Traveler Reviews

• P9106dgchrist 27-Jul-2023

  Had a really special day learning about the community, culture, and cooking. We felt like honored guests in someone’s home making and learning about amazing food we can’t wait to try at home. I highly recommend if you like to cook and want an opportunity to connect with a beautiful, local family. (Don’t eat a big breakfast before you go!)

• Jennifer 26-Jul-2023

  I loved learning about the (short) history of Playa del Carmen, and the food we made was delicious! Very friendly instructor with perfect English (she spent many years in the US) and her amazing aunt.

• Guide02902750271 15-Jul-2023

  Alma and her aunt were amazing! I highly recommend this cooking experience to everyone visiting Playa del Carmen. We felt so welcome in her home. The food was excellent!

• Janelle_m 09-Jul-2023

  This cooking experience has it all. You learn some history of Playa Del Carmen as well as shop at their local market. Alma is a wonderful instructor. She gives great instruction and helpful tips while cooking our food. Once we have prepared our meal we sat down and enjoyed our delicious food with a mango margarita. I would highly recommend this experience.

• Lauraed9129ij 24-Jun-2023

  We had a wonderful time at Cookin’ Playa with Chef Alma. It wasn’t just a cooking class – it was a lesson in Playa Del Carmen history, culture and community. We first got acquainted with each other in the Cookin’ Playa kitchen, and met Chef Alma’s assistant and aunt, Tia Lily. Chef Alma then walked with us through her neighborhood to the tortilleria where they showed us the process of large-batch tortilla making and we learned the role tortilla’s play in the Mexican food supply. There she purchased some masa which we later used in the tamales we made. Then we crossed the street and visited the market – an open-air grocery full of fresh fruits, vegetables and other food staples. Chef Alma shared with us the importance of these businesses in the neighborhood – once the grocery opened, a juice bar was able to open as they had access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Then two restaurants were able to open. In neighborhoods like this, without these businesses, the residents would need to travel miles. Shopping and dining in local neighborhoods, not just the tourist zones, during your travels is important. We returned to the Cookin’ Playa kitchen, which is one unit of a larger complex built by Chef Alma’s parents, Tia Lily was ready and waiting with a few items prepped. Throughout the course we learned “basic, not boring” recipes that are extremely versatile and can be used in many dishes including soups, stews, pasta, casseroles, etc. Daily menu items always include salsa and guacamole, and we were there on a Tuesday – tamale day! Throughout the course Chef Alma answered our many questions, shared with us how food availability, over time, has influenced various dishes and recipes, and provided tips and techniques for handling various foods (if you want to know the best way to peel a mango, store cut avocados or guacamole, or prepare banana leaves for tamales, take this class!) Chef Alma and Tia Lily are a terrific team who are part family legacy chefs. Their warm hospitality and easy conversation, plus the most delicious meal we had during our 9 days in Playa del Carmen, was beyond our expectations. Don’t hesitate – sign up and take this class during your stay in Playa Del Carmen!

• Bryanna_d 21-Jun-2023

  Absolutely incredible! Alma walked us through the neighborhood, talked about the history and her story of living in the area. She took us to local stores and then back to her beautiful home to prepare some dishes! Everything was delicious and it was a very fun experience for us preparing the meal and hanging out with her and her aunt! We got to take home a full belly, apron and a cookbook. Highly recommend

• Cronda T 23-May-2023

  Alma was a wonderful host. The experience was much more than expected. Alma shared history of some of the foods and her family. The visit to the local market and tortilla factory gave an added touch to the local culture. Alma and Lily were full of fun and we felt comfortable and as if we were at home in her kitchen. I highly recommend this to any age group; even if you don’t cook you will enjoy this.

• R9426azrobynm 23-May-2023

  Alma was wonderful and everything was amazing! This exceeded my expectations 100% and I’ll definitely return and do this again!

• Melissa D 29-Apr-2023

  Such a great experience, absolutely a highlight of my trip! Suited to all skill levels, you just need an appreciation for good food and great company!

• Crystal B 28-Apr-2023

  This was such a wonderful experience and definitely a highlight of our trip to Playa. Cooking with Alma and her Tia in their kitchen with old family recipes, sharing stories, and laughter was just so special. They made me feel at home and well cared for in their space. The food was delicious and we left with lots of new recipes to share back home. Before coking we walked to the nearby market which has absolutely fresh food and we also made it to the local tortilleria. Walking distance wasn’t too far, maybe 1/4 mile. We had a vegetarian in our group and Alma took care to make our meal veg friendly. Would definitely recommend and hope to be able to do this again!