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Mexican Home Cooking School teaches Traditional Cuisine from the city of Puebla. We are passing on recipes and traditions that are quickly getting lost as Mexico becomes a 1st world country. Our dishes are family recipes not found in restaurants environments and our classes are small, hands-on and limited to 6 students. We offer an intimate culinary retreat unique in Mexico. We located at "Casa Carmelita" a private compound in the country side 15 min outside of the city of Tlaxcala. The main house is a comfortable "hacienda" style home. There is one large double accommodation with private patio, one 2 room suite, a private detached stone cottage with private garden and a large two-room suite with a separate sitting area. All accommodations have a private entrance, en-suite bath, and fireplace. It is a rural lakeside setting with, with private gardens, fountains and surrounded by 3 volcanoes.
I had a great time and learned so much! Each party gets its own casita that is so cute and homey. After breakfast, you spend the morning with Estella in the kitchen learning 3-5 recipes that her family has been making for years. You cook alongside her, (she includes stories and jokes throughout!!).
After eating lunch you can explore the town and go on excursions. John helps arrange the taxis for you and you pay through him. The taxi drivers are professional and the fare is inexpensive. During the week, we had no problem filling the afternoons going to ancient ruins or to Puebla, the closest town, for sightseeing and shopping.
If you'd like to stay on the property in the afternoons, there is terrace space to hang out and you can arrange a massage in your casita.
You eat three meals a day with your fellow vacationers and get to know everyone. John & Estella have two helpers who spruce up the rooms each day, serve meals, and can bring you anything you need. Overall, amazing food, great hosts, and a wonderful experience all around.
The capacity is about 8-10 guests in total. This would be a great group retreat spot.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:You are picked up from the airport in Mexico City and brought back and the end of the stay so a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I love to cook new dishes and were excited to find this trip. It certainly did not disappoint. Each morning we were presented with a list of recipes to be prepared. Jon led us in the preparation of ingredients while Estela did most of the cooking and explained the techniques she was employing. She is an excellent cook and did a great job explaining nuances of her cooking techniques and ways to vary the recipes. She and Jon are also very knowledgeable about the Puebla culture and wisdom; and they weave that into their instruction. We are confident that, from our training, we will be able to come close to recreating the delicious dishes that were prepared.
Each afternoon we had an opportunity to take side excursions to sites nearby. The archeological sites at Cacaxtla and Xochitecatl were very interesting. At the time we went, there were few people there and we had the sites nearly to ourselves. We also took the short ride into Tlaxcala to see the markets, town square and a beautiful Cathedral just off the square. There are several nice restaurants downtown as well, though we only snacked because we were fed so well by Jon and Estela.
Travel to and from the airport and for the daily excursions was all arranged by Jon. He has long relationships with local taxi and coach drivers there whom he trusts. We always felt safe during our travels and the drivers were always on time. The staff at the casa were very kind and helpful. They performed housekeeping, serving, and cooking/cleaning duties through the week.
We were blessed to have a good group of classmates that we came to know during the trip. That made the trip much more enjoyable. Our group often travelled on excursions together and stayed late after dinner talking over a couple of beers. Jon would come by in the evening to check on excursions for the following day and answer any questions we would have.
I would suggest that you weigh all the reviews you will read against this perspective. You are traveling to rural Mexico and there may well be things happening that you are not accustomed to. For example, we had a brief problem with hot water in our suite one day and, because of some festival, there were random fireworks going off one evening. If you are the kind of person who can roll with a little uncertainty or imperfection, then you should go and have a very memorable and relaxing cooking and eating adventure. I observed that Jon addressed each problem that arose in a timely and fair manner. For us, we decided to view the hiccups as more flavor in the sauce, and everything worked out great!
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Have you ever cooked Sunday dinner with your grandma and grandpa? Spent the night at their house? Listened to the stories, wisdom and insights from their lives? You know that it was not perfect, but it was cherished for the memories, smells and tastes that you brought home home with you. Yes, it was nostalgic for me(us). I had lived in the mountains of the southwest and this setting flooded my mind. The tips and tweeks to a recipe are not learned in a cookbook, but in a direct discussion - you just have ask. Cooking is a dialogue between the cook and the food and sometimes advice and direction enhances the outcome(just ask the teacher). The Hacienda has many buildings and we stayed in a casita on the property. It was cold because of winter and it was incredibly romantic and cozy with a fire in the chimenea! Although there was instant hot water, a long shower was a challenge, but we were here to learn how to cook for family. Just as the memories of cooking with my granma and mom live on, so to, will these memories live with us to show our family in the future, and that is the value of this experience. I will say that if you have outside travels you want to accomplish, make sure you convey this to Jon early and he can help with arrangements to those he trusts locally. The cookbook can be improved, but if you took notes during class, you already have the improvements. Estela & Jon have been doing this a long time, but their memories and entertaining stories of their lives and philosophies will live on and be passed on everytime we make one of these recipies. Totally a delight. Never felt unsafe.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We liked the group that we met. Thankfully they were great people and the afternoon excursions we set up off site were the best part of our trip. Two staff members Lupita and Evelyn were eager to make our stay pleasant but not always easy to find on site. Rooms were cleaned daily and fresh linens provided by these two. The promised Airport Transfers went poorly even though our flight information was provided in advance. This created a lot of stress upon arrival and departure. The location is over two hours from MEX airport and not the quiet haven advertised. Trains, fireworks, and loud neighbors were heard well into the night. The rooms were drafty and cold but fires/heaters were only supplied after request. The hot water and water pressure was unpredictable. Our guided tour of Tlaxcala was a 15min stroll around the square. Traditions and history were shared only briefly during our 4, 2hr classes and hosts didn't join us for any meals. A list of excursions was presented that were really just approximate amounts for taxi rides, no entrance fees or guides were included. There was no information about interesting places or restaurants to visit within Tlaxcala so our daily 5hr break required research and taxi fare. Jon could not arrange on-site massages so we had to research and arrange them ourselves using the sketchy wifi provided on site. A regionally specific breakfast was set by the hosts each day, no alternatives offered. Lunch and dinner were the dishes we created during class. One serving per person with no other snacks offered. And while all meals were supposed to be included, the night before our fee day we asked about breakfast and were told "Estela would rather not make breakfast". Overall these hosts felt tired and well past their prime for offering a quality vacation.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Go to Puebla instead to take a cooking class. The hotels are better value, it has reliable taxi...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Estela Salas Silva, Owner at Mexican Home Cooking School of Puebla Cuisine and B&B
Responded Mar 15, 2023
Karen, I am certainly sorry that your expectations were not met. I want to address some of your concerns. You are correct. Your flight information was sent to us in advance and your transportation was arranged by us several months in advance as well as your airport instructions to meet your driver were sent to you some time in advance as follows: ARRIVAL AT TERMINAL 2 WITH PICKUP AT TERMINAL 1: Arrivals at Terminal 2 should plan to take the Shuttle to Terminal 1 for pickup unless advised otherwise in advance. Upon flight arrival at Terminal 2, when you exit the Customs area you will pass through a door into the main terminal. Porters are available to take your bags and assist you to shuttle that will take you to Terminal 1. The shuttle is to the right as you exit on the first floor at the end of the building. The fare is about13 pesos and it leaves every 10 min. If you do not speak Spanish show the porter this - “Por favor llevame al autobus para terminal 1.” Your Driver will meet you at 5:00pm in Terminal 1 on the first floor at Sala/Hall E3. He will be holding a sign saying “MEXICAN HOME COOKING – CASA CARMELITA” and your name. If your flight is delayed, he has your flight number to check arrivals and will not leave without you. I think that the above is quite clear. For some reason and ended up on the second floor. Perhaps you misread the instructions. That happens to all of us some times. But, when we talked on the phone it was quickly rectified. However, on the return it was a different matter. We also had your departure information also well in advance and reserved you transportation months in advance. Unfortunately on Thursday night before your Saturday departure you decided that the vehicle we had reserved well in advance would not accommodate the luggage and that you would need a 15 person van for your group of 3. Even when the driver for our service came personally to our house and verified that the vehicle reserved would indeed accommodate 3 persons and luggage you were not satisfied. I was actually willing to satisfy you but a van was not available at that late date from the service that we use. So you finally decided that you would take control and would find a van yourself on the internet. I said I would prefer not to do that because I could not guarantee the service. You replied “I will be personally responsible for the reservation and service” I agreed if you would be responsible I would leave it in your hands and cancel the reservation that I had made. This was after several hours of searching and discussions and decisions Which indeed did cause a great deal of uncertainty and stress. Which was caused by you, not by me. The next day you mentioned nothing at breakfast nor during class. Finally at lunch I checked with you to verify the every thing was set with the van and your replied “Oh, I couldn´t do it”….. So, I had canceled the reservation that I had made months in advace and you left me with a group that had no reservations for the next morning and didn´t have the curtesy of letting me know first thing in the morning. More tension, not caused by me… So I went to work again and recreated the reservation that I had made originally. I counted that a pretty good success on my part. Because of the changes the car did arrive 20 min late and everyone was very put out that it was late… So, it is very true that there was a lot of stress on departure but you left out the details. As can be seen on Ann´s review of us she had a wonderful time the same week you were here. I think to a great degree it was because she didn´t try to change what we offer, enjoyed the classes learned a lot and enjoyed her week. So did the folks before you and the folks who followed you. It makes you wonder, really. Same routine same classes. Much is in the eye of the beholder. We are a cooking school in a family home. We are not a social event. But, people do enjoy their stay. I think that we were not what you had in mind and I truly regret that, Jon The tour of the square was actually 35 min as mentioned by Angela in her review and included a history and explanations of all the historical buildings on the square and answers to all the questions that the group had. I am confused by two of you comments “the afternoon excursions we set up off the site were the best part of our trip” and then you said “A list of excursions was presented that were really just approximate amounts for taxi rides, no entrance fees or guids were included” I do regret that massages were not available. . That was out of my hands. Unfortunately Covid took our masseuse Also, regarding the “free day” you have left out the details: As noted on our web site we provide a free day with breakfast as usual at 9:00AM on Friday. You all requested to change the day as promised on the web site, at your request. At 10:30PM on Wednesday night you all requested to change to Thursday leave for a trip to Cholula at 9;00AM At that point you changed what is promised on our website. Of course we were happy to do our best to accommodate. I was able to arrange transportation for 9:00am. But you are complaining that kept our promised breakfast hour as per our website and didn´t wake at 11:00PM our kitchen staff to arrive early. Estela´s comment was that she would rather not make breakfast an hour earlier than the schedule. It your choice not to work with us and stay for breakfast. That was your choice On your free day you can choose to relax on one of the patios, read a book, take a nap, go out and come back for lunch and or dinner. It is up to you All meals are of course included on the free day as well. Naturally you have to be here to have them. That’s logical… By the way Ann who went to Cholula with you returned in time for lunch and dinner on the free day. Ann who was here for the same week had no trouble at all with the arrival instructions and pick up point. She also had no trouble with the transportation on her transportation back to the airport. She followed our instructions, enjoyed herself and learned about cooking Mexican Cuisine. I think that perhaps some information was not read or misread and expectations were not met. We do have some excursions that you liked but it is not our custom to join you for meals. We provide information on the area. We are a cooking school and not a social event. It is important to us that you come here to learn cooking the other things are up to your personal interests On your free day you can choose to relax on one of the patios, read a book, take a nap, go out and come back for lunch and or dinner. It is up to you All meals are of course included on the free day as well. Naturally you have to be here to have them. That’s logical… By the way Ann who went to Cholula with you returned in time for lunch and dinner on the free day. As can be seen on Ann´s review of us she had a wonderful time the same week you were here. I think to a great degree it was because she didn´t try to change what we offer, enjoyed the classes learned a lot and enjoyed her week. So did the folks before you and the folks who followed you. It makes you wonder, really. Same routine same classes. Much is in the eye of the beholder. We are a cooking school in a family home. We are not a social event. But, people do enjoy their stay. I think that we were not what you had in mind and I truly regret that, Jon
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This was our second culinary tour we have been on. The first was in Italy at Casa Gregorio in 2014, so we came to Mexico with some idea of what to expect. Although Mexico was different, it was no less spectacular.
John and Estela, with the amazing support of Lupita, were great hosts at a very charming and rustic villa on the border of a small lake in Tlaxcala. Each room was unique and private and had a sense of old-world charm.
The cooking classes were fun and we treated to some amazing Mexican cuisine and recipes. John walked us through the prep and Estella was the mastermind who threw it all together (Allo Mama!).
The day trips are a’la carte and worth the drives to see the local ruins and other sites in Puebla. Our favourite was the pottery factory. These trips are all very inexpensive and the drives are typically less than an hour. The people of Mexico are friendly and helpful. It was great to get a small taste of this vibrant culture.
We were one of the first groups to come to Casa Carmelita post Covid, so there were some small kinks to iron out. But our gracious and fun hosts were very accommodating and did their best to minimize some minor inconveniences.
Casa Carmelita is great food, great atmosphere (charming, warm and inviting), and great hosts (enthusiastic and fun).
Despite its imperfections we felt at home - so it was Perfect!!!
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I enjoyed the immersion in cooking the local specialties which included eating what we prepared for our lunch and dinners. It was a full cultural experience offered by our hosts Estela and Jon. We learned lots of region recipes which I plan on putting to use right away. They offered a couple of tours of Tlaxcala including to the local market to buy chiles to bring home. Thanks for a great week!
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Can be warm - there is no air conditioning in the rooms but that makes it authentic
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I had a delightful week with Estella and Jon at the Mexican Home Cooking School. We learned about local cuisine, recipes and cooking techniques that we could take with us and use at home. Estella is a well known chef who shared her impressive knowledge in a friendly and supportive way. During our cooking classes we were given detailed instructions and information. A booklet was provided at the end documenting our experiences. Jon served as the sous chef in addition to providing information on tours and transportation around this beautiful part of Mexico. We stayed in a lovely casita on site and enjoyed great food and a relaxing atmosphere. On staff, Paulina was much more than a housekeeper as she attended our every need and made great margaritas. We heartily recommend this experience and these warm and welcoming people.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:The venue is about 2 hours from Mexico City but transportation to and from the airport is...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had such a wonderful time with Estella, John, their staff and the other guests. Not only do you learn to cook authentic Pueblan cuisine, but you are also treated to delicious meals, beautiful accommodations and gracious hosts. We also had the chance to go on an extra excursion, at a very reasonable cost, guided by a very helpful and talented Omar. The whole experience from the pick-up at airport to the wonderful send off our last night made this a very special experience that we will always remember.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My experience at the Mexican Home Cooking School of Puebla Cuisine was absolutely wonderful. It was the perfect mix of activity and relaxation. Each morning we were greeted with a delicious breakfast and then it was off to the kitchen to start cooking. These three or-so hours flew by. There was learning, laughter and often I felt like I was hanging out in a friend's kitchen. Lunch on the patio was a treat and our group often marveled that we had actually made the foods (with a bit of help)! After the first day or so, we gave up trying to figure out our favorite. They all became my favorite! Afternoons could be as active or lazy as you wanted. We went into Tlaxcala, a lovely little town for a tour and lunch. Mary came to give a massage (highly recommend this) and some afternoons were just spent reading in one of the many courtyards and listening to the fountains. Transportation was easy. Dinners were also a treat. My casita was roomy and it was filled with light. Jon, Estelle, Omar and Lupita were fantastic and did everything they could to ensure your stay was a great one. I loved this experience and hope to return soon. Thanks to all for a wonderful experience.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was a great experience. Our hosts were friendly, helpful and very accomodating. Classes were well organized. We were guided through preparation of a large variety of delicious dishes that we could make at home as well. Even better we got to eat them each day along with other dishes Estela made for us. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all exceptional. Wine, beer and margaritas accompanied lunch and dinner. We were free to explore Tlaxcala and Puebla in the afternoon. We felt very safe doing this as the hosts knew all the taxi drivers they used to take us exploring. Drivers waited for us and brought us back afterward. I highly recommend this cooking class/vacation with friensds and I am hoping to come back with family.
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Date of stay: March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes, we have a taxi driver who is avalible. It is a 15 min drive and cost is 100 pesos
I am not allowed to give you contact information but if you look around you will easily find us.
Estela
Hola,
I am restricted from giving out contact information here. But try once more. You do have the right information. Google us under our Tripadvisor name - Mexican Home Cooking School. It will work.
Estela
owner Mexican Home Cooking School
we are making a motor trip down your way. Want to visit Puebla and Tlax. We would require a double bed, not really interested in the cooking school. What are your prices, please , per night. Do you include breakfast.
Hi Sandy,
We are located in farmland just outside of the city of Tlaxcala.
Our name is not "Tlaxcala B&B. Look for us under our Tripadvisor name - Mexican Home Cooking School.
Estela Salas Silva
There are more places to choose from in the Tlaxcala area.
LOCATION
MexicoCentral Mexico and Gulf CoastTlaxcalaTlaxcala
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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MEXICAN HOME COOKING SCHOOL OF PUEBLA CUISINE AND B&B
Frequently Asked Questions about Mexican Home Cooking School of Puebla Cuisine and B&B
Which popular attractions are close to Mexican Home Cooking School of Puebla Cuisine and B&B?
Nearby attractions include Murals of the Government Palace (1.6 miles), Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Ocotlan (3.0 miles), and Centro Historico de Tlaxcala (3.1 miles).
