Meet
Lucia
Lucía has been passionate about cooking for as long as she can remember. Inspired by Mexico’s rich culinary traditions, she earned bachelor’s degrees in both Mexican and international cuisine, followed by a Master’s degree focused on Mexican culinary history. Today, she teaches gastronomic history at local universities, sharing her deep knowledge of regional ingredients, techniques, and traditions.
At home in Mexico City, Lucía continues to cook the dishes that shaped her, from recipes passed down through her mother and grandmother to specialties inspired by her husband’s family from the Yucatán. Her cooking reflects a meaningful blend of tradition, family, and regional diversity.
Lucía hosts guests in her home near San Ángel, a charming neighborhood in southern Mexico City known for its cobblestone streets, art, and local culture. In her thoughtfully designed space, guests are welcomed to experience authentic Mexican cooking, hear stories of food and family, and learn about the history behind each dish.
Join Lucía for a homemade Mexican meal in her peaceful garden, a tranquil escape from the energy of central Mexico City, and discover the flavors, traditions, and stories that make Mexican cuisine so special.
What to expect
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:
(4-13 guests)
Enjoy an authentic Mexican meal in Lucía's home in San Ángel, a charming neighborhood in southern Mexico City. Her seasonal menu showcases traditional Mexican dishes made from scratch using fresh, local ingredients, with recipes passed down through generations and inspired by regional cuisines from across Mexico.
As you share the meal, Lucía will introduce you to the stories, traditions, and history behind each dish, offering a deeper appreciation of Mexico's rich culinary heritage. If you're visiting during the season, you may even have the opportunity to enjoy chile en nogada, one of Mexico's most iconic dishes featuring stuffed poblano chilies served with a creamy walnut sauce.
Your experience concludes with a classic Mexican dessert, such as silky flan, comforting arroz con leche (rice pudding), or capirotada, a warmly spiced Mexican bread pudding.
Cooking experience:
(2-21 guests)
Learn to prepare authentic Mexican dishes with Lucía during a private cooking class in her beautiful home in San Ángel, one of Mexico City's most picturesque neighborhoods. Guided by a culinary historian and experienced educator, you'll discover traditional recipes, seasonal ingredients, and the cultural significance behind each dish you create.
Your menu is personalized based on your interests and dietary preferences and may feature handmade quesadillas filled with squash blossoms or huitlacoche, fresh sopes, homemade salsas, traditional chicken mole or pipiá, and a classic Mexican dessert. Along the way, you'll learn authentic cooking techniques, such as roasting ingredients, preparing salsas from scratch, and using a traditional molcajete (volcanic stone mortar and pestle).
Choose between a fully hands-on cooking class or a relaxed cooking demonstration where you watch and learn as Lucía prepares the meal. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced cook, this intimate culinary experience offers a unique opportunity to connect with Mexican culture through food, family traditions, and meaningful conversation in a welcoming local home.
Market visit:
(2-13 guests)
Meet Lucía at Mercado San Ángel, a vibrant covered market in Mexico City where locals shop for fresh ingredients and everyday essentials. During this Mexico City market tour, Lucía will introduce you to the seasonal produce and traditional ingredients used in Mexican cooking, from farm-fresh fruits and vegetables to dried chilies, spices, flowers, and artisanal goods.
As you explore the market together, you’ll learn how locals select ingredients and gain insight into their role in Mexican culinary traditions. After the visit, groups of up to four guests will drive with Lucía to her home in San Ángel, where your Mexico City cooking class begins. For groups of five or more, we kindly ask that the remaining guests take a short taxi ride to her home.
Notes:
Optional alcohol add-on includes Mexican beer or tequila.
Lucia can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets. Please share any dietary restrictions or food allergies when booking.
Lucía does not host on Sundays.
Languages spoken:
English, Spanish
Sample menu
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
Lucia is such an interesting woman, passionate about history and gastronomy, about Mexico. It is a pleasure listening to her and talking with her about her cooking memories and secrets.
The cooking experience at Lucia's feels like escaping from hectic Mexico City for a while. Her house is quiet, her garden an oasis of calm and her spacious kitchen is a very practical place to cook together. She is passionate about both Mexican history and gastronomy and can tell you the story and secrets of any dish. Lucy is attached to the authenticity of Mexican gastronomy and taste. Far from the traditional guacamole, quesadillas and tacos, she knows local recipes that will not disappoint you!
Alix, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Traveler reviews
Pleasant low-key activity to do in a quiet neighbourhood of CDMX. Lucia is a true expert on Mexican cooking and will show you the best techniques to make authentic Mexican dishes.
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thomas
November 04, 2026
I joined two other family members to take Lucia’s wonderful cooking class in September 2026. As others have mentioned, the class is held in the special professional kitchen she has for teaching in her beautiful home in Mexico City. Much of the prep work had already been done for us by Lucia’s assistant so we could concentrate on the unusual – preparing the huitlacoche corn for the quesadillas we would make, preparing the zucchini flower filling for a second set of quesadillas. We also prepared the masa tortillas for these quesadillas and some traditional sopas. We made a Oaxacan chicken mole (Almendrado Chicken) that was exceptionally tender and a was a fabulous mix of flavors with browned almonds, garlic and onion, as well as guajillo chiles. We ended with a light dessert of guavas simmered in a sweet sauce and accompanied by light cream that was one of the unusual highlights of the meal.
Through the cooking – and over dinner – Lucia gave us a gastronomical history of pre-Columbian Mexico, Mexico after the Spanish, and the evolution to the present. It was clear that the meal that we cooked reflected this evolution of cooking styles and ingredients as well. We enjoyed the dinner on the outdoor patio, which feels like a mountain hideaway. It was a very special time, and we left with recipes that gave us much to think about for future Mexican meals and the techniques to make them.
Lucia herself is a master of both cooking, teaching of cooking, and teaching of culinary history – as she calls it. We loved our experience.
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calli
October 31, 2026
Lucia was just amazing! One of the highlights of our trips to Mexico City. Wonderful tour of the market and then we were welcomed into her beautiful home to prepare the meal. She gave us guidance all along the way and shared so much information with us. Although we made it, it was pretty much her hand that made it and the food was just excellent.
Prior to arriving, she sent us a whole list of options to choose from as well as any allergies that might affect what we made.
Just a wonderful experience
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james
October 29, 2026
My husband and I joined the class together.
While we dined at a wide range of spots in Mexico City—from casual tacos stands to Michelin-starred restaurants—the food you taught us was by far our absolute favorite. It was a truly valuable experience that opened our eyes to the rich depth of authentic Mexican cuisine.
Thank you so much for sharing your precious recipes and for your warm hospitality! I highly recommend this experience to everyone.
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abby
October 21, 2026
Lucia is fabulous, warm, and knowledgable! We had so much fun. We had a delicious meal and great conversation! Thank you again, Lucia! 😋
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hannah
October 21, 2026
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