La Villa Bonita program is a combination of hands-on instruction and informative culinary and cultural field trips in and around Tepoztlan. The week-long package runs from Sunday to the following Sunday and the 4-day package dates are flexible and can be arranged to the scheduling desires of our guests. The culinary program is geared to give students a full working knowledge of how to prepare traditional and nouvelle Mexican dishes, salsas and condiments, and drinks from the simple to the complicated.
Chef Ana Isabel Garcia Moreno is owner and founder of La Villa Bonita School of Mexican Cuisine, Tepoztlan. Founded in 2000, La Villa Bonita offers culinary immersion packages to everyone from amateur chefs making their first tortilla to professional chefs looking for new ideas. The packages take place in the tranquil setting of 33,000 square foot property complete with organic gardens and citrus orchards as well as a heated pool carved out of a pre-existing volcanic rock. Because of her magnetic personality and true passion for traditional Mexican cuisine, Chef Garcia’s packages have become very popular, reaching the point where La Villa Bonita is fast reaching its capacity. La Villa Bonita has been named as one of the 5 best culinary vacations worldwide by The Food Network. La Villa Bonita culinary vacations have been featured on shows such as "Trivia Unwrapped". "Food Wine and Friends with Karen MacNeil" on PBS, and "Live! with Regis and Kelly."
Chef Garcia is your personal guide on an award-winning immersion into the delicacies of Mexican cooking, food and culture with our 7 and 4-night cooking classes and Mexican culinary vacation packages in Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico. Chef Ana Isabel Garcia Moreno is your host and chief instructor throughout the week. Chef Garcia, a native of Cuernavaca, learned the art of Mexican cuisine from traditional family methods passed down from generation to generation. With her traditional experience, Chef Garcia, likes to expand upon that base by using traditional Mexican ingredients in new and interesting gourmet combinations. She is currently the head chef and owner of La Mesa de Ana, a restaurant located on the property which showcases Chef Garcia's incredible cuisine.
As head chef and owner of La Mesa de Ana, Chef Garcia offers her international and creative Mexican cuisine to an eager public. LMA has also attained an equal level of success as it has quickly become one of the most popular restaurants/hotels in Morelos. Chef Garcia's recipes were featured in the May 2003 edition of Bon Appetít Magazine as well as Cooking Light in March 2008.
Tepoztlan, designated as one of Mexico's "Magic Villages," is located about 5280 ft. above sea level and roughly 45 minutes south of Mexico City and 20 minutes from Cuernavaca making transportation easy. Included in your package is transportation to and from the Mexico City airport. Due to its year-round average daily temperature of 83 F/28 C, Tepoztlan is known for its authentic ambiance filled with cobblestone streets and adobe facades. Tucked into the majestic Tepozteco mountains, Tepoztlan is known for its artistic culture and beautiful views.
Faculty Information:
During Mexican holidays, the program includes traditional seasonal dishes pertinent to the particular holiday. All classes are in English and/or Spanish depending on the preferences of our students. Chef Garcia also speaks French.
Chef Ana Isabel Garcia Moreno is your host and chief instructor throughout the week. Chef Garcia, a native of Cuernavaca, learned the art of Mexican cuisine from traditional family methods passed down from generation to generation. With her traditional experience, Chef Garcia, likes to expand upon that base by using traditional Mexican ingredients in new and interesting gourmet combinations. She is currently the head chef and owner of La Mesa de Ana, a restaurant which showcases Chef Garcia's incredible cuisine.
Other Activities:
Along with the culinary instruction that takes place on the grounds of La Villa Bonita, our students also enjoy a wide range of culinary and cultural field trips included in the week-long package. Culinary field trips include guided tours of the Mercado to chat with the local residents and learn how to select the best Mexican fruits, spices, vegetables, and meats. Our students also take guided field trips to local villages such as Tlayacapan or Taxco to experience village life firsthand and to enjoy local delicacies. Also included in your package are cultural tours and depending on your package one may select to see various pyramids such as Xochicalco or Teotihuacan, the Palacio de Hernan Cortes, the Catedral, the Borda Botanical Gardens, and the Brady Museum of Art.
Field trips include excursions to the Mercado (the market) for instruction on how to select the best fresh Mexican ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, spices, and meats. Students learn alongside native residents in making their time-tested, traditional recipes, as well as explore the nuances of the Mexican Nouvelle Cuisine with Chef Garcia. Other field trips from which our guests can choose include visits to villages in the state of Morelos to experience Mexican life and tradition in the small town environment. During Mexican holidays, the program includes traditional seasonal dishes pertinent to the particular holiday. All classes are in English and/or Spanish depending on the preferences of our students. Chef Garcia also speaks French.
Facility Information:
Cooking lessons are held in a modernly equipped open-air kitchen with spectacular view of Tepoztlan valley on the grounds of at La Villa Bonita. La Villa Bonita is located on 33,000 square feet of terraced organic gardens and citrus orchard with a pool and incredible views of the surrounding mountains.
Supplier Information
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Location: Mexico
Joined InfoHub: Jul 2005
Client Request Served: 57
Chef Ana Garcia opened this company with the desire to teach the joys of traditional Mexican cuisine. She learned her skills through great grandmothers, grandmothers, mother and aunts with time-honored family recipes. Chef Garcia has appeared in Cooking Light, Newsweek, Bon Appetit, the Food Network, PBS and ABC. Her...
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