About us:
Your Mexican Cooking Vacation Instructors, Patricia Merrill Marquez and Mónica Navarrete Merrill, are a mother-daughter two generation team.
In a way, these women are reviving IMLE. International Memorable Learning Experience. Founded in 1969 by Maria "YaYa" Marquez (Patricia's mother), this Mexican cooking seminar thrived in Leon and San Miguel for over a decade. IMLE was unique for the time.
| Lead Instructor Patricia inherited her mother's interest and delight, and, of course, firsthand experience in YaYa's kitchen. In fact, she frequently assisted her mother with IMLE cooking sessions while she was a young woman. YaYa's own apprenticeship as a young girl in San Miguel included the town's most respected cooks in traditional Mexican favorite dishes. Mónica has a Diploma in High Cuisine and has formal studies in Gastronomy. |
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IMLE had a significant historical impact on the popularity and increasing appreciation of good Mexican cooking in the United States. Many US and Canadian food writers and critics passed through the cooking classes in Leon and later San Miguel at YaYa's own kitchen.
Such renowned chefs and food writers as Diana Kennedy, Rick Bayless, Barbara Hanson, and others came to Mexico in the 1970's and visited IMLE.
Testimonials:
"A number of years ago, when I was cooking with Don Ricardo and Maria Merrill in their cooking school in Leon Guanaguato, Mrs. Merrill laid out the rice rules"
Authentic Mexican Regional Cooking from The Heart of Mexico (p. 266)
Rick Bayless with Dean Groen Bayless
Harper Collins Publishers Inc. 1987, ISBN 0-688-04394-1
"The author wishes to thank Richard Merrill, Instituto Moderno de Lenguas Extranjeras, Leon, Gto., Maria Marquez de Merrill... who contributed to this book"
Mexican Cookery (p. 192)
Barbara Hansen
HP Books, 1980, ISBN 0-89586-038-4