In Search of Maiz
A Culinary Retreat to Build Community: Food. Borders. Neighbors.
KhabaarCo’s Culinary Retreat to Oaxaca MX
DATE: August 18-23, 2025
LOCATION: Oaxaca, MX - All-Inclusive
COST: $5500 per person
(Hotel, food, excursions, immersive experiences included)
SIGNUP: Email writemadhushree@gmail.com for Itinerary & Payment terms
KhabaarCo, a global literary salon & supper club highlighting changemakers, activists, writers, & chefs presents an exciting culinary retreat mindfully curated in the vibrant food, textile & indigenous capital of the world - Oaxaca, Mexico.
The all-inclusive once-in-a-lifetime retreat in the heart of Oaxaca at the luxurious Becino boutique hotel, surrounded by culinary excellence, mezcal history & tasting will highlight maiz, or corn. We will learn about how Oaxacans respect the land, food & community & how we then can build our own space with respect, joy & passion for an indigenous food & people.
The retreat will include curated & exclusive Oaxacan market visits, visiting the Zapotec town of Teotitlan del Valle, to cook with Reyna Mendoza , participate in mezcal tasting at Oaxaca Central, meet ancestral indigenous textile artisan Josefina, heirloom corn farmers of Oaxaca, & speak with local cultural and food historians at Atzompa, honor & eat what they grow. A time to deeply reflect on food, words, borders, culture & how to be better neighbors.
We will speak with renowned Oaxacan culinary experts & cultural ambassador Carlos Hernandez, participate in cooking demos, pottery classes, mezcal tasting, cocktail demos from Oaxacan masters with discussions on food, writing/journaling, & building community with chef, TEDx speaker, KhabaarCo founder & author Madhushree Ghosh.
The retreat will include curated meals, mezcal tasting, introduction to writing about food - no experience necessary! Let's explore together.
Photos by Gary S. Greer
Interested in Attending?
Fill out this form and we'll get in touch with more details or email writemadhushree@gmail.com
Working Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Becino
Dinner in Oaxaca Centro
Introductions at Becino
Purpose of "In Search of Maiz"
Conversation on Oaxacan history, food, and how to use food as a social justice tool in writing and in building a community.
Day 2: Teotitlán
Teotitlán market visit
Cooking with Reyna Mendoza
Lunch
Teotitlán textile demo visit
Day 3: Maíz - a journey through time
Meet local historians at Mitla caves
Introductions to farmers, community members with an intention ceremony
Mezcal tasting with Don Jeronimo
Discussion on mezcal history, region & cuisine
Day 4: Oaxaca Centro
Writing exercise, discussion on how we can help each other, be mindful & how to use privilege effectively
Optional museum day - Museum of Cultures, Museum of Textiles
Evening mezcal tasting
Day 5: El Chilar, Mitla, Atzompa Pottery
El Chilar brunch: retreat members’ reading
Monte Alban archaeological site visit: the doors of the underworld
Atzompa pottery studio visit: pottery exhibit-demo by Oaxacan master potters, experience pottery/clay throwing at studio
Dinner at local Centro restaurant
Day 6: Travel Home