Margarita was born and raised in Mexico City, where her lifelong passion for food was sparked in her grandmother’s kitchen. Inspired by her grandmother’s mastery of traditional Mexican cooking, she began taking formal cooking classes at the age of 15. Her love for the culinary arts grew into a successful 15-year career as a food stylist, with her beautifully crafted dishes and recipes featured in several magazines. Seven years ago, Margarita transformed her passion into a business, launching a cookie company that now offers over 60 unique varieties to a loyal local clientele. She is also the co-author of a Mexican cookbook and is deeply committed to preserving and sharing her country’s rich culinary heritage. For Margarita, food is one of the most powerful ways to understand a culture. As she puts it, “If you want to understand Mexico as a country, you have to taste its flavors. I want to share the richness of Mexico and its incredible food culture with others.”
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)
Meet Margarita at her home on a quiet, residential street in Mexico City’s charming Tlacopac San Ángel neighborhood. Weather permitting, your experience will begin in her lovely garden, where you’ll be welcomed with a refreshing drink and appetizers as Margarita shares stories about her life and culinary journey. Her husband Gonzalo, an economist, may join you for evening or weekend experiences when he’s not working, adding to the warm and personal atmosphere.
You’ll then move to their family dining table to enjoy a traditional, home-cooked three-course Mexican meal. Start with a comforting soup such as creamy corn soup or classic tortilla soup, followed by a flavorful main dish like chiles rellenos or chicken stuffed with cheese and served with a zesty salsa verde, accompanied by traditional Mexican rice. End your meal on a sweet note with a homemade dessert like rich chocolate mousse with vanilla crème or crepes drizzled with Mexican dulce de leche, paired with coffee or tea.
Cooking experience:
(2-12 guests)
Start your Mexico City cooking class in Margarita’s stunning and spacious home, where you’ll be welcomed with traditional Mexican appetizers like sopes served with fresh guacamole. This hands-on Mexico City cooking experience lasts about two hours and offers an immersive introduction to authentic Mexican cuisine.
You’ll begin by learning how to make tortillas from scratch - a staple of Mexican cooking - which you might transform into delicious quesadillas filled with huitlacoche or flor de calabaza (squash blossoms). Enjoy your freshly made creations as you move on to prepare a comforting soup, such as creamy chorizo-bean soup or classic tortilla soup.
Next, dive into a flavorful main dish like chiles rellenos or pork tenderloin in tamarind sauce. You’ll also learn to make Mexican rice from scratch, toasting the grains and cooking them with a medley of aromatic vegetables, a skill that’s essential to many traditional meals.
Once everything is ready, sit down with Margarita to enjoy your home-cooked feast, either at her dining table or, during warmer months, outside in her charming garden. You’ll finish your experience with a sweet treat like traditional rice pudding or spicy chocolate mousse, served with coffee or tea.
Perfect for travelers looking for things to do in Mexico City - this is a rich cultural and culinary experience you won’t forget.
Market visit: (2-12 guests) Meet Margarita directly at the main entrance of Mercado “Melchor Múzquiz” also named “Mercado San Ángel”. This is a traditional Mexican market where locals shop daily for fresh ingredients. During your visit, Margarita will introduce you to a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs commonly used in Mexican cooking. You’ll see fresh tortillas being made, meet her favorite market stall owners, and help select the ingredients you’ll use later in your Mexico City cooking class. The market tour lasts about an hour, after which you’ll return to Margarita’s home to begin your hands-on cooking class.
Notes:
1. Margarita is typically available for experiences Monday through Friday. If weekends are your only option, feel free to inquire as she may be able to accommodate you.
2. Your host can accommodate dietary restrictions including vegetarian and gluten-free. Please let her know your dietary preferences or restrictions when making your booking.
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Margarita was the perfect hostess and teacher. The food we prepared was delicious and she talked about the origins and history behind the dishes we were making. The class is hands on and a true learning experience. She will accommodate any food preferences or allergies. We cooked dinner and it included an appetizer, entree, side dish and dessert. When we're back we'd love to cook with Margarita again.- lynee October 26, 2026
This was truly the highlight of our trip to CDMX! From start to finish, the experience was so much more than a cooking class. It was an amazing opportunity to immerse ourselves in Mexican food, culture and the everyday life. We started by meeting our chef, Margarita, at the San Angel Mercado where she walked us through the different vendors, explained the culture and traditions surrounding grocery shopping in CDMX, and helped us select ingredients for our class. From there, she drove us to her home pointing out local historical spots to explore later in the day on foot. Her home was beautiful and welcoming, and everything was prepared for us to just jump into the the cooking. We made sopes, a guava dessert, and the most incredible chile rellenos. All the ingredients were pre-portioned and ready to go, allowing us more time to learn and cook. Because it was such a small group, everyone had an opportunity to participate, ask questions and learn firsthand. She is incredibly knowledgeable, speaks perfect English and shared so much insight into all the ingredients, techniques and cultural significance behind the dishes we prepared. It was such a relaxed and personal experience! We were lucky to have a beautiful day, so between courses we were able to enjoy her beautiful patio with wine, conversation and our yummy creations. We will definitely book another cooking class with Margarita when we visit again! Muchas Gracias Margarita! La Familia Guffy - Dave, Julie and Jenny- dave October 25, 2026
Do you like to cook? Do you like to eat? Would you like to learn how to make traditional Mexican food that is both delicious and approachable? Would you like that instruction to come from a knowledgeable and kind woman who gives off strong abuela and nonna vibes? Then fellow traveler, look no further. I cannot possibly recommend this class enough. Come curious and leave with both your belly and heart full. (The poached guava with cream cheese filling floating in a guava simple syrup is SO GOOD!)- Neil October 16, 2026
This class was absolutely incredible. Margarit was so helpful, knowledgeable, and an amazing teacher. Her home was beautiful, and we felt so welcome. We will recommend to everyone coming to CDMX.- gwen October 01, 2026
This was the best experience we had on our entire trip! Margarita welcomes you graciously into her beautiful home. The whole experience is paced very well: from refreshments on the patio, to making and enjoying appetizers, then making and enjoying an exquisite lunch with dessert, wine, everything is perfect. Margarita gives a masterclass in hospitality. We learned so much, the food was delicious, and we enjoyed wonderful conversation that made CDMX come to life. Margarita’s husband, an accomplished economist, stopped by to say hello and the enjoyable conversation continued. The recipes are authentic and also simple that we can recreate them at home. Everything is perfecto, thank you Margarita, our new friend!- jessie September 30, 2026
Traveling Spoon © 2026. All Rights Reserved
Terms | Privacy Policy | Annual Report | Copyright | Blog