Meet
Mariana and Geraldine
Mariana and Geraldine are professional chefs and award-winning food stylists with over 18 years of experience in culinary development for magazines, television, radio, and social media. Both discovered their love for cooking at a young age in their family kitchens, later pursuing formal culinary training and specializing in food styling at a prestigious institute in New York.
Geraldine has a passion for sweets, while Mariana gravitates toward bold, salty, and spicy flavors - together, they make the perfect culinary duo. They met at university and have been on a shared journey ever since, combining their deep knowledge and love for food to inspire others.
Proud ambassadors of Mexican cuisine, Mariana and Geraldine are dedicated to preserving and sharing its rich traditions through their cooking.
Their cookbook, a beautifully curated collection of sweet and savory recipes designed to be both visually stunning and easy to prepare, won second place at the 2014 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. It remains a beloved reference and source of inspiration for food lovers around the world.
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal:
(2-10 guests)
Your home dining experience in Mexico City will take place at Geraldine’s beautiful family home, located in the elegant and historic neighborhood of San Ángel. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed with a refreshing drink as Geraldine and Mariana share stories of their work as professional food stylists and the rich culinary heritage of Mexican cuisine.
You’ll then be invited to dine in their garden, a serene green oasis where the table is set for a memorable meal. Mariana and Geraldine will prepare a traditional Mexican feast infused with their signature modern flair. You might enjoy dishes such as cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork), sopes (savory corn cakes), quesadillas, chiles en nogada (stuffed poblano peppers in walnut sauce), or pork tenderloin with tamarind sauce and Mexican rice.
Your meal will conclude with one of their beloved desserts - perhaps a tres leches cake, creamy flan, or arroz con leche (Mexican rice pudding). Tea and coffee are available upon request.
Cooking experience:
(2-10 guests)
Join Mariana and Geraldine in their home kitchen for a hands-on cooking class in Mexico City, where you'll learn to prepare 2 - 3 of the delicious dishes you'll later enjoy at the table. Your class blends hands-on instruction with expert demonstrations, offering the perfect balance of learning and fun. Expect to spend 1–2 hours cooking before sitting down to share the meal you've helped create, accompanied by lively conversation with your hosts.
In this immersive culinary experience, you might learn to make traditional Mexican sopes with chorizo and chicken, quesadillas filled with zucchini flowers and fresh Oaxaca cheese, spicy salsas, and fresh guacamole.
Please note: Mariana and Geraldine can tailor the class to your preferences - whether you’d like to prepare the full menu or focus on a few select dishes, just let them know when booking.
This Mexico City cooking experience is ideal for food lovers, home cooks, professional chefs, or anyone eager to explore both traditional and modern Mexican cuisine under the guidance of award-winning culinary experts.
Market visit:
(2-10 guests)
Mariana and Geraldine will guide you on a visit to the vibrant Melchor Múzquiz market, located just a short walk from their home. This lively neighborhood market offers everything from fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, and aromatic spices to colorful chiles, flowers, prepared foods, and even clothing. Spend 30–45 minutes exploring the stalls alongside your hosts, gaining insight into the ingredients that define traditional Mexican cuisine.
If you've also booked a cooking class, you’ll pick up a few fresh ingredients needed for your meal before returning home to start your hands-on culinary experience.
On Saturdays, there’s also the option to visit the Bazar del Sábado, a charming arts and crafts market within walking distance. If you’d like to explore this artisan market - either in addition to or instead of the produce market - please let us know your preference when booking.
Notes:
1. If you choose to include alcohol for an additional cost, your hosts can offer beer or tequila.
2. Your hosts are happy to accommodate dietary preferences or restrictions, including vegetarian meals - just be sure to share your needs when booking.
Languages spoken:
English
Sample menu
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
Mariana and Geraldine are professional chefs and food stylists who openly share their culinary expertise and knowledge. Our experience was taken from their recently published cook book where we shopped for ingredients at the local market and prepared dishes together in a well organised and beautifully curated cooking class in their home kitchen. Mariana and Geraldine make cooking effortless, fun and interesting. They share their passion of food openly and delivered a beautiful meal in their garden, a treat that is hard to find in Mexico City. It was an honour to be side by side in the kitchen with both women who are clearly great professionals in the kitchen. We would have this experience again with Mariana and Geraldine so we could tap into their knowledge and enthusiasm. Tip: buy their cookbook if you can. It is full of authentic, local recipes that you can make at home!
Nicola, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Traveler reviews
My wife and I had a wonderful culinary experience with Mariana at Geraldine's stunning home in the lovely San Angel area. Mariana took us through the local food market where we picked up a few items then went back to the home to prepare lunch and dine together -- all the while learning about our hosts and the area. The food and the entire experience was great. Highly recommend.
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terry
April 01, 2026
What an informative and fun class! Geraldine and Marianna were kind, warm, funny and so knowledgeable. They graciously shared Mexican culinary (& cultural) history with us while we strolled to their local market and introduced us to many local delicacies. A final stop at their neighborhood panaderia was (literally!) icing on the cake. Then the real fun began…rolling up our sleeves and donning aprons to make salsa and sopes while learning more about Mexican ingredients and their seasons. Our class was capped off with a delicious lunch in the garden. A memorable day, indeed!
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kim
March 06, 2026
It was a fantastic day with Marianna and Geraldine. We met them at the house, then walked to the San Angel market where they took the time to explain a lot of the ingredients that go into Mexican cuisine. It was super informative. And, we bought some mole powder to take home!
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valerie
February 16, 2026
We had a great experience with Mariana and Geraldine. They welcomed us to their beautiful home in San Angel and we had an informative tour of the local Mercado before returning to their place to cook and eat the meal. They shared lots of insights about Mexican history and cuisine, and the meal was delicious!
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wick
January 24, 2026
Mariana, Geraldine and assistants were welcoming and very knowledgeable. Unfortunately we arrived late due to traffic and didn't have time to do the market tour. However, We enjoyed learning about and helping to make the traditional salsa, sopes, rice and cochinita pibal. the best part was enjoining the meal together outside and chatting about Mexican culture and our travels. Everything was delicious and capped off with Geraldine's extraordinaryl flan.
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Connie
December 07, 2025
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