On Thursday, January 22nd, Yorba Linda High School’s Spanish classes had the opportunity to go on a field trip to Northgate Market. The market, located in Costa Mesa, is an authentic culinary destination that enriches students’ understanding of Mexican culture and cuisine. Several classes were able to visit Northgate Market, including Spanish 2, Spanish 3, Spanish 4, and AP Spanish led by Maestra Núñez, Profe Wong, and Maestra Hoffman.
We left Yorba Linda at around 10:30 AM, riding through rainy weather until the market came into view at 11:00 AM. Once there, the first thing you notice at Northgate is color. Bright signs advertise fresh fruit, shelves overflow with spices, and the bakery cases glow with churros, pan dulce, and chocolate flan. Samantha Hernandez (11), an AP Spanish student, comments that “I didn’t expect the size. It was massive! But they control the crowds so well.” After disembarking the bus, we were tasked with a scavenger hunt that encouraged us to learn more about the variety of foods that the market has to offer.
At first, a tour guide escorted us around the market, showing us their famous produce section, tortillería, mariscos, berrería, paletería, churrería, carnitas, and tamalería. While touring all the different stands, we were also able to try food samples that gave us an authentic taste of Mexican cuisine. Something Samantha didn’t expect was that “there were samples everywhere.”
While enjoying the flavors of Northgate Market, we also uncovered the story behind its rich history. According to our tour, it began when Don Miguel emigrated to the US in the early 1960s after his shoe store burnt down. After converting his liquor store to a grocery store, it began to expand. Currently, the family-run business owns 44 stores in five counties, and is committed to providing fresh, healthy, and authentic food while discovering new and creative products.
After the tour was over, students were allowed to venture off into groups to explore the market on their own. Hungry, we decided to eat lunch and ordered from their famous taco stand. We even got to practice our speaking skills by conversing with the employees in Spanish. Other groups split off to the churro stand and agua fresca stand, while others merrily roamed the grocery aisles. “My favorite part about this trip was being able to try different types of food authentically made right there in the store, making the food itself very delicious,” says Gavin Esqueda (11).
With our stomachs full and even a piñata in our cart, we reconvened outside the market at 1:15 PM, arriving back at Yorba Linda at around 2:20 PM. This field trip was not only a fun outing but also an enriching experience that deepened our understanding of Mexican culture, strengthened our language abilities, and reminded us that education goes beyond a textbook and classroom. It can happen anywhere, even in the aisles of a vibrant grocery store.
