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Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007

You came to the right place for Belize Resources and Information.

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You Want Me to do What?!?

by tacogirl 19/05/2018
written by tacogirl 19/05/2018

When I told my trainer Sarah that I was taking a Belizean cooking class, her expression was a close match to the title of my post. Knowing I do not care to cook it was guaranteed to be the last thing she expected to come out of my mouth. While she is right for the most part, I do have a few exceptions. A fun atmosphere, and cooking with other people is generally a couple of them. Plus when you find out you are one of the ingredients in Belizean cooking 101 food tour and you get hand-delivered a Belizean wood cutting board with cheese knife for an invitation, it definitely builds excitement.

Belizean Cooking Class

Our two chefs were Farrah from Dangriga and Kieran from San Ignacio with Felipe being our main guide and his sister Dora was in the background helping out and making sure we were all enjoying ourselves.

After a fast handwash, we started dessert with sweet potato pone and of course, since it was a press tour, a gazillion pictures of Farrah making fresh coconut milk came before any of us started playing sous chef.

Belize Food Tours

Half the group were called to help grate coconut. I conveniently forgot to raise my hand for that job my friend Ashley from Lonely Planet who is also not a big cook decided to try getting busy in the kitchen as you can see from my pic below. Farah was walking checking on the guest graters, while Kieran gave us tips for making sure there were no lumps.

I smiled and kept my lips zipped as Felipe was telling us how we will all be able to cook this at home.

Belizean Cooking Class

Next came making a simple cutino sauce. While the ingredients were few, it took a chefs hand to slice the red onions nice and thin. We folded in 3 parts orange juice and 1 part lime and we mastered the 3 finger pinch for salt 2 finger pinch for black pepper.

Our last bit of the appetizer prep was conch and shrimp ceviche. Then came the moment we were all waiting for – eating. This time our onions were diced. I am not going to lie, this was my best-looking dish of the day and best-tasting thanks to the real chefs. I tried to cook conch once, not an easy task; it ended up like tire rubber. The Ceviche we made was perfect. Now you get the gist of why a non-cook would get excited about cooking class. Even though it was an assisted A+ I can still cross making a tasty ceviche off my list of things I thought I could never do well. I managed to pull off thanks to Belizean Cooking 101.

Belizean Cooking Class

Rum class was next up. Not only did we learn a bit about its history in Belize and where the distilleries are located, we got offered tasters of anything we wanted including cashew and berry wine. Ordinarily, I say yes and pass my alcoholic beverage to a nearby drinker, however, today there was no need. The Belize Food Tour staff was amazing all day at not only making sure our drinks were full but that we were having a good time and did not want for anything. Their virgin zingy ginger lime watermelon juice was a big hit so much so that the pitcher was long gone by day’s end.

Belize Food Tours

Back to the business at hand – cooking. Our main course was the 3 amigos – panandes, garnachas, and salbutes. These foods were passed down from Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Mayan descent) and European culture – technically that means pirates somehow had a hand in things 😀 While Mestizo people can be found countrywide, they are more common to northern Belize in Orange Walk and Corozal districts and to west in Belmopan and San Ignacio.

But first a picture of the Three Amigos. They lit up the room and made us all feel as comfortable as sitting at a friends kitchen table enjoying a holiday meal. Only our version included Punta dancing and we were making fresh made Belizean “fast food” not turkey dinner.

San Pedro Belize

A few of my classmates really got interactive and set foot in the kitchen (the closest I got was the sink to wash my hands). Ottmar of Caye to Belize stirring the pot, Rebecca aka San Pedro Scoop pouring the beans, and chopping onions was Mary Rodriguez aka Tia Chocolate and My Beautiful Belize.

Belizean Cooking ClassBelizean Cooking ClassBelizean Cooking Class

I am sure a few of you are now thinking that I did little to no cooking in my class. The first two pictures below are my proof that I did something besides watch other people cook and take notes – I made masa balls and squished them 😀 Kieran and Farrah did all the heavy lifting dropping our creations in boiling oil to get all crispy.

Belizean Cooking ClassBelizean Cooking ClassBelize Food Tours

I would have done better to take a picture of one my classmates to the left of me, Mary Rodriguez aka Tia Chocolate and My Beautiful Belize and Erin Santiago aka My Tasty Travels and Caye to Belize. Both great cooks and all their food came out looking perfect. While mine tasted as it should, (can’t go wrong when someone is doing half the cooking) they could have been a bit better dressed.

Belizean Cooking ClassBelizean Cooking ClassBelizean Cooking Class

Last but not least it was time for our delicious sweet potato pone made even better served warm in a coconut cup with fresh whipped cream – mmm. I knew it was going to taste good, off and on during the class I kept getting a subtle hint of sweet aromatherapy. It almost made me wish Felipe was wrong and that I would, in fact, be smelling this from my own oven. I will just have to settle for going back to cooking class for more.

Belizean Cooking Class

Belizean cooking 101 is a great new foodie option. Or if you really do not like to cook even in a party setting you can go straight to one of the two walking food tours and eat your way around San Pedro. Visit Belize Food Tours website to find out how you can eat like a local. Click to read what other travelers and locals have to say about this tour.

These tours will hit the mark if you…

  • Are looking for a tour on Ambergris Caye
  • Like trying new foods
  • Looking to spend under $100

Savor Belize Dinner Tour is $72 USD per person, Belizean Bites Lunch Tour is $62 USD per person, Belizean Kitchen 3 course cooking class is $75 USD per person.

Since I talk to her the most of the group, I asked Dora for her two cents about the business and here is what she had to say – We are going to be introducing a shorter class which should be a little less, so stay tuned! Our team absolutely loves to be able to take you to our favorite local places while telling you the stories of the island through food and now we are excited to be able to provide a fun space to fully immerse yourself in Belizean culture; get your hands dirty and learn to make our favorite Belizean foods. It’s the perfect combo. We hope that in some small way, our little company does its part to help preserve the cultures that make us truly unique, the cultures we are so proud to represent. So now when you’re missing Belizean fry Jacks or Salbutes you’ll be able to make them at home, until your next visit.

Related

tacogirl

Laurie Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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Darrell Moore
Darrell Moore
13:15 18 Apr 22
Laurie was super helpful in providing places to eat, things to do and best yet had ongoing blogs that allowed us to... look back on other places that she pointed out. A fantastic resource for both first time and return visitors of Ambergris Caye!read more
B W
B W
18:01 08 Feb 22
Fantastic service .I needed to find a place where I could buy a local sim card as my UK sim doesnt work in belize and... Tacogirl put me on the right path .Decided to walk across town and discovered so much more in beautiful San Pedro.Many thanks.BWread more
Kristi Palm
Kristi Palm
20:40 12 Oct 21
We have been using TacoGirl for what feels like decades when planning our trips to Belize! It has only been a few... years but she is the first place we stop to see what is happening in our favorite vacation spot. She knows all the best spots to get away and do so many fun things - whether it is relaxing or exploring! We are planning our next trip with our twins and she was the first person I reached out to. Knowing we have a resource like her, makes trip planning a breeze!read more
D Zep
D Zep
12:39 01 Oct 21
Found tacogirl while doing some research on an upcoming trip to Belize. This is the place for all the information you... need to plan your vacation. Incredibly helpful and responsive. I sent an email with lots of questions and received a very quick and detailed response that helped us finalize our plans.read more
Kelley Adams
Kelley Adams
20:19 21 Sep 21
We have been following TacoGirl for years now and before booking any trip to San Pedro we check to see what is... currently happening. We love the emails to let us know when a new blog has been posted. Keep up the great work Laurie, we feel like we know you.read more
Pamela Nixon
Pamela Nixon
18:36 20 Sep 21
I first got my Passport in 2012 and Taco Girl was my first connection back then Great then and Marvelous Now! She's... blossomed and developed into a wonderful contact for any and all information Belize. She goes above & beyond to respond with information that you need whether visiting Belize or relocating! I wasn't able to fund the move then but now that I have much more equity I am doing it.This time she was the 1st person I reached out to! Now I am selling and moving to Belize. She responds immediately! Like I do in my Pet Sitting Business! I was so impressed I followed her all this time. And was not disappointed!Pamela Nixonread more
Chris S
Chris S
17:12 17 Sep 21
Wanted to give a shout-out to tacogirl belize for helping us! She is a plethora of knowledge and was super helpful and... responsive in helping us find longer term stay on the island. Thank you so much for your help!read more
Ty Willingham
Ty Willingham
01:47 20 Aug 21
I've spent the last month exploring Belize. I'm retired & seriously considering moving down to Belize permanently from... the US. I contacted the local San Pedro expert "Taco Girl" to help me get started in finding an apartment to rent. With her help, I've located several places that meet my needs & budget requirements. Thank you Laurie!read more
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Greg Cox
18:58 04 Aug 21
I am very glad I found you and asked you a question about a spice in Belize. You helped me figure out the name of it... and where i could buy it. You went above and beyond to help. Thanks again.read more
Katherine Jones
Katherine Jones
18:41 02 Aug 21
I am so grateful for the time and energy Laurie has taken to share about her experiences traveling to and living in... Belize as well as provide thorough recommendations for planning a trip there. I was so thankful (and honestly surprised) that Laurie took the time to respond to several of my questions via email. I highly recommend reading Laurie's blogs and helping to support her business. Thank you Laurie!!read more
Greg R
Greg R
02:12 29 Jun 21
tacogirl was very nice to share her knowledge with us and assisted with planning our trip to Belize; thank you for the... help and info, it was helpful and allowed us to plan utilize our time accordingly while both on the mainland and islands of this great country.read more
Katherine Carlson
Katherine Carlson
18:46 02 Jun 21
As a Canadian—tired of long winters—I cannot wait to spend some time in Belize. I haven't set foot yet, but I am... yearning for lots of Caribbean adventure. Thanks so much to tacogirl for her endless enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. She is a constant stream of up-to-date information. Her knowledge and love of the area is priceless, and I will need her expertise for future endeavours!read more
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Kathleen Ward
18:29 02 Jun 21
We started coming to Ambergis Caye in 2014 and stumble on to Tacogirls blog, so glad we did! We used her 15% discount... at The Premier Duty-Free shop in the airport! It worked great all we did was let them know we read it on her blog . She has great information awesome pictures, we have tried several places she has recommended, all were amazing. Highly recommend reading her blog. Kathleenread more
ksniegoc1
ksniegoc1
17:45 02 Jun 21
It was my first time visiting Belize and San Pedro so naturally I had a ton of questions when it came time to planning... the travel. Taco Gril's blog was an invaluable source of information for all the travel questions in Ambergris Caye. I was able to learn a lot of basic information, as well as many tips and tricks. In addition when I reached out to Taco Girl for advice on finding a local photographer and a restaurant recommendation, she was very quick to respond and gave me many helpful suggestions. She also provided a lot more information from a local's point of view, which was much for valuable than than a typical guidebook. Thanks to her helpful suggestions we were able to celebrate my daughter's birthday at a nice restaurant, and had a great photo family session with a local photographer. I'm very thankful for all her resources and knowledge.read more
Myra F
Myra F
01:30 25 Mar 21
I started coming to San Pedro Belize in 2007 and that is when I met the online presence of Taco Girl. Her blogs on the... island and area are very personable and informative. She gives out promo codes from time to time so watch out for those. You cannot go wrong with someone who was a tourist and now lives here for quality info. Thanks Taco Girl for helping make my trips memorable!read more
Corey Holm
Corey Holm
04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton!I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice... to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
20:58 30 Nov 19
I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local... information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do what... everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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Belize Blog Est. 2007

belize travel specialist

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation. If you have any questions or want Belize help planning and booking, please feel free to contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

A few childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age. Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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