Market Visit and Cooking Lesson: Cook Authentic Mexican Food in Puerto Vallarta
4.9
186 Ratings
Puerto Vallarta
Experience a private culinary adventure in Puerto Vallarta! Join chef Manu on a market visit, where you'll discover the best local ingredients. Then, learn to cook authentic Mexican dishes with a modern twist in Manu's charming home.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
2 days
learn more
Highlights
- 5 de Diciembre - You will meet Manu at the Mercado Cinco de Diciembre, located a short eight minute drive away from his house. Together you will browse the stalls, where you will have an opportunity to experience all the sounds, smells, and colors of a traditional Mexican marketplace. You will visit fruit and vegetable stands, a tortilleria (tortilla factory), a carnicería (butcher), and a pescadería (fish market), and learn how to choose the best ingredients from each.
Upon returning to Manu’s home, join Manu in his home kitchen to learn to prepare an authentic Mexican meal together. During your Puerto Vallarta cooking lesson, you can expect to learn how to make three dishes. Some of the dishes you might learn to cook are a fresh ceviche with the catch of the day, panela enchiladas, a unique dish made with authentic Mexican cheese, and a shrimp or octopus or mushroom al ajillo; all with traditional techniques and ingredients. You can expect to cook for about an hour before sitting down to share the meal together.
If you are not a seafood fan, let Manu know a few days in advance and he can plan a menu with meat.
What's Included
- Inclusive of all taxes, fees, and handling charges
- Complimentary bottled water provided
- Experience a private market tour and cooking class with local host Manuel
- Enjoy the company and expertise of a local host
- Savor local beer during the experience
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meal Options
- Ceviche - Citrusy ceviche made with fresh catch of the day like mahi mahi
- Panela enchiladas - A unique dish of rolled tortillas filled with authentic panela cheese and topped with a lettuce, tomato, radish and pickled jalapeno garnish
- Seafood or mushroom al ajillo - Shrimp, octopus or mushroom sautéed in a chili, garlic oil
Additional Information
Learn to cook with a local chef in Puerto Vallarta during this private culinary experience! Your host for the day is Manu, a professionally trained chef who loves to create innovative, modern fusions of classic Mexican dishes. Manu will take you to the local market and show you his favorite vendors. After doing a bit of shopping you’ll return to his home and cook a meal together. Manu will teach you to prepare traditional Mexican dishes with a modern twist, dishes you can replicate in your own kitchen at home. Enjoy the meal together in Manu’s home, a small but typical home in central Puerto Vallarta.
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Please note: this is not a professional cooking class, rather an experience to visit a local home to meet a local chef and share culture and cuisine together.
Location
San Salvador 604
San Salvador
Meet your host Manuel at the Mercado Cinco de Diciembre (Address: San Salvador 604 in 5 de Diciembre neighborhood.). Exact address can be found in your ticket upon booking confirmation.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 3 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(186 Ratings)
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Scott_m
Apr 2, 2024
Nacho average enchiladas!!! (Title suggested by 14 year old son) - We booked the three hour cooking class with Chef Manu, and we had a great time. Manu clearly knows his stuff when it comes to markets and cooking. He is also super approachable, welcoming, and funny. When we first arrived at the market, he greeted us and asked what we wanted to eat, not what he had planned, making us feel that this was a truly personalized experience. He led us around the market, knowing exactly what ingredients to get for our dishes and where to get them. He connected with the workers, and made them feel good. After we arrived at his apartment, we were greeted by his cute chihuahua terrier Max, and sat down at the table. (The dishes we asked for were sopes and enchiladas). Watching Manu cooking was incredible, he knew exactly what to do and explained every step as he went. He gave us sauces to try, and explained their flavor. The enchiladas were like nothing I ever tasted. The sauce was light, and the toppings and filling were works of art that tasted even better than they looked. The sopes were fluffy, golden, and crisp, topped with super tasty mushrooms for the filling. For dessert, we had fresh jackfruit from the market. We learned a lot, and the dishes were amazing. Thank you, Manu, for such an incredible meal!
Review provided by Viator
Parth_v
Mar 30, 2024
Best cooking class experience in PV - Immersive culinary experience, I highly recommend it! Manuel is a highly skilled professional chef with years of experience in local and international cuisine. He not only accommodated my dietary restrictions but went above and beyond to curate the menu as per my interest and palate and introduced me to something completely new and exciting. The market tour is also super fun.
Review provided by Viator
Cheryl_g
Mar 22, 2024
Wonderful Food Experience - One of our favorite food experiences. Manu was charming, knowledgeable, attentive and his dog was great. We all enjoyed the fabulous homemade salsa, ceviche and chili shrimp. We highly recommend this event.
Review provided by Viator
Kate
Mar 16, 2024
Cultural cooking class with Chef Manu - Our class with chef Manu was the perfect cultural experience. Amazing food, very friendly intimate home setting.
Review provided by Viator
43debraw
Mar 15, 2024
Culinary Adventure in Puerto Vallarta - This was our first trip to Puerto Vallarta and we want to experience something other than the crowds of Old Town, the Malecon and tourist craft markets. We also wanted to learn a little bit about authentic Mexican cooking. We had gone a food tour a couple of days before (which was amazing!) and were now ready for the next step. Our chef, Manuel, met us at a community market about a 10 minutes taxi ride from our hotel. We visited fresh fish, vegetable and cheese open air stores, and a tortilla factory. After purchasing all the ingredients Manuel needed for our dishes he drove us and the other couple in our class to his house. During the next two hours Manuel showed us how to make ceviche and cheese enchiladas…as well ans all the sauces and accompaniments. I have to say the ceviche was one of the best dishes I have ever tasted. I highly recommend this little culinary adventure to anyone visiting PV.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gayle
Mar 14, 2024
Perfect experience for cooks and food lovers! - Manu took the time to talk to each of us and figure out the perfect menu to prepare and then took us through the seafood and vegetable markets to show us how to select the right ingredients. After a short ride to his sweet home, where we met his adorable dog Max, we were treated to wonderful food history and cooking lessons and delicious foods. We had a great time and made a wonderful memory! Thank you so so much!
Gayle
Review provided by Viator
Michael_h
Mar 12, 2024
Totally awesome experience!!!! - We met Manu at the food market and watched how he carefully selected the freshest fish, vegetables, etc. Then we drove to his home, complete with a fantastic kitchen. Manu speaks flawless english and is quite the world traveler. He is an amazing conversationalist---we learned so much about his techniques in the kitchen. We had the best guacamole, ceviche and camerones a la diabla ever. This experience is the most memorable part of our trip in Puerto Vallarta.
Review provided by Viator
Kathryn_c
Mar 10, 2024
Fantastic new experience, must try! - We loved meeting Manuel at the market and shopping for fresh fish and veggies. He was so personable and explained what he was doing while he cooked. We left there with knowledge of how to make the most amazing ceviche and a much better understanding of chili’s and peppers and how to integrate them into our meals at home.
Review provided by Viator
Quest03484416083
Mar 8, 2024
a true mexican experience! - Manu was a pleasure in every way. He is a knowledgeable Mexican chef. He shares his techniques and menus joyfully. This was a highlight of our trip to Mexico. I recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T6830uwcoryb
Mar 8, 2024
Great local cooking experience - A great experience. Manuel took us on a local market visit to pick up supplies, then we joined him for a cooking and dining experience in the setting of his own home. It was a very friendly and pleasant experience with great conversation. Add talented cooking skills on display right in front of our eyes, and it made for a memorable time, we would do it again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
