Traditional Cooking Class with Minerva Lopez

We had high expectations for this tour and they were absolutely exceeded. The market tour was very informational and we even got to see where maiz is processed. The cooking experience in Minerva Lopez’s home was absolutely incredible since she has so much knowledge to share. Overall a major highlight of our trip and we hope to return soon!

Rare and wonderful! Sandy our guide and Tonya Minerva’s daughter picked us up and took us for a market tour. It was nice to see and have experienced guides for the market. Minerva’s outdoor kitchen was amazing. We love to cook and the food, ingredients and cooking methods were a great opportunity to learn so much more. We learned to make an amazing mole and to cook tortillas on the Comal. She shared with us her 8 year journey from a suggestion that she do a cooking class for a couple interested in learning local cooking methods to now with regular groups traveling through her home. Our experience for so special with Minerva and her team. We are particular about how we spend our time on vacation and prefer this mix of smaller, personal and local experience. We highly recommend!

Everything was great from start to finish! The pick-up was on time. The market visit was informative. Minerva's teaching technique was thorough yet easy to understand. The food we made was delicious. And digital recipes were sent to me at the end. I took three different classes with Minerva. All were taught in her beautiful covered outdoor kitchen, over a wood fired stove, with her attractive and functional garden in the background. I found Minerva to be a patient and kind person. She showed how to do things first and then let the students take over. She was always willing to demonstrate a second time or offer tips on technique. For example, tips on how to make and then cook a tortilla or how to spread the dough out to the proper thickness for a tamale. Minerva definitely helped me become a better home cook and I would take classes from her again.

+2

Such a great experience from start to finish. We picked up fresh ingredients at the market and were transported comfortably in an air-conditioned van. We made Mole Amarillo, two salsas, Memelitas, and Quesadillas de Flor de Calabaza, and the whole class was very hands-on. Minerva was great, and honestly, the experience was everything you would hope for in a traditional Oaxacan cooking class. Also, a big thank you to Sandy, our translator, and Minerva’s assistant Elena, who were both so kind and generous throughout the experience.

+1

I did a fair bit of research trying to find which would be the most authentic mole cooking experience. I'm very glad that we selected this one as right from the beginning we were picked up at the meeting location in an air conditioned bus, went to the market to select all of the ingredients that we were about to use to prepare the mole and then drove out to the countryside to a beautifully authentic home where we proceeded to get step by step instructions on how to make a beautiful mole negro. The experience was professional and authentic, end to end a great day. Would highly recommend.

+6

This "class" was everything you'd expect a great cooking class to be. Fun, informative and hands on. Our host was a wonderful and patient guide. Just getting a feel for moving the soft, freshly pressed, masa from the press to the comal and then flipping it without burning your hand! We learned to make a variety of classics including a woderful mole and two spectacular salsas, all to be consumed later in the afternoon. The market experience (the largest in Oaxaca!) was wonderful as well. If you want to learn some of the basics of Mexican cuisine, and you want a master to teach you, this is the class for you. What a blast!

Such a cozy experience that I wouldn’t imagine not doing while visiting Oaxaca. Learning the traditions around cooking mole and being able to take this home with us is exactly what we were looking for.

We had a good time learning to make the best mole from an expert!

Talent- patient and educational. I loved my opportunity to learn from Minerva and her family/staff. The market trip was definitely a highlight, too. One of my favorite markets ever!

It was the best experience of the whole trip to Mexico, Doña Minerva is incredible. She is an amazing chef, strong woman and she uses food to employ women and help them by building an amazing community and sharing her huge knowledge with foreigners like us. It’s the best experience to both learn new dishes, learn about local culture and also support a female owned business and community. I will remember this day forever.