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02/19/2026 12:00:00 AM02/22/2026 11:59:00 PMAmerica/New_YorkCulinary Journey - Taste of Mexico with Chef Yara Herrera - February 19 - 22Come Hungry. Leave Inspired.
Join Chef Yara Herrera of Hellbender for a once-in-a-lifetime 3-day culinary tour in the heart of the Yucatán in support of Oído. Chef Yara Herrera brings a bold, heartfelt approach to modern Mexican cuisine. A California native, Yara has worked in some of the country’s top kitchens—from Spago to Momofuku Ko—honing her craft and deepening her connection to her cultural roots. Now the chef behind Hellbender in NYC, she champions heirloom Mexican ingredients and vibrant, unexpected flavors.
Experience Mexican cuisine in a whole new way
Welcome to southern Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, home to a variety of unique spices, an abundance of fresh ingredients, and an exceptional food culture. Your host for the trip is the Culinary Institute, a local organization designed to inspire and equip young chefs and founded by Scott Lawton, Andy Pforzheimer, and other culinary entrepreneurs. Over the course of three full and exciting days, you will taste your way through this remarkable region and reignite your passion for food and the way it is prepared.
The menu for this trip is unlike any other. You will help source and prepare meals alongside the local chefs from the Institute. Learn the secrets of cochinita pibil and experience the burial and unearthing of this Mayan classic. Haul fish into your boat from the open ocean and prepare ceviche with your fresh catch. Sample lobster pizza and other seafood delicacies beside Holbox’s beautiful beaches. Enjoy coconuts straight from the tree, uniquely delicious Mexican oregano, and agua fresca - all locally sourced - around the backyard table of one of the Institute’s founding families.
This journey is truly one-of-a-kind, and you will leave with a new appreciation for your craft and ready to push the boundaries of your own culinary technique.
Join Chef Yara Herrera of Hellbender for a once-in-a-lifetime 3-day culinary tour in the heart of the Yucatán in support of Oído. Chef Yara Herrera brings a bold, heartfelt approach to modern Mexican cuisine. A California native, Yara has worked in some of the country’s top kitchens—from Spago to Momofuku Ko—honing her craft and deepening her connection to her cultural roots. Now the chef behind Hellbender in NYC, she champions heirloom Mexican ingredients and vibrant, unexpected flavors.
Experience Mexican cuisine in a whole new way
Welcome to southern Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, home to a variety of unique spices, an abundance of fresh ingredients, and an exceptional food culture. Your host for the trip is the Culinary Institute, a local organization designed to inspire and equip young chefs and founded by Scott Lawton, Andy Pforzheimer, and other culinary entrepreneurs. Over the course of three full and exciting days, you will taste your way through this remarkable region and reignite your passion for food and the way it is prepared.
The menu for this trip is unlike any other. You will help source and prepare meals alongside the local chefs from the Institute. Learn the secrets of cochinita pibil and experience the burial and unearthing of this Mayan classic. Haul fish into your boat from the open ocean and prepare ceviche with your fresh catch. Sample lobster pizza and other seafood delicacies beside Holbox’s beautiful beaches. Enjoy coconuts straight from the tree, uniquely delicious Mexican oregano, and agua fresca - all locally sourced - around the backyard table of one of the Institute’s founding families.
This journey is truly one-of-a-kind, and you will leave with a new appreciation for your craft and ready to push the boundaries of your own culinary technique.
Come Hungry. Leave Inspired.
Join Chef Yara Herrera of Hellbender for a once-in-a-lifetime 3-day culinary tour in the heart of the Yucatán in support of Oído. Chef Yara Herrera brings a bold, heartfelt approach to modern Mexican cuisine. A California native, Yara has worked in some of the country’s top kitchens—from Spago to Momofuku Ko—honing her craft and deepening her connection to her cultural roots. Now the chef behind Hellbender in NYC, she champions heirloom Mexican ingredients and vibrant, unexpected flavors.
Experience Mexican cuisine in a whole new way
Welcome to southern Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, home to a variety of unique spices, an abundance of fresh ingredients, and an exceptional food culture. Your host for the trip is the Culinary Institute, a local organization designed to inspire and equip young chefs and founded by Scott Lawton, Andy Pforzheimer, and other culinary entrepreneurs. Over the course of three full and exciting days, you will taste your way through this remarkable region and reignite your passion for food and the way it is prepared.
The menu for this trip is unlike any other. You will help source and prepare meals alongside the local chefs from the Institute. Learn the secrets of cochinita pibil and experience the burial and unearthing of this Mayan classic. Haul fish into your boat from the open ocean and prepare ceviche with your fresh catch. Sample lobster pizza and other seafood delicacies beside Holbox’s beautiful beaches. Enjoy coconuts straight from the tree, uniquely delicious Mexican oregano, and agua fresca - all locally sourced - around the backyard table of one of the Institute’s founding families.
This journey is truly one-of-a-kind, and you will leave with a new appreciation for your craft and ready to push the boundaries of your own culinary technique.
Add to Calendar
02/19/2026 12:00:00 AM02/22/2026 11:59:00 PMAmerica/New_YorkCulinary Journey - Taste of Mexico with Chef Yara Herrera - February 19 - 22Come Hungry. Leave Inspired.
Join Chef Yara Herrera of Hellbender for a once-in-a-lifetime 3-day culinary tour in the heart of the Yucatán in support of Oído. Chef Yara Herrera brings a bold, heartfelt approach to modern Mexican cuisine. A California native, Yara has worked in some of the country’s top kitchens—from Spago to Momofuku Ko—honing her craft and deepening her connection to her cultural roots. Now the chef behind Hellbender in NYC, she champions heirloom Mexican ingredients and vibrant, unexpected flavors.
Experience Mexican cuisine in a whole new way
Welcome to southern Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, home to a variety of unique spices, an abundance of fresh ingredients, and an exceptional food culture. Your host for the trip is the Culinary Institute, a local organization designed to inspire and equip young chefs and founded by Scott Lawton, Andy Pforzheimer, and other culinary entrepreneurs. Over the course of three full and exciting days, you will taste your way through this remarkable region and reignite your passion for food and the way it is prepared.
The menu for this trip is unlike any other. You will help source and prepare meals alongside the local chefs from the Institute. Learn the secrets of cochinita pibil and experience the burial and unearthing of this Mayan classic. Haul fish into your boat from the open ocean and prepare ceviche with your fresh catch. Sample lobster pizza and other seafood delicacies beside Holbox’s beautiful beaches. Enjoy coconuts straight from the tree, uniquely delicious Mexican oregano, and agua fresca - all locally sourced - around the backyard table of one of the Institute’s founding families.
This journey is truly one-of-a-kind, and you will leave with a new appreciation for your craft and ready to push the boundaries of your own culinary technique.
Spend the morning with the students of the Culinary Institute as they teach you the ways of the locals and the secrets of a Yucatán delicacy. Later, journey into the jungle for an awe-inspiring experience under the ancient Yaxché - the sacred Mayan tree of life. Hike, swim and relax the afternoon away before feasting on a totally unique dinner and ending the day with a gin tasting from a local distiller.
Enjoy a sunrise hike in the jungle and make your way to Chiquilá to learn the regional history and flavors in the home of one of the Institute’s founding families and sip cocktails by the water after dark. Board a Ferry and explore the bounty of seafood creations that you can only get in Holbox and finish the day with drinks and dinner on the beach.
Wake up with beachside yoga and then enjoy a morning on the water. Board a vessel and head to the open ocean for line fishing and prepare ceviche with your catch. Return to explore the town of Holbox ending your evening with cocktails, lobster pizza, and a culinary experience at Piedrasanta.
