The winning bidder will receive one week at Cocinar Mexicano, in the mountain village of Tepoztl¡n, an hour from Mexico City, for any of their scheduled culinary immersions in 2007 or 2008. 

Cocinar Mexicano has been featured on Epicurious, Food Arts, O
Magazine, and recent editions of Lonely Planet and Frommers. 

All About Cocinar Mexicano 

With daily hands-on classes taught by a team of expert instructors, technique sessions offered by local village women, and guest meals prepared by some of Mexico's most innovative restaurateurs and chefs, these week long retreats teach not just the basics of a remarkable culinary tradition but the thinking that inspires it.

Participants are based in the picturesque village of Tepoztl¡n, an hour's drive from Mexico City, where they enjoy luxury accommodations at one of the following: the grand Posada del Tepozteco, whose terraced gardens overlook the cobbled streets and open-air market for which the town is justly famous, Las Golondrinas, an intimate country B & B down in the valley, or Casa Bugambilia, a small, lush resort on the edge of town, with sweeping views of the mountains. Following a sunset reception at the Posada and a morning market orientation the next day, they prepare five full menus - one for each day of the week - that form a veritable encyclopedia of Mexican cooking. They cook each morning in a beautifully appointed local kitchen, feast each afternoon on their own work, and spend the afternoons and evenings in a rich array of leisure and cultural activities. There is plenty of free time to take in the natural beauty of the surroundings, as well as to visit local homes where you will sample the fare of other cooks. Each Cocinar Mexicano workshop includes a day of curated dining and culinary sightseeing in Mexico City, with meals at their affiliated restaurants and a Q & A with the chefs. Their base in Mexico City is the splendid JW Marriott, one of country's top-rated hotels.

All of their week long sessions are built around one of Mexico's traditional fiestas, such as January's celebration in the barrio of San Sebastia¡n, La Candelaria in early February, November's glorious Day of the Dead, or the Posadas that lead up to Christmas, affording participants the chance to plunge into the processions, rituals, music, and of course to experience the delicious moles and other dishes that are the soul of Mexican life. Excursions to nearby museums and archeological sites, along with optional recreational activities such as swimming, hiking, adobe sweat baths and massage, complete what promises to be an unforgettable experience in one of Mexico's officially designated "magical villages." 

Go to htttp://www.cocinarmexicano.com for further details and a schedule of upcoming workshops: