Cooking in the Campo: Carne Asada
This experience follows our Covid Protocol. Please make sure to read it over and only reserve an experience if you´re in complete agreement with the terms.
This experience was born from our visitors’ request to experience “carne” the way it’s done in the villages.
Venture out to Yatareni with Tlayudona and Doña Juana for a taste of life in the campo. Juana and her family dedicate themselves to cultivating a mixture of corns, beans, and squash, known locally as “la milpa”. Their property is close enough to Oaxaca´s city center to make it an easy venture, although you´ll enjoy a whole different scene than you´ll experience in the city´s colonial streets. On their property, there´s an abundance of air, fruit-bearing trees, a few dogs, a whole lot of chickens, and a rowdy turkey who likes to make his presence known.
We will prepare tortillas and salsa while Juana and her family makes an authentic carne asada and all of its fixings. Bring your family and revel in the familial atmosphere while learning how to create some of the amazing flavors found in Oaxaca’s rural cuisine.
You´ll take a tour of the property and get to meet the animals, and then you´ll get to work preparing your tamales. Juana has already done us the favor of heading to the mill to have the corn ground so that this experience can be nestled into a single day. She´ll go through the preparation process with you, step-by-step, and you´ll get your hands into the fresh ingredients.
What’s unique about this experience is how you´ll immerse yourselves in the cradle-to-grave nature of food cultivation and preparation for Doña Juana´s family. You´ll learn about the importance of the milpa, of seed collection and the assets of local varieties of corn, beans, and squash. You´ll get to spend a good portion of the day as part of the life of a local family whose dedication to their land feeds their four growing children and a constant flow of visiting family and friends, all of whom leave with their bellies full.
What to Expect
Step One: Read our Covid Protocol. If you agree with these terms and practices, write to us and request this experience, telling us how many people are in your small group and what your dates of availability are. Juana does not receive groups on Saturdays.
Step Two: Once we’ve found a date that works for our hosts and for your group, we will send you a Paypal request for a deposit for your experience. This deposit is non-refundable. In case of an emergency with our hosts, we will do our best to reschedule with you at a mutually-convenient time. If that is not possible, we will refund your deposit.
Step Three: We will pick you up around 10 a.m. the day of your experience
Experience Includes
- A tour of Doña Juana´s property, during which she will explain the importance of the “milpa” (corn/beans/squash planting) and show the stages of the milpa´s growth, depending on the season.
- A demonstration on how to make carne asada, grilled onions, and fresh guacamole.
- A break for fresh “agua de sabor”.
- The opportunity to cook your food in an outdoor kitchen in great company.
- A delicious lunch that will leave you licking your fingers.
- A chance to escape the urbanity of Oaxaca and experience village life.
- Round trip transportation leaving from/returning your location following our Covid Protocol.
Logistics and Cost
Time Involvement – It is hosted from approximately 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which includes a snack break and a full lunch. Duration: 4-5 hours in total.
Transportation – Transportation is provided by Tlayudona to Yatareni
Costs and Minimums – 1,605 MXN pp.
Children: 850 MXN
There is a minimum of 3 people for this experience.
Other Notes:
Children are welcome to participate in this experience, although they are the responsibility of their accompanying adults. This experience involves cooking over and open flame, although the cooking area is secluded from the tamal-preparation and dining area. This host family has four children for your children to play with (so guests who do not appreciate children are encouraged to reserve an alternate experience).
Bathroom facilities are available, though rustic (outhouse style). If you´re picky in that respect, we suggest you go beforehand or check out one of our more centrally-located experiences in Oaxaca City.