Cooking School

Prices

Saludos! Thank you for your interest in Oaxaca's Seasons of My Heart Cooking School at Rancho Aurora.

Rancho Aurora is nestled in the hills in a picturesque rural setting with a breathtaking view of the Oaxaca valley. SEASONS OF MY HEART COOKING SCHOOL offers a host of opportunities for everyone interested in food:
DAY CLASSES, LONG WEEKEND CLASSES, WEEK LONG COURSES, LOCAL MARKET TOURS AND ARTESAN CULINARY EXPERIENCES.



OAXACA REGIONAL TOURS
* Culinary Tour of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the Pacific Coast - January
* Wild Mushroom Hunt and Culinary Tour in the Sierra Norte - August
* Vela Zandunga, Isthmus of Tehuantepec - May
* Gay Vela Muxe in Juchitan, Isthmus of Tehuantepec - November
* Chile Lover's Tour! La Cañada,Chile Chihuacle Harvest and the Mixteca - November

OTHER REGIONS OF MEXICO
* Regional Culinary tour of the Yucatan Peninsula Carnival Tour - February
* Veracruz Vanilla and Spring Equinox Celebration Tour - March
* Regional Culinary tour of Chiapas - May

Our comprehensive courses and tours to give you an insider's knowledge of Mexican culture through its cuisine and an experience of Mexico most visitors never see. Susana Trilling, teacher, chef, writer and television host will teach you to work with the native foods of Mexico. The classes, culinary tours and lectures focus on pre-Hispanic foods, traditional
culinary, medicinal and spiritual herb usage, as well as Spanish influences on the contemporary Oaxacan kitchen. Some are based on the book and PBS series SEASONS OF MY HEART; A CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH OAXACA, MEXICO.

The participation-based classes are combined with market tours and demonstrations in local homes and cottage industries to immerse the students into the Mexican culture.


Schedule


COURSE OPTIONS:

1. DAY CLASSES
We start at 9 a.m. at a designated pick-up point. The classes are usually held on Wednesdays to enjoy the Etla market. The students are taken on a tasting tour and buy some ingredients for the class menu. After a light lunch, we head out to Rancho Aurora for a lecture on Oaxacan cuisine and a presentation of the day's ingredients. Then everyone grabs an apron and we create and enjoy a five-course meal. (transportation back to Oaxaca City at around 6 pm).

2. HALF-DAY CLASSES
Join the group at 1:00 p.m. at Rancho Aurora for the lecture on Oaxacan cuisine, the hands-on cooking class, and the five-course meal. Return to Oaxaca at around 6 p.m.

3. LONG WEEKEND THEME COURSE
These are designed to immerse you in the cuisine, culture and many aspects of pueblo life. We visit local markets, molinos, chocolate and cheese makers. Artist demonstrations, archeological and culinary tours are included with three hands on cooking classes at the school. These specialized long weekends cover a specific theme or region of Oaxaca
State:

* Escape the Winter Blues and Explore Oaxacan Gastronomy and Culture long weekend course - March
* Welcome the Summer Rains long weekend course - June
* Guelaguetza long weekend course - July
* Vegetarian Summer Harvest and Wild Mushroom Hunt long weekend course - August
* Anniversary Course - Chefs' Intensive long weekend - October

These weekend courses are usually 6 nights and 5 days, hotel included.

Six person minimum, twelve person maximum.

GUELAGUETZA
This tour is for those of you who want a more intense cultural and well-rounded culinary experience - really exploring the foods of the seven regions and seeing how the locals celebrate a festival that is uniquely Oaxacan. It is always a lot of fun and a hit with family groups, restauranteers and chefs. In this 6 day course, we study the foods of the seven regions, complete with one day of foraging for and preparing wild mushrooms in the mountains, walking in the colorful calendas (parades) and attending a Gueleguetza Festival on Lunes de Cerro. Oaxaca City comes alive as it welcomes people from all nations and we cook our way around the state in our hands-on classes while sampling the culinary treasures of Oaxaca.

Six person minimum, twelve person maximum.
Sign up for an extra class to give yourself a week long cooking course.

4. WEEKLONG THEME COURSE
This is a rich, intense experience, which explores a region or a theme with four full participation class days and three days of culinary and cultural touring. In addition to cooking, we may visit a mountain village home where we will rediscover the lost art of grinding chocolate for mole on the metate. Or we might visit markets, a mezcal factory, cheese or bread makers, archaeological ruins or my neighbors' kitchens. The focus is on pre-Hispanic food and its modern adaptations.

DÍA DE MUERTOS
Seven-days of learning about this wonderful traditional holiday that is literally a feast for the eyes as well as a gastronomical experience. We do hands-on classes in traditional chocolate, bread and mole making, plus build an altar. Trips to a few small village homes, graveyards and a lot of dancing with the “muerteros” to fully participate in this mystical and magical fiesta.

Six person minimum, fourteen person maximum