Tag: 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 midsized 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 in the first week of February 2027. Oaxaca is, quite simply, an outstanding and super delicious destination.
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, gorgeous weather (80° F, dry, and sunny every day), rich 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 spots—you can seemingly get a really fine shot of espresso every couple of blocks. Oaxaca has great museums, abundant markets, and excellent restaurants—what more can I tell you? It’s a positive place to be! By the end of my week, I was wondering if Tammie and I should start looking for a house there!
Oaxaca truly seems to possess almost everything I’m intrigued by. The food is extraordinary—Anthony Bourdain once said that it’s defined by “ancient indigenous traditions and ingredients.” Its history is equally compelling, shaped by repeated efforts to build healthy nonhierarchical communities; author Staughton Lynd writes about the many “experiments in government from below” that have happened in Oaxaca over the centuries. And its present—for anyone interested in organizational design, as I am—is fascinating for the collective, communal constructs Oaxacans designed for themselves 20 years ago. For those of us who live, like I do, in places with cold winters, it also offers my ideal kind of weather: no humidity and a wealth of warm sun. Oaxaca is wonderfully walkable, too.
The Zingerman’s Food Tour to Oaxaca next winter will kick off with a lively class on mole making to get you into the spirit of the region’s classic sauce. That’s followed by an in-depth field trip to a local maker of artisan mezcal. Plus there are mountain hikes, a visit to a remarkable regenerative farm, a class on Oaxacan chocolate-making traditions (replete with plenty of tasting), an excursion to Zapotec archeological sites, colorful market visits, and so much more. Kristie is incredibly passionate about Oaxaca, and that passion shines through!
Sign up soon for the culinary adventure of a lifetime!
Feeling the urge for an exceptional new experience? Love to eat great food and sip great wine? Love to learn? Ready to do something special soon? Great news! We’ve just released the 2027 Zingerman’s Food Tours schedule. As always, it’s a diverse mix of destinations that are close to our hearts—places we’ve come to know well over the years and where we’ve built deep relationships—along with a couple of exciting new additions to the tour list: Turkey and Japan.
My friend Lisa Donovan, the chef, writer, and author of Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger, shared this about why she loves traveling so much:
I feel most comfortable when I’m in a space where I’m being challenged, learning something different and new, meeting people who have very different backgrounds and experiences than I do. … Travel makes me better, more understanding, more compassionate, more empathetic. It certainly inspires my work in food, and my writing.
My own experience has been much the same. I’ve learned so much over the years by heading to places far and wide. Learning about food, drink, and culture is, in my experience, a whole other thing when we’re actually there, immersed in it, than it is when we’re reading online or through books. Kristie Brablec, long-time Managing Partner at Food Tours, does exceptional work. She spends years thoughtfully curating each tour into a kind of “best of” experience for every delicious destination we visit. I recently got to experience a mini version of the remarkable work she’s done in Oaxaca and, I’ll tell you straight up, it was terrific. I’d head back in a heartbeat.
Kristie has this to say about the 2027 tour lineup:
Each year, our journeys are shaped by what we love most — extraordinary food, meaningful connections, and immersive experiences that take you beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of a place. The 2027 season is no exception. From bustling markets and countryside kitchens to shared tables with artisans, farmers, and chefs, these trips are designed for travelers who believe food is one of the best ways to understand the world.
Our 2027 collection features returning favorites you know and love, along with exciting new destinations we’ve been dreaming about for years. Whether you’re craving pasta in Italy, fermentation in Northern Europe, spice-filled streets in Oaxaca, or unforgettable meals across Asia, there’s an adventure waiting for you.
With all that said, here’s the 2027 schedule:
- Oaxaca, Mexico (Winter) — February 1–8, 2027
- Tuscany, Italy (Spring) — April 19–26, 2027
- Ireland — May 18–26, 2027
- Japan (Spring) — NEW — May 20–30, 2027
- Piedmont, Italy — June 7–13, 2027
- South Korea (Summer) — with Miss Kim Chef & Managing Partner Ji Hye Kim — June 22–July 1, 2027
- The Taste of Denmark — NEW ITINERARY — August 24–31, 2027
One of Kristie’s favorites! If you’re in Copenhagen, take time to visit the National Museum where so much of what Knud Rasmussen gathered in his travels can now be seen.
- Turkey — NEW — September 20–29, 2027
- Tuscany, Italy (Fall) — October 4–10, 2027
- Hungary — October 10–18, 2027
- South Korea (Fall) — October 26–November 4, 2027
- Sicily, Italy — October 31–November 10, 2027
- Oaxaca, Mexico (Fall) — November 7–14, 2027
- Japan (Fall) — NEW — November 18–28, 2027
Seriously—every single tour is terrific. The meals and experiences are the kind that even someone like me wouldn’t find on my own. As Kristie says, “Spots on our tours are intentionally limited to keep the experiences personal and immersive. We encourage you to explore the full details and reserve early!” From talking with many people who’ve traveled with us, these tours are, quite literally, life-changing. Take a look at the schedule and see which super-tasty destination feels right for you and yours.Questions? Visit zingermansfoodtours.com or give Kristie a call at 888-316-2736. She’d be happy to chat!
More adventure
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!