y Mezcal: A Culinary Exploration of City January 26-30, 2022 | 5 days, 4 nights

For more information about this trip call 877-916-4924 or visit www.zagattravel.com Mole y Mezcal: A Culinary Exploration of

From brilliant red tomatoes and peppers in its bustling marketplaces to Frida Kahlo’s iconic blue house; from the brightly painted boats that wend their way through the agricultural canals of Xochimilco to the expansive green courtyards at the base of Teotihuacan’s towering pyramids, Zagat invites you on a five-day cultural and culinary journey to explore and savor the diverse colors and flavors of Mexico City. Source ingredients from the local market for a hands-on class with a charismatic television personality. Help preserve ancient agricultural traditions with a farm-to-table meal made before your eyes in the heart of a World Heritage Site. Enjoy artisanal beers, guided tequila and mezcal tastings, and a prehispanic picnic with a refreshing glass of – known as the “drink of the gods,” because of its role in ancient rituals. From iconic treats like , , and to adventurous alternatives like chapulines (grasshoppers), chicatanaas (flying ants), andchinicuiles (worm) this journey is a delight for all the senses. Highlights

Join Mexican celebrity chef, sommelier, certified tequila taster, and television personality, Graciela Montaño, to source ingredients from one of Mexico City’s colorful markets and prepare a four-course Mexican menu paired with small-batch spirits.

Float through the canals of Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to an organic farm for lunch and a guided mezcal and tequila tasting.

Avoid the crowds in an exclusive, after-hours tour of the Museum of Anthropology, Mexico’s most-visited museum.

Enjoy a traditional pre-Hispanic picnic including a refreshing tejate – which was used in indigenous rituals – in the ancient city of Teotihuacan, with pyramids as your backdrop.

Celebrate your journey with a five-course pop-up “hidden kitchen”dinner and cocktail pairing, enjoying fine featuring seasonal ingredients in an unexpected location.

For more information about this trip call 877-916-4924 or visit www.zagattravel.com Itinerary

Wednesday, January 26th | Talk Your Mexican adventure begins with a hands-on cooking lesson in the rooftop garden of a beautifully restored mansion. Join local chefs to chop, mix, marinate, and taste one of Mexico’s most beloved staples – the taco. Learn about the history of this iconic food, which dates to Moctezuma himself, who is believed to have first used hot stones to toast tortillas into a scoop. Find out about the long history of take out, when tortillas were used to transport lunch for men who worked in the fields. Linger and taste your creations alongsideagua fresca and artisanal beers. (D,R)

Thursday, January 27th | Night at the Museum Your culinary journey continues with celebrity chef Graciela Montaño, host of the weekly cooking show, “Tu Cocina.” Join Graciela to source and sample ingredients at the Mercado de Medellin, a bustling indoor market. Graciela leades you through the maze of stalls, introducing you to the vendors, and providing tips for identifying the freshest ingredients from the colorful rows of plantains and pumpkins. After, create a four-course Mexican menu, featuring , salsas, mole rojo, and pastel de elote. The adventurous may also choose to sample chapulines (grasshoppers), chicatanas (flying ants), and chinicuiles (worm). A certified tequila taster, Graciela guides the group in a tasting, pairing each course with limited- production, small batch Mexican spirits. This evening, Mexico’s storied history comes to life on an after-hours exclusive tour of the Museum of Anthropology, Mexico’s most-visited museum. Your day concludes with a seasonal menu and a chance to meet Chef Elena Reygadas, at Rosetta Restaurant, tucked inside an inconspicuous townhouse in the hip and colorful Roma neighborhood. (B,L,D) Friday, January 28th | From Farm to Table Walk the cobblestone streets and beautiful town square in the bohemian Coyoacan neighborhood. Visit Casa Azul (the “Blue House”), once home to Frida Kahlo. Casa Azul preserves Kahlo’s personal objects, displays some of her most popular works, and reveals the private struggles of Latin America’s most celebrated female artist. Board a colorful wooden trajinera and navigate the verdant waterways, or chinampas, in Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your journey takes you to a network of organic fruit and vegetable farms, which provide seasonal organic produce for some of Mexico City’s most iconic restaurants. Tour the property and learn firsthand about how its owners continue to rely on the region’s ancestral farming methods. Then, enjoy a mariachi serenade; a traditional Mexican lunch of tamales, tostadas, and pastries prepared by Chef Yuls Suarez before your eyes; and a guided tequila and mezcal tasting with a local catadore (tequila expert). Tonight, explore Mexico City’s many restaurants on your own. (B,L)

Saturday, January 29th | Picnic among the Pyramids Travel back in time to the ancient city of teotihuacan, the largest city in pre-Columbian America. Retrace the route that sacrificial victims walked before climbing the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon – which stand as towering bookends across the vast field. Continue to a nearby garden for a traditional pre-Hispanic picnic including a refreshing Tejate (known as the drink of the gods because of its role in indigenous rituals), Escamoles (an ancient Aztec dish made from ant eggs), and some of Mexico’s most iconic foods, like the . Return to Mexico City for a tour of the bustling city center, including visits to the sprawling zócalo, one of the world’s largest central squares; the National Palace featuring Diego Rivera’s murals; and churros and chocolate at Churreria El Moro before preparing for the evening’s adventure. Tonight, celebrate the end of your journey with an extraordinary pop-up experience in an unexpected and “hidden kitchen” with an elaborate five- course meal and cocktail pairing. (B,L,D,R)

Sunday, January 30th | Adiós Depart Mexico City with individual transfers at any time. (B)

B,L,D and R denotes included breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and receptions.

For more information about this trip call 877-916-4924 or visit www.zagattravel.com What’s Included

• All accommodations and meals with drinks as outlined in the itinerary • All ground transportation within the itinerary unless otherwise indicated • All sightseeing as specified in the itinerary • Comprehensive educational program by professional on-site guides • Entrance fees • Gratuities to porters, guides, drivers, wait staff in restaurants during group meals, housekeeping at group hotels • The assistance of an ATA tour manager • Quietvox listening devices to facilitate audibility and social distancing while touring • The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights and other services • Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list • Emergency evacuation insurance • Fully vetted program that meets COVID-19 health and safety protocols

Accommodations Stara Hamburgo Part colonial Spanish townhouse and part modern retreat, Stara Hamburgo promises a luxury stay in the financial heart of Mexico City. This boutique hotel boasts three gourmet restaurants, including a bistro serving organic cuisine, a library, a fully equipped gym, sauna, and spa. Guest rooms feature a private terrace with garden views and vertical gardens decorate the property. 5 days/4 nights

Price Per Person Departure $4,495 double occupancy January 26-30, 2022 $5,370 single occupancy 5 days, 4 nights Deposit $500 per person