The BEST part of our vacation!
One of our favorite travel traditions is taking a local cooking class wherever we go, and our experience with Chef Isa in Playa del Carmen was absolutely wonderful. Isa and her husband are both chefs who owned a restaurant for many years before deciding to focus on teaching cooking classes—something that allows her to share her love of Mexican cuisine while balancing family life.
Our class started at a local market, where Isa walked us through the aisles explaining local ingredients and their uses. She took the time to show us different varieties of peppers, comparing how they look and taste when raw versus dried, and explaining how each adds a unique flavor to Mexican dishes. After gathering our ingredients, we walked to her, welcoming kitchen where Isa’s sweet mother-in-law joined us to help with the meal preparation.
We each had our own cutting board and apron, and Isa quickly had us chopping onions, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro—all while sharing cooking tips and bits of culinary history. We made several dishes, including a traditional guacamole and a creative version with pomegranate seeds and ginger that I can’t wait to recreate at home. We also prepared a flavorful green sauce (my husband’s favorite), a smoky roasted salsa, and the star of the meal—chicken tinga, cooked in several delicious variations.
Everything we made was bursting with flavor, and by the end of the class, we were happily stuffed full of goodness. Isa’s English was excellent, her instructions were easy to follow, and her enthusiasm for teaching made the whole experience fun and relaxed. Her mother-in-law even served us a refreshing hibiscus tea that perfectly complemented the meal.
Every bite was YUMMY, and the experience gave us a deeper appreciation for authentic Mexican cooking. We’ll definitely keep up our tradition of taking cooking classes on vacation—and Chef Isa’s class will be hard to beat! You can sign up with her directly for a cooking class at
[email protected].
Thank you Chef Isa!