PRIVATE Yucatecan Cooking Class in Sofia’s Merida Home

Wonderful Week in Yucatan with Historic Sites, Diving, Flamigos, and Great Guide (Hernan)

We stayed at a private home in Merida for the first week of June and had a fantastic guide from ToursByLocals - Hernan E. -- who spent 5 days with us and also picked us up from the airport and dropped us off a week later. We visited 9 Mayan sites -- including Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Ek Balam, Kabah, Sayil, and Labna (on the Ruta Puuc) and Coba - and to Celestun for the flamingos and a beach-side lunch and to the Pink Lagoon for swimming in salty pink water. He was one of the best guides I ever have with ToursByLocals (or any other tour company) and I recommend him without reservation to anyone seeking to explore the Yucatan! We spent one day diving in the Cenotes as well with a diving organization. We'll be back. Marjorie (Jorie) Roberts and Daryl Dodson, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

via Tripadvisor

Way too long and hot; didn’t eat for 5 hours

Very very long, hot and chaotic. Sofia was disorganized and time management was a real issue. We didn’t eat for over 5 hours (class started at 5 and we didn’t eat until 10:15). Nothing was prepped or chopped. She was very specific and would often scold us if things weren’t done her way. It was over a 100 degree day with all oven burners on for hours without AC. I felt very dizzy from the heat and not eating for hours. Felt more like a chore than a fun experience.

Response from the operator: Dear Sierra_W, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that this experience did not meet your expectations. This cooking class was designed as a 5-hour master class focused on traditional Yucatecan cuisine, including dishes such as pollo pibil, which involve multiple steps and extended cooking times. The experience is intentionally hands-on, with guests participating in the preparation process from start to finish. That said, we understand from your feedback that the length of the class, the timing of the meal, and the kitchen conditions made the experience uncomfortable and less enjoyable than it should have been. We appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention. As a result of feedback from you and other guests, we are working with the host to shorten and restructure the experience so that guests can enjoy the cooking process while eating earlier and spending less time in the kitchen. Sofia has hosted many travelers over the years and typically receives excellent reviews for her knowledge, hospitality, and the authenticity of her experience. However, we recognize that your experience fell short of expectations. For guests who are specifically interested in a more in-depth master class that includes the preparation of traditional dishes such as pollo pibil, we will continue to offer this option upon request and clearly communicate that it requires additional time. We believe these changes will create a more balanced and enjoyable experience while still preserving the authenticity of the local cuisine. We sincerely apologize that your experience fell short of expectations and thank you again for helping us improve. Guest feedback is invaluable in helping us enhance the experiences we offer travelers around the world. Warm regards, Traveling Spoon Team

via Viator

Sophia was fantastic

Sophia was great! She welcomed us into her home and gave us a great overview of her family's history. She then took us to the market and to the Tortilleria to watch them make tortillas using a machine. We then went to her house and cooked all of the recipes listed in the description and then some. She was fantastic and it was great to spend the day with her. She provided us all with the recipes and images of the food we made so we can make them again at home.

via Tripadvisor

A wonderful day spent with Sofía!

Thank you, Sofia, for such a wonderful day! We chose relleno negro as the main dish. She showed us a few different ways of serving the dish, including in tacos and making our own salbutes. We opted for the market tour and learned about traditional ingredients used for the dishes we made. It was very fun learning to cook everything in her home kitchen. And we were absolutely stuffed from the feast she helped prepare. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, authentic experience.

via Tripadvisor

A true unforgettable experience with Doña Sofia

Our cooking class with Doña Sofia was a truly remarkable experience during our stay in Merida. It was just my wife and I, and we were treated to not only a thorough lesson on the history, ingredients, and cooking method of multiple Yucatecan specialties (sikil pak, pollo pibil, codzitos, guacamole, calabaza frita, +), but also Doña Sofia's rich storytelling and life experiences along the way. We started at 11am, and the lesson, stories, and finally dinner went through all the way to 7pm. So - it was an all-day thing, and we are very thankful for Sofia spending the time with us. We were also able to try some of the local artisanal beer and a Mayan liqueur called Xtabentun. Our experience ended not only with excellent recipes that we will surely try again at home, but also memories that we will remember as a highlight of our three-week Merida trip.

via Tripadvisor