Live. Love. Eat.

Home / Live. Love. Eat.

My Culinary Life in Mexico

Chef Ana Garcia of La Villa Bonita Mexican Culinary Vacations (www.lavillabonita.com) invites you to her culinary life. Located in the mountain village of Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico, Chef Ana teaches everyone from the food hobbyist to professional chefs in her 4 and 7 night culinary vacation packages.

This blog is a slice of her daily life. Mexican food, culture, and a bit of everything. Feel free to start a discussion on any one of the blog posts below.

Recipe for Sopa de Lima or Lima Soup: Cozumel Comments Off

On occasion we will leave our comfortable confines at La Villa Bonita and cook in different environments or different parts of Mexico to add to my repertior and give guests a new and different experience.  This year we had cooking sessions on the island of Cozumel.  While big tourism has changed the cuisine offered in …

Read More
Posted on: 03-21-2013
Posted in: " "Ana Garcia", "Chef Ana", "la villa bonita, authentic Mexican recipes, Chef Ana Garcia, coastal Mexican, culinary clases, culinary vacation, culinary vacation package, la villa bonita, La Villa Bonita Mexican Culinary Vacation, local food, mexican culinary vacation, Mexican food, Mexican recipe, Mexico, Tepoztlan, travel to Mexico

What makes Tepoztlán so different? Comments Off

Money Can’t Buy You Love.  In Tepoztlan, money doesn’t get you very much as far as respect is concerned.  Your position in the community, your standing with your neighbors and your barrio is everything.  Do you contribute to the local festivals? Do you lend a hand to a neighbor? Are you involved? I can’t tell …

Read More
Posted on: 05-31-2012
Posted in: buy local, Chef Ana Garcia, community service, culinary vacation, la villa bonita, locavores, Mexican traditions, safe communities, safety in Mexico, Tepoztlan, unique places

As Safe as Kokomo? Comments Off

Quick Quiz: Which town has the lowest murder rate?A. Omaha, NebraskaB. Toledo, OhioC. Tepoztlan, Morelos, MexicoD. Kokomo, Indiana Okay.  Trick question.  There are two right answers: Tepoztlán is tied with Kokomo for the lowest rate over Omaha and Toledo.  What?  It can’t be. Is crime out of control in Omaha and Toledo? Will Anderson Cooper …

Read More
Posted on: 05-29-2012
Posted in: Chef Ana Garcia, cooking vacations, Kokomo, mexican culinary vacation, Mexican food, Mexico, Morelos, safe cities, safest town, safety, Tepoztlan

Remembering a Good Friend 4

Chuy with Agustin I don’t ever think I would consider myself a “pet person.”  When Robb asked me to accept this rolly-polly big ball of a puppy after the return from our honeymoon almost 13 years ago,  I couldn’t help but say yes.  Robb made the classic pitch that ever “kid” makes to his parents …

Read More
Posted on: 05-23-2011
Posted in: Chuy, great dogs, la villa bonita, pets

The "Commonality" of Food Comments Off

Many people ask me, how is it that your guests seem to get along so well when they come from all different walks of life, different ages, different places?  I have to tell you that I have been offering my culinary vacation packages for over ten years and it is amazing and very gratifying to …

Read More
Posted on: 01-11-2011
Posted in: christmas traditions, culinary vacation, family vacations, La Villa Bonita Mexican Culinary Vacation, Mexican christmas dishes, New Year's Mexican dishes, Tepoztlan, women travellers

Dia de los Muertos Week, Oct. 31-Nov. 6 1

My Favorite Week is Coming Up – Dia de los Muertos Dia de los Muertos week is traditionally our most popular week of the year – even in front of our popular Christmas Week.  It is a time of year that you really get to see and do some great things that we do not …

Read More
Posted on: 09-21-2010
Posted in: Dia de los Muertos, La Villa Bonita Mexican Culinary Vacation, Mexican bread, Mexican pastry, Pan de Muertos

Spice up your Superbowl TV Tour of California Feb. 4-6 1

I have to admit.  I enjoy the live television appearances.  They are fun and unpredictable.  The backstage is always busy with stars, production staff, and on-air people running around.  The first time I appeared on KTLA, there was a big breaking news story (a shooting in a synagogue) that took control of the show with …

Read More
Posted on: 01-21-2010
Posted in: "REO Speedwagon, authentic Mexican recipes, culinary vacation, IMUSA, James Cameron, Kevin Cronin, KTLA, Mexican food, Modelo Especial, super bowl, super bowl recipes, Tepoztlan, View from the Bay

Christmas Tree Tradition in Tres Marias 1

I have never been a big fan of the Christmas tree. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas and decorating my house fully for the season, but the tree has never been high on my list. I don’t like the fake trees and I feel bad about buying a real tree that has been trucked …

Read More
Posted on: 12-26-2009
Posted in: Chef Ana Garcia, christmas traditions, christmas trees, culinary vacation, Mexico, native Mexican tree varieties, Tepoztlan

Where am I? Comments Off

Many of you may be wondering where I am! I am still here! I have been traveling very much over the past 5 months on projects with my sponsors, television appearances, and in furtherance of my own telelvision series in the US. All in all, it has been a crazy year but we are all …

Read More
Posted on: 12-26-2009
Posted in: " "Ana Garcia", "Chef Ana", culinary vacation, last minute sale

Bringing the Family Together Over the Kitchen Table: Tips on Getting Kids to Appreciate Good Food 2

One of the things I am proudest of in my short 5 years of “parentdom” is getting my kids at a very early age to appreciate a wide variety of food. I was very proud of my 5 and 1-year-old on a recent family trip to Maine to visit our good friends, Cookie and Tony. …

Read More
Posted on: 09-9-2009
Posted in: Chef Ana Garcia, children, cooking and kids, getting your kids to eat, kids and food, la villa bonita, local food, Maine, Maine lobster, Mexican recipe, pipian
Page 1 of 3123»
Kyplex Cloud Security Seal - Click for Verification