A Food Tour to the Magical Town of Oaxaca
Chocolate, coffee, culture, mole, mountains, and more!
If you’re ready for a week of exceptional eating in a completely different cuisine, digging into incredible history that goes back thousands of years, and surrounding yourself with bright colors, kind people, and beautiful sights—all in a magical mid-sized town in southern Mexico—check out the Zingerman’s Food Tour that Managing Partner Kristie Brablec has put together to take 12 fortunate folks to Oaxaca. Oaxaca is, quite simply, an outstanding place to go.
I had the pleasure of spending a week in Oaxaca last winter and all I can say is, “Wow!” Amazing food, the historical home of mole, beautiful weather (like 80°F, dry, and sunny every day), fascinating history that goes from ancient times to late 19th century anarchists to modernist galleries, an array of authentically artisan shops, and an impressive number of exceptional coffee shops—you can seemingly get a really fine shot of espresso every couple blocks. Oaxaca has great museums, abundant markets, excellent restaurants, and superb small shops—what more can I tell you? It’s a positive place to be! By the end of my week, I was wondering if we should look for a house there!
As I mentioned earlier, Oaxaca seems to have almost everything I’m intrigued by. The food is extraordinary—Anthony Bourdain once said that “in Oaxaca, ancient indigenous traditions and ingredients define … but also the food.” Its history is equally compelling, shaped by repeated efforts to build healthy non-hierarchical communities. Author Staughton Lynd writes about the many “experiments in government from below” that have happened in Oaxaca over the centuries. For those of us who live—like I do—in places with cold winters, it’s my kind of weather, with no humidity and a wealth of warm sun. Plus, Oaxaca is wonderfully walkable.
The Zingerman’s Food Tour kicks off with a compelling class on mole-making to get you into the Oaxaca spirit of the region’s classic sauce. Follow that with an in-depth field trip to a local maker of artisan mezcal. There are mountain hikes, a visit to a remarkable regenerative farm, a class about Oaxacan chocolate-making traditions (replete with plenty of tasting), a visit to Zapotec archeological sites, amazing market visits, and so much more! Kristie is incredibly passionate about Oaxaca, and that passion shines through!
