PV many times and this was definitely a favorite activity. The market tour was such a great experience - we learned so much and enjoyed seeing a local market. Cooking w/ Enrique and his team at his home was fantastic. The food was delicious and we felt so welcome and comfortable. We would absolutely recommend this tour and can't wait to come back to take another Cookin' Vallarta class! read more

Enrique and his wife were so awesome! It was my husband and I with our two kids, aged 8 and 19. We toured a market, saw how tortillas are made and then went back to Enrique's house (which is in a very nice neighborhood and so accommodating), to cook. We learned so much and totally enjoyed the experience. Highly recommend Cookin' Vallarta! read more

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You need to take this class! I have taken numerous cooking classes and this one has been my favorite. Chef Francisco is amazing! He took us to the local market and masa factory where he explained all about traditional cuisine, ingredients, and showed us how to pick the best produce for our meal. We even had a local shop owner invite us in for a delicious chocolate masa drink (I wish I could remember the name) and explained all about the history of the drink and how it originally was used in place of baby formula- minus the chocolate of course. We were then invited into the Chef's home where he and his wife taught us to make a truly authentic Mexican feast. Hibiscus margaritas (the proper way), homemade tortillas, guacamole, 3 different salsas, a roasted poblano and corn vegetarian dish, and a beef Birria with the most amazing homemade adobo sauce (I am going to use this in place of enchilada sauce in the future). My friend and I went fishing the day before and caught a Mahi Mahi. Chef Francisco totally altered his menu and showed us how to make the best grilled fish tacos and ceviche from our very own fish. This class was the highlight of our trip! I totally recommend it to anyone that enjoys cooking, eating, or learning about Mexican culture and where the food comes from. Thank you Chef Francisco! We will definitely be back. read more

My son (10), husband and I just took the Flavors of Vallarta Taco Tour. We had a great time. My son is a picky eater so he was apprehensive about going. He was pleasantly surprised. He said that this was the best food he ever had. We were picked up and dropped off in a convertible VW bug which made it extra fun. We had a nice view of the city as we drove between the taco spots. We went to 4 different taco places and were stuffed after. At the end we got to visit a bakery and watch the baking process and had goodies to take home. Bruno was our guide and he was great. We will ask for him again when we come back. read more

Cookin' Vallarta - Cooking Classes Near Me

Such a great experience. It honestly was a highlight of our trip. The staff is so happy and friendly. From the market tour to the kitchen they were happy to help and answer all of our questions. Not to mention the quality of the food we made and ate. After the class was over they emailed us the recipes. We have actually made tamales since the class and they turned out great! read more

Cookin' Vallarta - Tamales - Cooking Classes Near Me

I did the tour known as Juan's taco tour. I had taken it in Cabo and it was amazing, so I did it here in Puerto Vallarta. It is ALWAYS fun, delicious & informative. We didn't have Enrique (the owner), we had another guide named Bruno and he was Spectacular! On the evening tour we enjoyed flank steak, mahi mahi, beef cheek, pork chop and al pastor tacos. The day tour offers other versions. I highly suggest this tour as one of your outings, you will not be disappointed. read more

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What an awesome experience! What a cool treat to first walk the markets and pick our ingredients then end up at Enrique's house where we put it all together. This was amazing for my 3 kids who got to help make and prep everything from cutting the limes, making tortillas, mixing everything together and plating the food. I would highly recommend this experience for anyone looking for some true culture. Enrique really explains everything to you and makes it a real enjoyable time. This is well worth the expense which quite frankly was not much compared to what you get and the amount of time we spent together. If you come to this part of Mexico I highly suggest taking this tour! read more

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When my husband and I (who both LOVE Mexican food) booked a trip to Mexico, I knew I wanted to check out a cooking class while we were there. I kind of wanted to do one in the evening because come on, I wanted to sleep late and be on the beach all day - but it seemed that most of the classes were only offered during the day. After reading a bunch of reviews, I really chose this one because it was the least expensive, even though it started at 10 am. I'm so happy we went with this school! It was the off season, so we really lucked out and actually ended up being the only ones in the class. I'm not sure why the other schools charge so much more! From the start it was super fun and informative. Enrique and his wife (who teach the class together in their home) have a real appreciation for their culture and are excited to share it. We learned everything from the etymology of the names of fruits and vegetables... to how to pick the freshest fish and the ripest avocado. We literally learned how to make tortillas starting with the kernel! For food nerds like my husband and me, this was really great. After the market with Enrique, we head to the home where his wife is already set up. We were there on seafood day but I'm sure all of the days are great. In addition to the main meals, we learned how to make a bunch of different salsas and obviously tortillas. I absolutely recommend doing this while you're there (even if it takes you away from the beach for a little while). read more

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My family of three reserved a walking - cooking class with Enrique on May 10th. We met him at the local markets and spent time shopping for the ingredients for our meal. Once the shopping was completed he drove us to his beautiful contemporary home where we met his wife and two assistants. We were a group of eight. We all had tasks to do to prepare the meal and our fellow guests were so much fun - especially Forest from Seattle. This was the highlight of our Puerto Vallarta trip! Sharon B read more

Chef Francisco was excellent. I loved how he showed how to pick proper ingredients at the market, what makes a good purchase and what not. Once at his house, the experience to cook Tamales, sauces & how to prepare a proper Margarita ... it was a fantastic experience. His family is very welcoming and made our cooking class a perfect day in Cabo. read more

What a delightful day with my family and Chef Enrique! We learned so much and the food was terrific. I would highly recommend this experience to any one who enjoys cooking or is interested in learning more about the Mexican culture. So glad we did this! read more

The team very friendly especially Karina. We would recommend this to anyone who likes exploring Mexican culture and food.