Camp San Miguel, Mexico

January 13-18, 2011
February 27-March 4, 2011

Join us for six days in the enchanting artist community of San Miguel de Allende for cooking classes, cultural events, shopping adventures, and grand dinners at ancient haciendas. Located high in the mountains north of Mexico City, this colonial town of 80,000 people was listed by Conde Nast Traveler as the 7th best travel destination in the world. Famous for its mild high desert climate and colonial architecture, San Miguel de Allende is known for its art galleries, craft shops, outdoor markets, art and language institutes, fine restaurants, and a large expatriate population drawn from throughout the world. It’s a town of cobblestone streets, pealing church bells, intense colors, and endless holy days, fiestas, and celebrations. Hugh and his wife, Teri Sandison, have been visiting San Miguel de Allende for years. They know many of San Miguel’s artists, writers, gallery owners, and townspeople, and have used these contacts to create an “insider’s” tour of one of the world’s most romantic and captivating small towns. Hugh is your host for every event throughout the week. In addition to this program, which is rich in activities and limited to only 14 people per session, you’ll have time to enjoy options such as horseback riding, soaking in thermal springs, exploring the art galleries, or just wandering along the cobblestone streets as you relish another surprise around every corner.

Class Itinerary

Saturday: We urge you to arrive a day early so you’ll have time to orient yourself to the town and have dinner with Hugh. We’ll meet for appetizers and a no-host dinner at Sollano #16, San Miguel’s best restaurant.

Sunday: Dinner at Planta Baja. If you arrived on Saturday, we recommend you take the “House Tour” at noon to “see behind the doors” of three great houses and then have time in the afternoon to explore the town. Tonight is our welcoming dinner at the sophisticated Restaurant Planta Baja, which specializes in serving Mexican food with a contemporary flair. The flavor-intense sauces are European inspired, and the restaurant specializes in meat, game, and fresh fish. After dinner, we’ll walk a short distance to the town square (El Jardin) to enjoy the beautiful view of the cathedral, listen to mariachi bands on every corner, and watch the vibrant night life.

Monday: Cooking with Hugh at Rancho Casa Luna, Market Tour, and Dinner at Tio Lucas. Our morning begins with a short drive outside town to visit the new hacienda built by the owner of Casa Luna B&B, Dianne Kushner. Wonderfully designed for participation cooking classes, the house spills down the hill alongside numerous water elements. All the classes this week are taught by Hugh, are full participation, and are based on a cookbook he’s writing featuring innovative Mexican cooking that can be easily duplicated in North American homes. For all the classes this week, Hugh is assisted by the talented chef and cooking teacher Audreen Maestri, who will add her unique approach to Mexican cuisine. The class today specializes in chiles, peppers, salsas, and the world of avocados. We’ll spend about two hours cooking together, followed by lunch. Then we’ll drive back into town and wander through a classic Mexican market, where we can answer your questions about exotic fruits, a vast array of dried chiles, and countless spices, surrounded by beautiful flower displays. The rest of the afternoon is free. Tonight we have dinner at Tio Lucas, one of the most popular restaurants and jazz clubs in San Miguel.

Tuesday: Cooking with Hugh at Rancho Casa Luna, the Church at Atotonilco, and Pottery Shopping at Dolores Hidalgo. This morning we return for another full participation cooking class, followed by lunch at the Rancho Casa Luna. Today’s class centers on tropical fruits, contemporary marinades, and flavor-intense sauces for meats and seafood that are to be roasted, grilled, or cooked on the outdoor smoker. After lunch we’ll tour the UNESCO World Heritage site and the Church of Atontonilco, which has undergone a long restoration. It is utterly unlike any other Catholic church. Then we’ll drive a short distance to Dolores Hidalgo, famous for its pottery. We’ll visit the two best pottery shops and eat ice cream on the town square before returning to San Miguel. The evening is free for you to enjoy San Miguel restaurants and nightlife.

Wednesday: Cooking with Hugh at Rancho Casa Luna, Lunch at a Contemporary Home, and a Visit to San Miguel’s Design Center. This morning we return for our third participation cooking class taught by Hugh at Rancho Casa Luna. After we have completed the preparation steps for the various dishes for lunch, we’ll travel a short distance to the contemporary estate of folk art collectors Meyer Schacter and Susan Page. Their folk art collection is world class, and they have a large gallery of folk art they have collected over the years that is for sale. While Hugh and his assistant, Audreen, complete the finishing touches for lunch, you’ll tour the home and gallery. Then we’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch, staged on a deck overlooking an exotic landscape, while listening to the music of two of San Miguel’s most renowned guitarists. Following lunch, we’ll return to town and tour San Miguel’s Design Center, La Aurora. Your evening is free to enjoy San Miguel’s many restaurants, or join Hugh for a no-host dinner at one of his favorite places.

Thursday: DaNisha Gallery, Cooking Class, Lunch at Rancho de la Capilla, and a Visit with Artists Gary and Annemarie Slipper. Our day begins with a visit to DaNisha Sculpture Gallery. Husband and wife Dan and Nisha create unique ceramic art that is collected internationally by such notables as former President Clinton! After our visit, we travel outside town to Rancho de la Capilla, a private and secluded rancho that was established in the mid-17th century and lovingly restored by Kathy Lichter and Steve Zazula. They are our hosts for an authentic Mexican rancho lunch prepared by three talented rancho cooks. This is going to be fun! It’s an utterly glorious setting, and Kathy and Steve are wonderful hosts! Early this evening, we visit the studio and home of artists Gary and Annemarie Slipper, whose art is collected internationally. Gary’s art is richly lined drawings and paintings of countless figures set in mythic or fantasy settings. Annemarie works as a bronze sculptor and also does architectural works on panels of metal. The Slippers are utterly charming and wonderful hosts. Your evening is free to enjoy San Miguel’s many restaurants.

Friday: Famous Mexican Breakfast Dishes—A Cooking Class, Jewelry Shopping, and Graduation Dinner at Ristorante Bella Italia. Today we meet a little earlier in the morning at Rancho Casa Luna for a Mexican breakfast class taught by Hugh and his assistant, Audreen. We will make six of the many famous regional breakfast dishes and have small tastes of each before returning to San Miguel at about 11:00 a.m. The late morning and afternoon hours are free for you to take care of last-minute shopping or enjoy other adventures. Our evening begins with a visit to the beautiful home of jeweler Bill Harris and Howard Haynes. We’ll tour the property, enjoy a glass of wine, hear their wonderful stories of life in San Miguel, and jewelry shop! Then we go for our “Graduation Dinner” to Restorante Bella Italia. They have an acclaimed gypsy-jazz band that is now being promoted by San Miguel resident Doc Severinsen, who plays with the band. We’ll lift our glasses, make farewell toasts, and recall our adventures.

Saturday: This is a travel day home, or you may decide to extend your stay in Mexico. We hope you return to visit us again in San Miguel.