Our Mission
Mérida Eats! represents the culmination of our passion for the food, the culture, and the people of Mérida. Our mission:
- Share with others the richness of Mérida’s culture and cuisine.
- Promote locally-owned restaurants that offer quality food, attentive service, and authentic ambiance.
- Support local community service projects undertaken by the International Women’s Club of Mérida. They provide scholarships for women pursuing professional education, and charities that help women and children.
Founders Allison Morrill and Cliff Rugg
We first came to Mérida on our honeymoon in 1979. Little did we imagine at that time that we would return in 2004 and make it our retirement home! Part of what we always enjoy in Mérida is the rich variety of food that is readily available, whether we choose to cook at home or eat out.
In November 2019 we visited Oaxaca and attended a tour sponsored by Oaxaca Eats Food Tours. We were so impressed and inspired that we knew right away we’d like to undertake it in Mérida. With the mentorship and guidance of owners Dean and Kay Michaels, we dared to launch Mérida Eats!, modeled after their enterprise.
Did we need to start a new business in our “golden years”? No way! But we saw it as an opportunity to support the best local restaurants (many in our own neighborhood) AND raise funds to help Yucatecans in need.
In 2020, after only one season of operation, the pandemic forced us to cease operations. In 2026 we are thrilled to begin again, through an entirely volunteer effort by our dedicated and knowledgeable “foodie” guides.