Oaxacan Cuisine Interactive Workshop: Learning Corn-Based Dishes and Techniques
5.0
53 Ratings
Oaxaca de Juárez
Join our interactive Oaxacan cuisine workshop to learn corn-based dishes and techniques. Discover the Nixtamal process and enjoy delicious meals prepared by passionate cooks.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Colón 807 - We are going to meet at the local market. We will buy the ingredients we are going to use later for the cooking class and explore the local fresh options we’ll have. Then we’ll head to my cooking studio to get a deeper introduction to the ingredients, process, and dishes we’ll prepare. We are going to pay special attention to the Nixtamal process and its importance in the development of Mexican gastronomy and culture.
Remember to contact me before booking your experience so that I can make the proper modifications to the menu according to your food restrictions or preferences.
Once we are settled and refreshed with some fresh Aguas Frescas (flavored infused traditional drink) we are going to start preparing the food, I’ll assign to the participants different tasks and responsibilities in order to achieve our main goal; having our three-course-meal menu prepared.
Remember that some dishes could be modified to fit diet requirements like vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and others.
What's Included
- Carbonated beverages
- Tea and coffee
- Snacks
- Lunch
Meal Options
- Assorted snacks and coffee - The Nixtamal process takes time. In the meantime, we’ll cook the complements like fillings & salsas. We’ll have the option to grab some appetizers
- Fresh made tortillas and salsa molcajeteada - Here’s where the magic happens, we’re going to transform corn into real tortillas and eat them with some salsas and toppings (that we’ll prepare too).
- Memelas, Tetelas, Tlacoyos - Using the same masa (dough) that we got before, we are going to get fancier and prepare some more elaborated and richer meals.
Additional Information
The experience is on hold until we can ensure complete safety for our visitors.
This workshop is incredibly hands-on; the preparation of the food we will all be enjoying is a team effort with you as an active participant. Regardless of whether you’re a novice in the kitchen or a seasoned chef, all I ask is for your enthusiasm for cooking.
In the process, I will narrate some stories, particularly those from my discovery and survey of the Oaxaca state, chiefly from La Mixteca and the Central Valley areas. Ultimately, we will all savour the dishes we’ve created. I will guide you through a few simple approaches to make your food irresistibly appealing (as they say, the first bite is with the eye!)
Given that Mexican and, specifically, Oaxacan cuisine is heavily reliant on corn, we’ll spend time understanding this critical culinary element. We will also delve into the Nixtamal process, which forms the crux of Mexican gastronomy and culture.
Location
Plaza de Las Nieves
We are going to meet up at the fountain at Plaza de las Nieves. You'll recognize me easily, I'll be carrying a hanging basket.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(53 Ratings)
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Charles_m
Feb 5, 2024
Viva La Salsas! - Obtaining the ingredients in the Mercado, I learned some new and unique flavors of Oaxacan Chile's and cheese. The mango salsa was wxcellent. I now can prepare my own salsas from basic ingridients. The process to make the masa and to prepare tortillas very edu ational.
Review provided by Viator
U7546hylesliec
Feb 1, 2024
A most lasting impression of culture, community and food as medicine, history & community - To me, this is one of the top highlights of our trip. Luis is such a profoundly dedicated man to traditional food, how each ingredient is prepared and cooked to bring out its optimum, inherent medicinal purpose. You can feel his passion and respect that runs so deep. To learn of food that equates culture, history, community, politics all that cannot be separated from its life force and ancestry, is so vital to know and to feel. The food was so fresh and alive from choosing its ingredients from the local market as he shares stories, to preparing it slowly and mindfully with love and respect, to its end result of sitting together and enjoying the feast that we all created together. What a beautiful cultural experience, one that has stayed with me days later and one that I know made an imprint in me forever more. Thank you Luis. Cannot recommend Tortillas, Nixtamal and Salsa workshop enough. I look forward to bringing my husband within the year to meet you and to be fortunate enough to come again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wideyedone
Jan 29, 2024
Delicious, interesting and super thorough cooking class in Oaxaca - Well, that was a great experience! Luis’s cooking class was fun, super well organized, full of interesting information, and to top it off delicious (I can’t believe how many different things we made and ate!). We started off in the market where we did a bit of an impromptu tour, we bought “groceries” from various local vendors - each accompanied by an interesting story. Come to think of it, now that I’m trying to write a review, there were so many different elements, tastes, quick trips, unscripted moments throughout our day they’re really too many to mention. I’ll put it this way to summarize: that was my very first cooking class, and I learned far more than I ever thought I would have, and enjoyed it so much! The time flew by. I would definitely recommend this class for anyone interested in having an authentic, culturally sensitive, detailed & delicious experience.
*side note ~ I was super impressed that Luis brought along his own containers and utensils, in order to not create unnecessary waste when buying our supplies for the class. I ended the afternoon having a clear conscious and feeling proud that I participated in Luis’s class. (not to mention a very full tummy) gracias Luis!🙏🏽
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lizzyc567
Aug 31, 2023
A wonderful way to learn traditional Oaxacan cuisine, Nixtamal & tortillas. - This was an incredible class and experience. Nomad Cook knows their stuff and it was so helpful to learn about the history, culture and technique of Oaxacan cuisine including the amazing, almost sacred process of Nixtamal, Masa, and tortillas. We also learned about ingredients by touring the very non touristy Mercado Merced, stopped for Oaxacan ice cream from a local street vendor, and went to a community mill to have our Nixtamal ground into masa.
We made a huge lunch too with fresh made blue corn tortillas we made, and made several salsas, salads & side dishes as well as Quesadillas. This was traditional, fresh, healthy food that's also vegetarian and vegan friendly.
This is a smaller company so you’ll have a more intimate, hands on experience. It’s also right in the Centro district so unlike some other classes you won’t spend time on a bus driving to and from a cooking school outside of town, which is a great option:
Highly recommend Nomad Cook!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chini
Aug 30, 2023
Truly enjoyable experience - Luis is a very personable guy and he’s also a good teacher with an easy going personality. He customized the class to our needs, vegan and vegetarian. His place has a lot of charm and he cares deeply about the culture and the environment. The market shopping was exiting and the final meal delicious
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adam
May 27, 2023
Spectacular cooking class - Luis is an excellent cook, and photographer had a spectacular sense of flavor was really patient and the food turned out mind blowing
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Companion59268001490
May 6, 2023
Great course to learn basics of Mexican cooking and more - Such a great experience! From shopping at the market, to visiting the mill, to making the tortillas themselves, it was all very interesting and really fun. The food was excellent and we now have some great recipes to use. Luis is a great cooking instructor. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ansgarb2018
May 6, 2023
Amazing Oaxana Food - Super nice cook explaining all the food and the related culture. We learned a lot and did some amazing recipes in a very nice environment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debra_r
Mar 29, 2023
Great experience!!!! - Luis was wonderful! Learned a lot from him about food in Oaxaca and its beautiful history. I love the fact that he supports local entrepreneurs and is environmentally conscious 👍👍👍
The cooking was hands on and the best part is eating what has been made.
Great experience for anyone looking for authentic recipes without a pretentious
environment and a great teacher.
Review provided by Viator
Cruizinjay
Feb 25, 2023
Tortillas like you've most likely never had them - The title containing "tortillas" is what caught my eye and the experience Luis provided did not disappoint! But, wait, there's more. Salsas and guacamole and a wonderful soup. And, you create it all with Luis by your side guiding and couching. An absolutely wonderful way to spend a morning.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
