Exploring San Miguel de Allende Through Taste

Founded in the 16th century, San Miguel de Allende is known for old world charm and first world amenities.  Often called the “Old New Mexico,” the center of town is a time capsule of cobblestone streets lined with vibrantly colorful facades and stone columns, all overshadowed by La Parroquia, an immense neo-gothic church of pink stone.  This iconic building is the work of Zeferino Gutiérrez, a 19th-century stonemason who learned his trade by studying postcards of French cathedrals.

But art galleries and Spanish-colonial buildings are just some of what makes San Miguel so special.  If you head a little bit outside of town on Tuesdays, you can see a giant flea market or tianguis where you can buy everything from regional spices to used clothing.  These markets are the best places to not only get off the beaten path, but explore new and different foods, offering food stalls with traditional cuisines.

You can also learn about national history at the Museo Casa de Allende, the childhood home of town namesake Ignacio Allende, one of the heroes of Mexico’s War of Independence.  Built in 1760, the mansion does a great job of recapping key historical events, one of them being the fact that San Miguel was practically abandoned by the end of the Mexican Revolution in 1920.  As a result, San Miguel has survived almost unchanged.

Over the past decade, it has also blossomed as a gastronomic hub.  The state of Guanajuato is a great place to sample regional Bajío cuisine.  Favorite local dishes include enchiladas mineras (tortillas filled with meat, beans or cheese and topped with a sauce made from guajillo and ancho chiles) and pacholas guanajuatenses (ground beef with spices), empanadas de carnitas, acambaro bread and the fiambre de San Miguel de Allende, which is a mixture of different types of beef, chicken and pork with fruits and vegetables in oil and vinegar.

Among the traditional drinks, agua de betabel (beet flavored water), colonche (prickly pear) and cebadina (barley water with tamarind and jamaica water in baking soda) are the most popular options.  Cebadina is known as their hangover cure!

On this Gusto Mexico experience, we take advantage of everything the New Old Mexico has to offer, not only including plenty of free time to relax and explore on your own, but also in-depth cooking classes where the chef takes us through a traditional market to look for specialty ingredients, a gourmet tasting session, and finally the cooking class.  The chef helps us discover choice flavor combinations that create vibrant salsas, Mexican specialties, and refreshing salads.

San Miguel is also known as a coffee-lovers paradise, offering renowned, locally sourced, gourmet coffee.  Local coffee shops source their own beans from Mexico and show great attention to detail when it comes to the preparation.  This means offering customers nearly a dozen ways to order their brew, precisely controlling their temperatures, and taking a scientific approach to coffee preparation.  We don't know about you, but every day is a coffee day, so we make sure there is plenty of time to wander around and enjoy local coffee shops. After getting your fix, you can head down the narrow cobblestone streets to find hidden gems like El Charco del Ingenio Botanic Garden or the Mercado de Artesanías.

Getting There

San Miguel isn’t particularly a quick trip, as flying from most U.S. airports will require a layover, and once you’re on the ground there will be a significant drive.  The two nearest airports are Del Bajio, in León, about 90 minutes away, and Querétaro, about 75 minutes away. You can also fly into Mexico City and typically find a flight into one of the neighboring airport for less than $200.  Although it's not an easy travel day, we can assure you that it's worth it.

Interested in joining us? Check out what our trip entails and let us know if you'd like to join our next adventure!