This is the official website for Culinary Adventures, Inc. founded in 1989 by Marilyn Tausend (1932-2018), cookbook author and Mexican culinary guide, with Carmen Barnard Baca as her Mexico Coordinator.
Marilyn, with the assistance of Ricardo Muñoz Zurita, Ana Elena Martinez, and Carmen Barnard Baca, conducted culinary trips to Mexico for over 30 years which have been highlighted in many publications including Travel and Leisure, Food Arts, Bon Appetit and the former magazine, Gourmet.
Today, Chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita and Carmen Barnard Baca, are honored and proud to carry on and invigorate Marilyn’s legacy with new and profound approaches to seeing Mexico’s culinary riches.
Welcome to the site and please contact us at office@culinaryadventuresinc.com if you have any questions.
Mail: 821 Ocean Crest Rd, Cardiff, CA, 92007. Phone/Text: (760) 577-2810
MEET OUR CREW
Cecilia Gaitán
Cecilia is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in project management, regulatory compliance, and business consulting, with a specialized focus on the restaurant and hospitality sector. She currently serves as an Analyst at the Ministry of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (SECIHTI) in Mexico City.
Her extensive background includes a six-year tenure as Administrative Assistant to renowned chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita within his culinary research department. During this time, she specialized in quality management implementation and ensuring strict compliance with official food safety standards (NOM-251) across the Azul Restaurantes group.
Jafet Duran Camacho
Jafet is a culinary researcher and operational strategist keeping our gastronomic vision grounded in authenticity. Jafet’s deep knowledge of Mexican cuisine was sharpened over nearly a decade working alongside Chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita, where he coordinated high-profile gastronomic events and structured the historical research and standardization of traditional recipes.
Managing research teams in Mexico to consulting and training kitchen staff internationally at La Brasa in Boston, Jafet has become great at turning culinary heritage into flawless, structured execution.
Ana Sofia Reynoso Barnard
Ana Sofia is an avid eater and multifaceted artist. She has 16 years of hospitality under her belt; from working in the back of house for a small catering company in San Diego, to working as a barback, server, bartender and Maitre D in high demand restaurants in New York City.
Her dance career allowed her to work in New York City, various countries in Europe and brought her back to her native Mexico. Through her international career she has gained her own palette for wine, travel and art. Additionally for the past 10 years Ana Sofia has worked part time for a tour operator based out of New York City gaining insight on how to work in administration and data entry.
By combining her diverse professional experiences, Ana Sofia brings together cultures, traditions and curiosity in both creating our trip itineraries and guiding our travelers on site.
Wilmar Rodríguez
The newest addition to our team, Wilmar is a creative person with a 15-year background in photography and music. His expertise extends into the culinary world, where he has performed as a professional barista, coffee roaster, and passionate home cook in his native Paraguay, New Jersey, New York City and now México.
Having managed operations and quality control at a New York City specialty coffee shop for several years, Wilmar pairs a meticulous eye for detail with strong leadership skills. His years as an educator further equip him with exceptional group dynamics and trip organization capabilities, making him a vital asset to our collective journey.
Reservations, Cancellation & Refund Policies
Space is limited on all trips and reservations are accepted in order of receipt of a $550(U.S. currency) deposit and a signed application for each participant. Total payment is due 60 days prior to the start of a specific trip. While every consideration will be made for those with medical or dietary concerns, these must be discussed in advance.
Notification of cancellation must be received in writing from the participant. At this time, the following refunds will apply: 60 days or more prior to trip starting date, 50% of deposit; 31-59 days prior to trip starting date, 65% of total trip cost (including single supplement); 30 days or less prior to trip starting date, no refund. It is strongly recommended that participants obtain medical/trip cancellation insurance. In the event Culinary Adventures, Inc. must cancel a trip, all fees will be returned. However, participant expenses incurred in preparation for the trip (e.g., non-refundable purchased airline tickets) are not the responsibility of Culinary Adventures, Inc.
