Traditional Pre-Hispanic Cooking in Mexico City

"Cooking with Martha is a must do! From the communication beforehand to her knowledge during, it was so much fun and welcoming to cook in her beautiful home. She provides both pre-Hispanic and modern cuisine to satisfy a variety of taste profiles. I would suggest that you also get the alcohol option. The tequila and wine pairings were excellent. Please make your reservation with Martha and Betsy (her assistant) and try the well seasoned crickets!!"

"Mary's is so warm and inviting! The market visit was fun and informative. Cooking in Marta's lovely home was a fantastic experience, and the dishes we prepared were unique and delightful. Would absolutely recommend this class to folks looking to learn about traditional Mexican foods."

"Martha was a fantastic host to learn from! My wife and I enjoyed our time with her and her husband Arturo. They took us to the market and then back to their home/kitchen. We had so much fun!"

"It was beyond amazing. There are not enough words to describe the experience. The food was just delicious. We learned so much about ingredients, history, culture, tequila and so much more. We had the pleasure of meeting her husband who made us feel at home. Their sense of humor and warmth made us feel that we would be friends forever. We want them to visit us in NY to stay with us — this is how wonderful they made us feel. Her price is way less than what she gives you in return — lots of food, knowledge, tequila, wine and warmth. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to be back!"

"Marta and Arturo treated us like family. I'm not exaggerating. We've hosted many friends and family visiting us overseas. Taking her cooking class felt like the mirror image. We would - will - recommend this adventure to anyone coming to Mexico City. Marta welcomed us in her home in a quiet neighborhood outside the center of Mexico City. A pudgy, golden bundle of love named Layla greeted us at the entrance of her apartment. We'd seen hundreds of dogs and their owners during the week; it was only fitting another was there to welcome us. Marta and her husband took my family to the market, where she engaged sellers in friendly conversation and explained about unique flavors and preparations of pre-Hispanic cuisine. Back at the apartment, Marta took my wife, daughter, and me through the history and art of pre-Hispanic cooking. She drafted my daughter into shredding Oaxaca cheese and preparing tortillas, while showing us some secrets to incredible food. She walked through the importance of the epazote herb, the versatility and unique flavor of huitlacotche (corn fungus, try it), and interactions of chili, oil, lard, avocados, and more. We gnawed on jicama and spiced broad beans while we cooked. After preparing the meal, we sat down to eat together. A premade blue corn sope almost stole the show till the next dish arrived, our tortilla soup topped with chicharron and chapulines (crickets, again, try it!). Then came the quesadillas stuffed with a blend of Oaxaca cheese, huitlacotche, and onions. Finally - ok this was the real winner - she brought out a nutty flan dripping with caramel. Costarring with the flan was mamey, a native fruit halfway between a papaya and an avocado. I can't say enough about this experience. Yes, the food was fantastic, but the company was better. Marta and Arturo really treated us like family, showing off family photos and talking about their careers spanning the globe. Outside, the city observed Good Friday - a day when Christians recall the Last Supper and later crucifixion of Jesus. A small procession walked by as we returned from the market. Dedicated to mothers of the disappeared, it not only commemorating the holiday, but providing a somber reminder of Mexico's past and present. As we broke bread with Marta and Arturo, we thought of what made up Mexico's identity - through sacrifice, pain, joy, and optimism. As Americans breaking bread with a couple who had devotes their lives to their country, we thought of what kindness we owed them, ourselves, and each other."

"My two friends and I booked a wonderful experience with Martha in March. Martha and her family are warm and welcoming people. The market tour was nice, experiencing local culture, learning and tasting new foods, and meeting some of Martha’s friends. Martha is a wonderful cook and took great pride in her dishes. We had a splendid time and we recommend Martha’s cooking class to anyone."

"Martha and Arturo were fantastic hosts. My husband and I had a wonderful time chatting, learning about traditional pre-Hispanic cuisine, and getting to know CDMX. The food was stellar, our time in the market was fun and full of tasty samples, and we learned so much during our time. I can’t recommend this experience enough and already look forward to our next time in CDMX to visit Martha and Arturo again!"

"Martha! What a truly incredible host. My family (4 adults and a 6 year old) went for a lunch cooking experience. We are vegetarians and she accommodated us beautifully. She welcomed us into her lovely apartment (her dog was a sweet presence, esp for our daughter), served us hibiscus tea while she told us a bit about herself and her cooking, and then into the kitchen we went. We made flour tortillas, a delicious chili mushroom soup, rajas, guacamole, huitlacoche, and she had prepared a phenomenal flan (made in advance). Martha is outgoing, funny, super friendly and easy to talk to. She's lived all over the world and has incredible stories to tell. Her husband came into the kitchen and spent time with us and ate lunch with us, too. It truly felt like being in a friend's home for an amazing meal. She clearly loves having people in her home and it was the ultimate experience of hospitality. And to top it off, when I accidentally left my phone in the Uber we took when we left her home and the Uber driver returned it to her, she contacted me immediately and held the phone until I was able to come back and pick it up. I can't recommend the experience enough!"

"I had an amazing experience! Martha and her family welcomed me into their home and hosted this cooking class with warmth. The pre-Hispanic food was delicious and the cooking instruction was very informative. I highly recommend this class for the culinary and cultural experience!"

"Martha is an amazing hostess and teacher. She approaches cooking as an act of love and the experience is infused with that. Learnef about the culinary history of mexico from prehispankc times up to the present day with recipies that have evolved over time."