Culinary Tours and Field Trips
I love traveling and discovering new things, especially when it comes to gastronomy and foodways – I am one of those people who makes travel plans based on where to eat.
Lunchtime at a classic cantina in Mexico, D.F. is not to be missed.
When people find out where I’m from and where I’ve traveled, the response is usually the same: “I want to go there with you!” – Well, now you can. I offer the following guided tours:
Mexico City and surrounding areas
Despite the violence that grips many parts of Mexico, Mexico City remains a safe enough place, not more dangerous than any other large world metropolis. I would love to take you on a week-long introduction tour of Mexico City its main cultural, historical, and gastronomical attractions. Traveling with the guidance of a fully bilingual and bi-cultural native as your host ensures you will avoid tourist traps, dangerous places, and foods that can make you sick. Instead you will see these places through the eyes of their inhabitants. You will staying in boutique hotels, peruse markets, learn from the locals, and have a fun-filled, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We will cover the full spectrum of the fabric that weaves Mexico D.F, from lunch on a boat in the canals of Xochimilco with a local family, to a five-course dinner paired with Mexican wines at a highly regarded chef-driven restaurant. Here are some of the highlights:
- Artisanal mezcal tastings
- A visit to the ruins of Teotihuacan with an archeologist currently working at the site
- Informal talks and presentations from food historians, writers, and chefs
- Visits to neighborhood gems, famous cantinas, and other points of interest
- Guided visits to food and arts markets
- Walking tours of La Condesa, Coyoacan, and Chapultepec neighborhoods
- Cooking demonstration with a local home cook
We will concentrate on lesser known attractions and day trips to nearby cities and towns, with the added bonus of traveling during specific fiestas and food fairs. I promise plenty of activity but also time for leisure, shopping, and relaxing for those who wish to slow down.
"Buñuelos filled with roast duck, topped with black mole poured at the table at Azul Condesa, one of the best new restaurants in D.F.
Mexico tours are designed for a maximum of 10 people, so everyone can enjoy a personal, laid-back experience instead of feeling like a herd of cattle. Most of all, I want to bring you these amazing tours on the best budget possible without sacrificing quality.
Mexican cuisine in Austin
If traveling abroad is not in your budget, how about exploring Austin’s Mexican cuisine and culture? Whether you are visiting from out of town, have recently moved here, or are looking to expand your knowledge of our Mexican cuisine scene, I have a tour for you!
Chile en nogada, a seasonal gem of Mexican cuisine, can be found in select Austin menus.
I created and lead a sold-out Tex-Mex and Mexican tour of Austin during the IACP 2011 Conference, and customized a Taco Tour of Austin for Theo Peck of Brooklyn-based The Food Experiments, who had the following to say:
“I am here to tell you the tale of hanging out with Claudia Alarcon, a local food writer with a tremendous amount of energy, life, and knowledge of the local Tex-Mex and Interior Mex food scene. Claudia has the food knowledge of the Austin food scene that only someone who has lived here for 28 years could posses. She grew up in Mexico City, moved to Austin at 18, and has an innate ease when discussing all things related to Mexican cuisine. I thoughtfully asked if she would take me on a taco tour of Austin. Thankfully for me, she said yes. Her passion for her City and its cuisine is absolutely infectious.”
The real deal: Mexico City-style tacos at an Austin taqueria, a highlight of the Taco Tour.
In a tour of Austin’s Mexican food scene you can:
- Experience the differences between Tex-Mex and Interior Mexican
- Explore and shop Mexican markets – I’ll tell you what to cook with all those ingredients you never knew!
- Visit bakeries and tortilla factories
- Discover regional specialties from various Mexican states
- Learn about tequila and mezcal – by tasting them!
And much more!
I will take you from small, family-owned establishments off the beaten path where English is not the first language to fine restaurants serving modern Mexican cuisine and chef’s signature dishes. I can customize a special tour for you, just tell me what you are interested in discovering!
Email claudia@cuisinexplorers.com to plan and schedule your tour!
You can read the latest info on the regular postings on the Culinary Tours & Field Trips category.
[...] In the email exchange that followed, I also agreed to give Peck a taco tour of Austin to get his mind and taste buds ready for the contest. I started leading tours of Austin’s Mexican and Tex-Mex food scene in 2005 for the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food festival and have continued doing so as one of my multiple gigs. [...]