Mexico City & the Yucatán with Jorge Vallejo

Bienvenidos a Mérida! This centuries-old city is the cradle of Mayan civilization, a cosmopolitan oasis with lush avenues lined by graceful 19th-century mansions. Here, we meet up with Jorge and dive right in.

In Tixkokob, the region’s textile capital, Jorge introduces us to a local family for an intimate lunch of relleno negro. This ancient Mayan dish is cooked underground, a fragrant symphony of dried chilies, cloves and cumin, and the perfect first flavors to dazzle our palates in the Yucatán. After, we journey to nearby Izmal, a vision of Spanish colonial architecture where living culture pulsates in the form of workshops and storefronts belonging to the region’s finest artisans. After an exclusive peek behind their curtains, we head back to the heart of Mérida to relax and freshen up.

Dinner tonight is at Mérida native and renowned chef Robert Solis’ restaurant, Huniik. The intimate, meticulously designed space is as contemporary as it is personal — and it’s all ours to enjoy. The freshest local ingredients play muse to masterful pieces of art — so beautifully prepared that you hesitate to indulge, but ultimately, you cannot resist.

One of the true pleasures of Mérida is breakfast at a ‘morning only’ taqueria. Papadzules sauced with pumpkin seeds and chiltomate, panuchos and salbutes bursting with the flavors of smoked meats, relleno negro and huevos motuleños, all bringing the essence of traditional Mayan cuisine to our lips.

Next stop: tranquility. Just an hour away, deep in the lush Yucatán jungle, is our luxurious home for the next two nights: a beautifully restored, centuries-old hacienda with impeccable modern design accents. The afternoon is ours to wander the 750-acre property, take a dip in the on-site cenote, or relax poolside.

Tonight we dine on-site at Jorge’s latest concept, called Ixi’im. This stunning restaurant, conceived of iron and glass, earned a rare Prix Versailles award for its interior design and exterior architecture. It is among the world’s most stunning restaurants, boasting one of Mexico’s largest collections of craft tequilas. With Jorge by our side, we  sip and savor an exclusive tequila tasting before indulging in Jorge’s special menu just for us. 

Today we experience Yucatán culture through an artist’s eye. We start in the village of Maní, meeting a master potter at his home and studio, where he produces his highly prized works rooted in ancient Mayan techniques.

Next, at a centuries-old apiary, we meet Father Luis, a caretaker of an incredible community of melipona bees. These stingless bees are sacred to the Maya and produce a honey unlike any nectar in the world. After a tour of the grounds, we join Father Luis in a centuries-old ceremony to ask the Mayan god of the bee for a good harvest — ending with a sip of balché, a mildly intoxicating beverage celebrated by the ancient Maya.

After an incredible rustic lunch, a pristine cenote awaits—an enchanitng swimming hole where ancient tree roots and imposing stalactites hang in an upside-down realm dappled in sunlight, 

Back at the hacienda, Jorge and a coterie of local chefs have been preparing a true celebration of the Yucatec Maya’s signature dish: cochinita pibil, slow-roasted pork cooked underground to succulent perfection.

We travel by private jet this morning, trading the vibrant, lush jungle for the buzzing streets of Mexico City, the Western Hemisphere’s largest city: a bastion of craft and design, a food lover’s paradise and unlike any other city on the planet.

Casa Polanco is our tranquil home in Mexico City for the next three nights — an oasis of calm, surrounded by lush gardens and yet just steps away from galleries and museums and the capital’s finest restaurants. The afternoon is ours to rest and relax, and to explore the Polanco neighborhood on our own.

Don’t wander too far though, for a truly magical dining experience is literally around the corner: dinner at Máximo Bistrot, ranked the #32 restaurant in the world in 2021 and helmed by the inventive and playful husband and wife duo, Gabriela Lopez and Eduardo García. Here, we’ll experience the sumptuous collision of tradition and innovation via the freshest herbs and vegetables. It’s the perfect introduction to the flavors of Mexico City.  

After breakfast we explore Roma — a hip barrio just a stone’s throw away — taking in the sights and sounds of this art deco enclave alongside Jorge, meeting local artisans and chefs he’s proud to call friends. 

Lunch is at none other than Roma landmark, Rosetta. Housed in a colonial mansion and fueled by the creative moxie of Chef Elena Reygadas, this restaurant is a true feast for the senses—dishes here, like sea bass in white mole, dance off the plate and seem to be elevated by exuberance and drive of the chef herself.

Dessert is hands-on and equally extraordinary. Guests at an iconic chocolatería, we dive deeper into Mexico’s 4,000-year love affair with cacoa and even try our hand at traditional production.

The afternoon is yours to further explore Roma’s tree-lined avenues, or relax back at our hotel. In the evening, we reconvene with Jorge for an elevated and deeply personal take on Mexican cuisine that won’t be replicated: an exclusive dinner collaboration between Jorge and other Mexico City culinary icons in a private residence overlooking the city.  Here, we toast our new connections and revel in the electric glow of these incredible humans.

Cobblestone alleyways lead us to Mercado de Coyoacán, a vibrant kaleidoscope of apparel, spices and souvenirs. Jorge will lead us through the market’s exuberant din to his favorite no-frills food stalls for an authentic street-food breakfast.

We spend the late morning — sleeves rolled-up and apron-clad with Don Luis, a true ambassador of Mexican mole—learning the nuanced steps behind this signature dish. Jorge and our special guest guide us at every step; our reward is a delicious lunch featuring the mole sauces we’ve prepared. Afterwards, we raise a glass of mezcal to toast our collective efforts. 

After some downtime, we gather for a farewell dinner like no other. We are special guests at Jorge’s restaurant, Quintonil, #9 on the World’s Best list and one of the finest in North America. Jorge will guide us through the subtleties of his fabled tasting menu, not to mention the science behind his cocktail pairings.

This special dining experience is a toast to a week’s worth of discovery and exhilaration, to artists that transcend the limits of human potential, to joy as an act of rebellion, and to each other as well. 

Alas, all beautiful things must come to an end. We’ll say our farewells and cherish all the new connections we’ve made. We’ll fill up on one last exquisite breakfast before private transfers to the airport. Hasta la proxima!