Booking the food tour was a breeze and you are provided email confirmations and instructions, even if you book it through trip advisor. You are required to reconfirm your tour a few days prior with the owner Emily, but she is responsive and confirms your tour! We learned from our guide Xantal (pronounced SH-ANTAL) that Emily owns the business but works from Cozumel where she runs the business and other ventures; she actually was the one that started doing her tours personally after guests to her and her husband's inquired about where was the best local cuisine in Playa del Carmen.
Thus, the business was born!
Xantal met us at the corner of Benito Juarez Ave and la Quinta Ave. We stood in front of the white stoned church on the corner, directly across from a souvenir store as instructed in the email. Xantal greeted us promptly and introduced herself and gave us free water! We then walked a few blocks to the first stop, a street taco stand!
We had the best tacos here ever, made from Cochinita Pibil. We learned the making of this meat takes hours and overnight preparation through underground heating. This was honestly the best tacos we had the entire week we stayed in Mexico!
The next stop was a quesadilla stop, which you had the option to put your choice of vegetables and meat. The drink is also included here! The taxi ride is also taken care of by the tour.
The next stop is at a local market where Xantal showed us various herbs and local ingredients along with their historic value to local cuisine and the Mexican people. You have the option here to buy some of these items if you wish!
Right next door is the next stop where we have posole (soup). This soup is so tasty and is a classic dish with mayan roots. We learned that there are 3 variouations, a white base, a red base (which you will have here), and a green base (all colors of the Mexican flag).
The next stop is another tacos stop which specializes in carnitas and is also very delicious. The drink is included and the taxi ride is also covered by the tour.
The last stop is an ice cream shop, which had homemade flavors with fresh fruit and cream with a variety of flavors and your basic favorites from back home too!
We then walked back to the church and ended the tour!
Xantal through the entire experience was very informative, hospitable, and relatable! She did her best effort to make us feel welcomed and made the tour about us! We got lucky we were the only ones scheduled that day for the tour, so it was a private tour!
I would recommend if you have dairy restrictions to bring some lactaid pills with you.
Overall, well worth it, especially to avoid the touristy food that might mistake you to be local! read more