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Altars and Offerings

Food for the Living and the Dead

Space Limited: Register now for 2008 & 2009

Altar with
candles, food, crucifix and photograph Cocinar Mexicano is pleased to announce several exciting additions to Altars & Offerings, a six-day culinary immersion that culminates with Mexico's legendary Day of the Dead. This year's workshop runs from October 28-November 3rd, 2007, with five days in the lush mountain village of Tepoztlán, an hour outside Mexico City, and a closing afternoon and evening in the nation's capital.

Officially observed on November 1st and 2nd, the Day of the Dead is at once an homage to the presence of the dead among the living and a colorful tribute to Mexico's dual Spanish-Indian heritage. Participants in Cocinar's Day of the Dead experience this festival in an exclusive array of hands-on sessions that showcase the talents of both village women and the country's most sophisticated chefs.

With art historian Janet Dawson in residence throughout, this year's workshop includes a museum trip to the artistic jewels of nearby Cuernavaca, and a day trip to the ancient citadel of Xochicalco and the 16th century hacienda San Gabriel de las Palmas, an exquisitely restored sugar plantation where participants will dine and swim in tropical splendor. Also new this year are optional yoga classes and massage.

Fernández altar with photographs, candy
photo: Diane Goldstein
Participants fly into Mexico City, from where they will be conveyed by private van to Tepoztlán. Accommodation for the first five nights is at Hacienda Clemente Jacques, a stunning hillside retreat with pool and tennis court on the outskirts of the village. Following a welcome cocktail and dinner, our workshop begins in earnest Monday morning with a market tour led by Cocinar director Magda Bogin and class at Cocinar's exquisite indoor-outdoor kitchen. After a generous respite Monday afternoon (time to rest, swim or schedule a massage), Dawson will offer a talk on food and Mexican art that segues into a gourmet dinner at Hacienda Clemente Jacques.

Altar with candles, food, crucifix and photograph As we cook our way toward the holiday, we begin to create our altar, adding layers every day. Following our Tuesday morning class, featuring one of Cocinar's original contemporary menus, the group leaves for Cuernavaca, with Dawson as guide extraordinaire to the collections of the Cortés Palace and Muros (20th century and contemporary Mexican art) and dinner at one of that city's top tier restaurants. On Wednesday, we finish our altar and prepare the traditional ofrenda for the dead -- a generous spread of moles and salsas, tamales, whole roast chicken, and other delicacies of the Mexican table. On Thursday, we decamp for our day in the country, returning to Tepoztlán in time to greet processions of villagers with beautifully carved lanterns and enjoy a traditional Day of the Dead supper prepared by Cocinar's outstanding staff. After breakfast Friday morning, we depart for Mexico City, stopping at the cemetery of Ocotepec, where mariachis, flowers and cotton candy are the order of the day, and at Frida Kahlo's house on the outskirts of the city, before checking in at the JW Marriott in posh Polanco. A spectacular all-black dinner with Chef Martha Ortiz at her restaurant Aguila y Sol caps this memorable week. After breakfast Saturday morning, our vans return the group to the Mexico City airport for their trip home.

Altar with
candles, food, crucifix and photograph The all-inclusive price for this workshop is $2895, excluding airfare and gratuities, based on double occupancy.

Please email us for further information: info@cocinarmexicano.com

Questions? info@cocinarmexicano.com
or call us at 212 655 4432