Cooking classes for all

In the heart of Oaxaca, Seasons of My Heart founded 31 years ago, invites you to step into its kitchen and discover the flavors of Mexico. You’ll be guided by Chef Kaelin Ulrich Trilling and his team, learning the skills and stories behind Oaxacan cuisine. An unforgettable day into one of Mexico’s most celebrated food cultures. This class is open to everyone, whether you are a professional cook, curious, or a lover of good food.

From the land of Oaxaca to our table
A chef-led day of culinary immersion

Immerse yourself into the biggest market of Oaxaca and learn about the foods from different regions and their cultural significance. In small groups, led by Chef Kaelin, you will taste and learn about traditional foods and beverages afterwards we will travel together to the cooking school for a hands-on class and prepare five course meal.

Every Wednesday

Starting at 9am to 4pm

What to expect

9am

We will meet at the Central de Abastos Market in Oaxaca City. This bustling market is a hub of commerce and culture and a living reflection of Oaxaca’s rich heritage and agricultural abundance. The largest market in the state of Oaxaca offers a sensory explosion, with vibrant colors, the aroma of fresh food and spices, and the sounds of vendors calling out to sell their goods. 

Our guides will help you navigate the indoor stalls, open-air areas, and a maze of alleyways filled with vendors to sample the uniquely Oaxacan offerings, such as local heirloom fruits, vegetables and herbs, fresh Oaxaca cheese called quesillo, the local delicacy chapulines - roasted and spiced grasshoppers - and different of dried chiles. We will have an opportinuty to try all the flavors of tamales, barbacoa and the iconic beverage of the gods tejate.

12Pm

We’ll travel together to the Seasons of my Heart Cooking School located at the Rancho Aurora in Etla, a small agricultural community in a lush setting a half hour outside of Oaxaca City. 

Upon arrival, we will be welcomed by the team and learn more about the story of the cooking school and why Susana settled on this magical piece of land.

The chef will explain the menu, Oaxacan culinary traditions, and the ingredients and processes we’ll use to prepare our meal. Everyone will grab an apron and enjoy a hands-on experience of preparing dishes step by step, learning techniques and tasting along the way.

3PM

Finally, we get to enjoy the fruits of our labor, sitting down to enjoy the meal we prepared together that celebrates the abundance of the season and the range of flavors unique to Oaxaca, accompanied by traditional beverages. 

5PM

With new skills and a full tummy under your belt, we’ll be droven back to Oaxaca City and say hasta pronto. 

From our students experience

“This is more than a cooking class, it felt like someone opened the doors of their beautiful home, and let us into their world and rich history, what an amazing experience.

From a tour of the Mercado de Abastos, to the beautiful hacienda, we learned about family history, oaxacan ingredients, and original cooking style, definitely recommended this class, Kaelin in my opinion is more than a renowned chef, is a human being full of empathy for everyone tourist and the local vendor.

We enjoy tremendously our meal I couldn't believed we amateurs can prepared such a great dishes.”

Cesar Haro
United States
July 2025

“An amazing experience! Very well organized. A perfect amount of time spent exploring the market and cooking at the school. Thank you! 10/10 recommend!”

Brianna Clarke
United States
June 2025

“Two friends and I had a brilliant experience at Seasons of my Heart cooking school in August 2025. Kaelin brought us through Oaxaca’s largest food market where we tasted and learned about local dishes and ingredients, and later we were guided through preparing and cooking a five course meal. Every part of the experience was fun and interactive and we were made to feel completely at home at the family-run cooking school in the Oaxacan countryside. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in learning about Oaxacan cooking - thank you to Kaelin, Sofia, Norma and Mago for their incredible hospitality and teaching!”

Tom Heron
Ireland
August 2025

Upcoming dates

Included in the session

All foods and beverages tasted at the market included

A lecture about the history of Seasons of My Heart

Five-course meal preparation lead by our team

A gift from us to take and make at home

Practical Information

The tour and class is generally conducted in English and can be offered in Spanish

Some of the recipes are prepared in pairs

Classes are designed for adults, kids are welcome to join

Still have questions?

Reach us by Whatsapp +52 951-508-0469

MARKET TOUR & COOKING CLASS

  • The market tour and cooking class are primarily conducted in English, but our chefs and guides are fluent in both Spanish and English. You'll have the opportunity to learn new vocabulary and practice your Spanish (or English) with our local staff and fellow participants.

  • We operate tours and cooking classes for a minimum of six and a maximum of 18 attendants.

  • If we need to cancel the class due to low attendance, we will notify you via email by the Monday prior to your scheduled event. You will receive a full refund, along with options to reschedule and a discount on a future class.

  • We are usually able to accommodate dietary restrictions. Please let us know of any requests or allergies when booking the market tour and cooking class.

  • Please contact us as soon as possible at info.seasonsofmyheart@gmail.com or by phone at + 52 951 508 0469 (from the United States) or from Oaxaca at 951 508 0469.

    *If you are unable to come the day of the class, please let us know and we really appreciate it!

  • Absolutely! Whether you’re a family, a group of friends, or a wedding party, we offer customized tours and private cooking classes tailored to your needs. Contact us with your preferred dates and group interests, and we’ll create a memorable experience just for you.

  • Yes! You may join us for the lecture and hands-on cooking class portion of the day, starting at 1 PM. You would need to provide your own transportation to Seasons of my Heart Cooking School and then you can  ride back with the rest of the group.

  • A staff member will meet you at the market for the tour. All of our guides speak English and are highly qualified to guide you through the market as you meet the vendors and taste their wares. Chefs Susana or Kaelin Trilling typically conducts the lecture and supervises the cooking portion. When she is not available, another member of our staff, who has been with us for over 20 years, Yolanda Giron leads the lecture and cooking portion of the class. Classes led by Yolanda are identified on the website.

  • Our Wednesday classes usually feature an appetizer, soup, salad, mole or main dish with tortillas and a dessert, featuring seasonal ingredients. They change constantly so it is possible to take more than one class and have a different menu each time. We try to accommodate dietary restrictions/requests as much as possible, but please let us know in advance.

  • Yes! We love sharing the kitchen with kids and will provide age-appropriate tasks to ensure everyone can participate at a level they're comfortable with.

  • No kitchen experience is necessary! Our friendly staff is always available to assist you, and our recipes provide clear guidance. The lecture portion will cover any tricky parts of the preparation, and your fellow students are typically eager to collaborate. Everyone works together in teams, with tasks suitable for all skill levels. If you'd prefer not to cook, you're welcome to relax, enjoy the atmosphere, and savor the meal!

  • In addition to food items, the Central de Abastos Market offers a variety of artisan goods, including handmade textiles and pottery. Please bring cash (pesos) if you plan to shop at the market.

    Seasons of My Heart Cooking School also has a small on-site store, featuring a selection of our signature products such as mole paste, chocolate, jellies, sea salt, and herbs. You'll also find a variety of pottery, wooden handicrafts, handwoven textiles, and Susana Trilling’s cookbooks, among other unique items. It’s the perfect place to take home a piece of Oaxaca’s culinary and artisanal heritage! Payments are accepted in pesos, US dollars, and credit cards; however, we do not accept personal checks.

    Tips for our talented and hardworking staff are always welcome and can be given in pesos.

  • If you need to cancel your class, please notify us as soon as possible by replying to your confirmation email or using the contact form below. We provide:

    • Full Refunds: For cancellations made by the Sunday prior to your scheduled Wednesday Market Tour & Cooking Class.

    • Partial Refunds (50%): For cancellations made more than 24 hours in advance.

    • No Refunds: For same-day cancellations or no-shows.

    Thank you for your understanding!

SPECIALTY COOKING CLASSES

Join us for a unique culinary experience that celebrates two Oaxacan treasures: cheese and chocolate. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn the art of traditional cheese making, from fresh curds to quesillo, and explore the deep history and techniques of Oaxacan chocolate. Guided by our cooks, you’ll taste, create, and discover how these staples reflect the land’s generosity and centuries of tradition.

Cheese-making class

Learn how to make quesillo, queso fresco and requesón from scratch and discover the cultural roots of cheesemaking from Reyes Etla and the role it plays in Oaxacan cuisine. We’ll finish with a delicious tasting and five-course meal.

Chocolate-making class

Step into the heart of Oaxaca’s sweetest tradition with our hands-on chocolate-making class. You’ll roast cacao beans, grind them by hand on a metate just as its been done for centuries. Learn the deep cultural significance of chocolate.

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