A Taste of Mexico
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Hello, Reader. Happy Monday!

Last week I promised to share all about our Mexican cooking class adventure—and trust me, if you’re one of my Cultural Foodie wanderers, you’ll love this. And even if you’re not a foodie, I think you’ll find a little inspiration here. ♥️

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🫨 Did we really hear what we heard?

After a long weekend of taco tastings in San José del Cabo, we overheard a woman on our flight home say:

WHAT?! We couldn't believe our ears. How could anyone miss the incredible, authentic flavors we’d just spent days enjoying?

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🤔 All-Inclusive: The pros and cons

San José del Cabo has plenty of beautiful all-inclusive resorts. They’re perfect if you want a stress-free, relaxing escape. The pros are obvious:
✔️ Beach, pool, food & drinks at your fingertips
✔️ No need to plan or wander too far
✔️ Familiar, easy dining options

But here’s the catch: you risk missing out on the local culture and authentic food. Resort menus can be tasty (we loved the Hilton Cancun!), but they don’t always reflect the flavors of the destination.

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🌮 How was our culinary experience different?

Instead of staying within resort walls, we booked the San José del Cabo Cooking Experience and Local Markets excursion through TripAdvisor.

We met Chef Francisco at the local market where we shopped together for all the fresh ingredients. Then, he welcomed us into his home kitchen. That's right! We weren't just his students, we were his guests.

Step-by-step he taught us to make:

• Hibiscus margaritas
• Guacamole & pico de gallo (Mexican salsa)
• Salsa verde
• Fresh-grilled fish tacos with handmade tortillas
• and Ceviche made with tuna and mango

We sampled each dish as it was prepared (as all good chefs do 😄) then sat down as a family to enjoy the feast. It was as authentic as travel gets.

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🇲🇽 Our favorite local finds

When we weren’t cooking, we ate our way through Los Cabos by:

• Checking recommendations online before our trip
• Asking resort staff for their favorites
• Wandering and letting curiosity guide us

Here’s where that led us:

📍 La Lupita Tacos & Mezcal – Live music, mezcal tasting, and tacos with Ivan (ask for him if you go!).

📍 Tacos Nene – A gem introduced by our tequila tasting host, Alan. Think melt-in-your-mouth al pastor tacos and a heartwarming chat with a law student waiter. A delicious, random, authentic experience.

📍 El Ahorcado (The Hangman) – Quirky décor and tacos worth the Uber ride. As soon as we sat down, a beautiful board was set before us with a colorful buffet of salsas and pickled fruits & veggies; all intended for creating the perfect, personalized taco masterpieces.

Travel takeaway?​
👉 Locals love sharing their favorite spots. Don't be afraid to ask.
👉 The most memorable meals are often the ones found off the beaten path.

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I hope this gave you a little food for thought for your next trip. 🥰

Until next week, may your belly be full and your imagination wild,

✈️ Your fellow wanderer and cultural foodie