Cooking Classes From The Isthmus With A Tehuana

If you want to have a great meal AND start to learn about Oaxacan cuisine, take this class! Betsaida and her team organize an unbelievable day, with a trip to the market, then back to her beautiful kitchen space to cook and learn, and eat! But it's not just a yummy meal - you will come away with some real knowledge about the ingredients, as well as some of the cooking tools and techniques. Be ready to really cook and not just stand by and watch! The size of the group is small, which allowed for real conversations with the other participants about our collective travels and food experiences. I've taken other cooking classes that are fun but forgettable, where I ate well but didn't learn much. This is the opposite of that and will be a highlight as I look back on the trip to Oaxaca.

We had an incredible experience cooking with Betsaida. From start to finish, we learned so much about local food culture, ingredients, cooking processes, and tools. Her cooking expertise is informed by her family traditions, local ingredients, and intuition, and she shared all of this with us with so much kindness and she truly opened the doors for us to learn about and fall in love with the food of Oaxaca. We made salsas, tortillas, molotes, mole negro, and mango sorbet with mezcal flambed plantains. Betsaida encouraged all of us to be involved and present in as many steps of the process as possible. I cannot recommend this experience enough. It has been a highlight of our trip to Oaxaca. ¡Me encanta Oaxaca!

What an incredible experience. Betsaida was a a wonderful host from the moment she picked us up, through the shopping at the market, directing us on how to cook an amazing meal, and delivering us back to the drop off point. She was 100 % genuine profession, warm and welcoming. We’ve visited Oaxaca many times and eaten at some amazing restaurants. After taking this cooking class, I can honestly say, instead of going to a great restaurant in Oaxaca and buying an excellent dinner, take this class, become part of the process, and with Betsaida’s gentle and humorous coaching, create and share a world class dinner with family and new friends. You’ll also learn about the culture, laugh, drink mescal, and have an experience that surpasses any dinner I’ve had in town. One piece of advice, come hungry!

Bethsaida is a cheerful, friendly woman that gave our group of friends a fun and informative cooking class. I truly appreciated the small class size that allowed each person to have a hands on experience. The large kitchen space provides an ideal environment for cooking and viewing the process of each person's tasks. Bethsaida created a fun and joyful atmosphere. I liked that we were able to eat after each course, and did not have to wait for one big meal at the end. I have taken cooking classes around the world, and this was my favorite cooking class experience. I highly recommend Bethsaida's cooking class.

We also went on a food tour with Bethesaida the day before. From that, we knew that Bethesaida was a warm, friendly, and well-loved resident of Oaxaca. She treated us like family, making an effort to talk to each one of us and really get to know us. Our groups, in both cases, responded in kind and our time together was most pleasant. We started our day with a trip to the market to buy the ingredients for our meal. Then we went to Bethsaida’s home. The kitchen in which we cooked was large and well-equipped. And the food she taught us to make was absolutely delicious. It was a day we will remember always. We highly recommend booking this experience.

I'm so glad I booked this cooking class! It was such a wonderful experience. From the market buying fresh ingredients, to the lovely outdoor kitchen and we had a great group. It was intimate, educational, and memorable! We learned recipes that we can recreate back home. Book this experience, you won't regret it!

We spent part of our honeymoon in Mexico, and our day with Me Encanta Oaxaca was our absolute favorite experience of the entire trip. We booked the private class and spent almost the whole day with Betsaida cooking, eating, drinking, talking about our cultures, and just laughing together. It never felt rushed or touristy, it felt like being welcomed into someone’s home and family. The food we made was incredible (and there was a lot of it), but what really made it special was Betsaida herself. She’s a wonderful teacher, warm, funny and genuinely interested in sharing Oaxacan culture, not just recipes. Very highly recommend. If you’re in Oaxaca, do this. It’s honestly unforgettable.

Me Encanta is a must do experience in Oaxaca! Bethsaida is an exceptional chef and teacher. From purchasing fresh herbs and meal ingredients from market venders to making green mole and other delicious authentic dishes, including cafe de olla, the entire day was unforgettable. It was the highlight of our visit to Oaxaca! I can’t recommend it more highly.

Amazing exeprience ! We highly recommend, we had a great time with Betsaida ! Thank you for sharing so much about traditions, dishes, customs !

The most complete and hands on cooking class we’ve ever taken! Betsaida was delightful, experienced, and gave attention to detail from the market to plating of the delicious meal! Her assistant was always there to assist to make for a smooth running class. Her beautiful kitchen took my breath away! It is a long day so would recommend for teenagers and older. We came away full of amazing food and a rich cultural experience. Recommend in every way!

My teenage daughter and I had an amazing day cooking Oaxacan food with Betsaida. Betsaida is an excellent host, cook, educator and cultural ambassador for Oaxaca. We learned a lot, cooked delicious food, had a wonderful fun time with the other participants and our host. The market tour at the beginning of the day was a great start to the experience and the atmosphere in the colorful kitchen was amazing. We highly recommended the tour to other travelers.

This was such an incredible experience. Betsy is an absolute doll - warm, inviting, and unquestionably an excellent chef. You walk into her incredible kitchen and it's like walking on to the set of a cooking show. It's so beautiful, incredibly appointed, and laid out so there's plenty of room for everyone. The menu selections (sent in advance so you can let her know what you'd like to cook -- appetizers, main course, dessert) were awesome, and you can find options for cooks with little to no experience in the kitchen all the way up to experienced. One member of our group is pescatarian, and she was very easily accommodated by Betsy's expertise (note that there are many vegetarian options on her menu as is - we just wanted tamales and she adapted her masa recipe to make it vegetarian!). All the members of our group were adults, so Betsy had plenty of beers & mezcal for us, as well as an incredible agua fresca (pepita & lima with chia seeds - refreshing and so delicious), and her delicious hot chocolate. It does get hot in the kitchen, so be sure to wear something comfortable. Also, you're on your feet, so wear comfy shoes. We loved it and we loved Betsy! When we come back we'd love to take this class again just so we can spend some more time with her and her sweet dogs! We love you, Betsy!!

Really fun class. She's both knowledgeable and enthusiastic with local taditional techniques. Market visit and menu options were a plus as well.

We had so much fun with this class.. The instructor is fabulous, and the food was wonderful.. Definitely worth the time!

this cooking class was a wonderful way to spend a day in oaxaca (and how i chose to spend my birthday this year)! betsaida was a fantastic host and teacher, educating us about all the ingredients that we picked up in the market. everything was colorful and delicious! she has the kitchen set up in stations that our class of 6 people (which is the max class size) rotated through - so we all got to do a little bit of everything. there were snacks and guacamole and salsa and drinks available throughout, plus we made and decorated empanadas and mole’. lots of fun, so much food. i highly recommend this class!

There were alot of cooking classes to choose from in Oaxaca and I am so glad I selected this one! It was a fantastic experience, start to finish and Betsaida is an extremely vivacious, knowledgeable guide and cook. We met at the market where she expertly guided us in the purchase of ingredients for the meal we would make. She also helped me purchase local honey and Chiapas coffees. Back at the cooking kitchen, we (my husband and I and our 12 & 16 year old daughters) all very much enjoyed cooking mole, quesadillas, salsas, enchiladas, etc. My 12 year old even tried the snacks: chapulines and flying ants. My husband and I have taken quite a few community cooking classes in the US and this by far was a unique and informative experience, with new ingredients and techniques. I highly recommend any of Me Encanta Oaxaca's classes or tours as it will undoubtedly enrich your understanding and appreciation of Oaxacan culture.

We have taken many cooking classes in Oaxaca. Prior to the class, Betsy allowed us to choose a dish that we wanted to cook. We chose a plantain dish because we can get them in Texas. The class was attended by myself, my husband and a family of three from Norway. We worked on many dishes so when we were done we had a feast. Betsy gave easy to understand instructions, and we cooked in her outdoor kitchen. All of our dishes were great and we throughly enjoyed the class!

This was definitely our best day in Oaxaca. First we went together to the market to do some shopping for the cooking. Then Batsaida drove us all to her home where we made snacks and a three course meal. One of those was black mole. It was great fun, with very good guidance from Betsaida. Even our 16 year old daughter thought it was great. Definitely worth the time and money, and a memorable day from our trip to Mexico.

This was one of the best experiences we’ve had in Mexico! You not only get a tour of the market to buy your food to make a three course meal but also learn about the history of why food.

Went for a cooking class with Betsy and it was the best meal I had in Oaxaca! We cooked different dishes with pre-Hispanic roots, tasted Betsys homemade chocolate and hot cocoa, had mezcal that was perfectly paired with the food we made and can say I learned a lot of cooking skills I will use back home. Of all the cooking classes you can take this feels very local, authentic and will not disappoint your tastebuds!

Highly recommend, what a fun day! Absolutely loved this cooking class! It was a highlight of our trip to Oaxaca . Betsaidas passion for Oaxaca culture and cooking really shines through in her classes, the food was so delicious. The whole experience of shopping local, cooking & eating our yummy creations together made for a truly memorable Mexican experience.

Wow, wow, wow! Best cooking class ever! We took the Me Encanta Oaxaca food tour previously, and were so impressed with Betsaida that we decided to do her Cooking Class too. And we are so glad that we did! From the moment she picked us up, to the stroll through the local market collecting fresh ingredients (produce, meat, cheese), to the preparation of several delicious courses in her home kitchen...everything was amazing! We prepared two appetizers, a main dish and a dessert...and enjoyed authentic Mexican coffee, local beer and mezcal as we cooked and ate. And we learned about the culture of Oaxaca throughout the day. It was an unforgettable experience, and we highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Mexican food and spending time in the kitchen making delicious dishes!

Class with Betsy was excellent! You can do the class in Spanish or English, and it was a great way to practice my Spanish and learn more about Oaxaca from a local perspective. The food we made was delicious and Betsy was a great instructor. Highly recommend!

The cooking class with Betsaida has been a highlight of our trip in Mexico, and is one of the best classes I've ever taken, full-stop. We could really feel Betsaida's spirit and beautiful energy through the food we made and shared together. This was much more just a cooking class -- it was a joyful cultural and spiritual experience. Betsaida is an amazing host, chef and teacher, and shared so much of her heart and soul with us. She shared with us the significance of mole negro in Oaxaca, and how her recipe is a combination of both her mother and mother-in-law's recipes. We used a mortar and pestle that has been in her husband's family for multiple generations. We used herbs and spices that grow only in Oaxaca. It made our meal that much more special. The mole itself was delicious - the best I've ever had, with such depth and complexity. Betsaida paced the class really well, and all of us in the class (there were 4 of us in total) were able to try our hand at every step of the process - from roasting chiles to grinding seeds to frying plantains and many more steps in preparing our multi-course meal. This was an unforgettable experience, and such a joyful one. We had only three days in Oaxaca, and this was a full day excursion - and well-worth it! It was THE highlight of our short trip. I wholeheartedly recommend this class. We're already planning our trip back and hope to try Betsaida's other offerings, such as her food tour.

Betsy is a wonderful host, really great chef and dedicated teacher. She was really keen to give us a great experience and have us explore a wide variety of food and drinks.

Betsy was an exceptional host. Truly could not have asked from more from a local cooking class. Small group size, individual attention, hands on learning, ability to help chose the menu, and great food. You go to the market to purchase the ingredients and learn about local produce. Then a trip to Betsy’s home, where she has a professional kitchen to transform the ingredients from the market into a 3 course meal, plus substantial snacks. Everything you eat is made from scratch. No prepared ingredients. Overall, a great day with a lovely and enthusiastic host.

The cooking class with Betsaida was amazing. The class was small and intimate, and the fun started with a wonderful market tour where Betsaida led us through buying most of the ingredients for the day. She then drove us back to her home where she has a special purpose built kitchen, which is well laid out and colourful. We cooked three dishes (which we selected earlier on in the week) and made a variety of salsas and dips. Betsaida was a great teacher (and in fact was a teacher in a past life, and it shows in her wonderful instructive style). She was also hugely entertaining, full of life, and gave us an insight into the culture of Oaxaca but also of her home. We had a variety of drinks and sampled many (perhaps too many!) mezcals throughout the day and generally had a huge amount of fun. In between we actually did quite a bit of the cooking and made everything we ate, but it never felt for a second like hard work. This was certainly the highlight of our trip to Mexico so far and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

We had a lovely experience with Betsy! Betsy was very friendly, welcoming and energetic. She had a lot of knowledge about local foods and native ingredients, which she shared with us in a perfect English. Betsy provided us with a menu choice for the cooking class the night before which was very extensive and interesting to choose from. The cooking class went by fast with some small breaks in between to taste appetisers and have some beers/mazcal. I would highly recommend a cooking class with Betsy when you’re in Oaxaca! Thank you Betsy :)

We visited Oaxaca specifically for the food and Betsaida's cooking class was our favorite part of our trip! We will likely never have an experience quite like this again. The class started with a tour of the market, during which Betsaida took the time to explain all of the ingredients we were buying and also give recommendations on places to grab food. We then headed back to her beautiful kitchen, out in the mountains just outside Oaxaca city. Our main dish was Mole Negro which involved hours of hand grinding and roasting dozens of ingredients. It was by far the best Mole we had on our trip, much better than the variety of the places we tried it in Oaxaca, and we learned so much making it. Betsaida did an excellent job of managing the kitchen, educating us on the culture of Oaxaca, and ensuring every student got a chance to do every part of the process. There was never a dull moment! Would highly recommend!

We had an amazing time with Betsy! The dishes were all delicious and prepared in a traditional way. She welcomed us so warmly and explained a lot, not only about the food but also about Mexican culture in general. We also prepared very tasty vegetarian options. Overall highly recommended!

One of the best cooking classes I have experienced. Betsy is very knowledgeable and encourages you to be part of the cooking class. At the end of the class, my wife, sister and I left with the desire of wanting to learn more.

Taking this cooking class with Betsy was one of the highlights of our Dia de Muertos week in Oaxaca. She was prompt in her communication and picked us on time from the lovely Jardin Cabrahal right in the Centro historico. She took us to the small but glorious Mercado Sanchez Pascua, where she talked us through the freshest ingredients, teaching us about local fruit and finds. We were each given a grocery bag which she filled with produce and such that we needed for our meal. She then drove us to her impressive kitchen whereupon our transformative culinary adventure began! Our group of four had picked the huitlacoche empanadas as the appetizer, the mole negro (black mole) with chicken as the main course - served with plantain chips and a savory rice - and a fruit (fresh zapote) sorbet with flambéd fruit on the side as the dessert. Betsy is very detail oriented and encouraged us four constantly through the steps, never pausing to guide and teach. Her cooking utensils are a visual treat. Making the black mole under her guidance was definitely a lifetime moment! It is DIVINE!! This was a very hands-on class that enhanced every aspect of our culinary skills. Starting with the selection of the produce, exotic spices and herbs, prepping and understanding when, why and how to use the traditional mortar and pestle, vs the blender, timing to add ingredients in the cooking process, and flambéing. We also learned to plate. And, yes, you will get the holy grail of Oaxacan cooking from Betsy, if you choose to. The table service was excellent, and we were also served hors d’oeuvres of chicharron, chapulines, a delightful guacamole with black corn and yellow corn chips, Oaxacan cheese cubes, chocolaté agua and the pan de Muertos. Mezcal, beer, drinks and water flowed freely. Betsy is a very special and gifted chef, educator and food historian with many talents. She is genuinely interested in learning about other cultures and makes sure you leave sated in spirit and appetite. Note: She diligently adheres to all safety precautions.

Tired of gringo style Oaxacan food? Does the concept of "taco shells" filled with hamburger helper make you wince? Even if you don't cook, please spend a day with Betsy and become enlightened. Learn the concept of farm to table at the local Mercado, choose the freshest ingredients, and prepare to be awed by Betsy's ancestral talent in the kitchen. You will take a bit of her magic home with you, and even if you never touch another mocajete or roast your own chiles, next time you're presented with and "authentic" you will have the wisdom to see the truth. Betsaida (Betsy) will make it easy for you with her winning smile, charming personality, perfect English, and wonderful sense of humor. A full day of learning was never so much fun! Your reward will be a spectacular Oaxacan meal that YOU helped to prepare. You will eat like a Zapotec king. Buen provecho!

It all started with Betsy picking us up from our hotel (me, my wife, and two adult kids). We then drove to a community mercado to pick out all the fresh ingredients. The cooking class was in Betsy's beautiful home. The personal attention that Betsy and her husband gave us made this a highlight of our trip to Oaxaca! Not only did we get a fantastic cooking class where we prepared an excellent and delicious meal but we also received a great lesson in Oaxacan culture! Betsy and her husband were excellent hosts and made us feel like family!!! We highly recommend her class!!

Best time in Oaxaca, Betsy is a wonderful woman, so nice and pleasant. She is a great teacher, and gives a lot of extra knowledge. She gave us personal attention and was so friendly and kind. The cooking was fun and delicious. We started by going to the local market to get our ingredients which was a lovely and authentic experience, and then we went to Betsy’s house to cook, the experience was absolutely wonderful, we highly recommend, it’s not something you wanna miss.

Betsiada and her husband were wonderful hosts. The day was really well planned, from the trip to the community market at the start to the meal itself. Betsi knows so much about oaxacan and isthmus culture and is an engaging and enthusiastic teacher. The cooking class was ideally paced so everyone had a chance to get involved and practice the techniques. Her husband took fabulous photos throughout the day and made sure the mezcal cup was always full!

Our family - my husband and I, my mother-in-law, and our daughters (ages 4 and 12) - had such a great day with Betsaida and her husband. It was a highlight of all of our travel experiences. Betsy is a very special human being and she made us feel right at home in her kitchen. And it was so delicious. We can’t recommend this experience enough!

BEST DAY EVER!! I was so excited to take a mole cooking class in Oaxaca but Betsy far exceeded any expectations. She has such a wonderful style about her that the cooking is easy and feels natural. I loved the way she incorporated her culture and history into the processes which just added to the atmosphere. We took some of the leftover mole back to our hotel and had it with tortilla chips - so delicious and smooth. I highly, highly recommend Me Encanta Oaxaca for the experience of a lifetime.

The whole experience was great and it was a joy to meet our hosts in person! We started with a market tour as we shopped for the ingredients for our class and after a quick drive to the location, we got to cooking. It was organized, really clear instructions and overall, they have the perfect space to teach, for one to cook and to enjoy the experience. Betsaida and her husband have really gone out of their way to make you feel welcomed at their home and to cater to your needs as you cook, explore their culinary identity and help you be adventurous with the cuisine of the region. We thought it was the best meal we had while Oaxaca and the best part, it was made by us! Betsaida is warm, caring, super friendly and has thought about every detail to make your class quite the experience!

There are many cooking classes -- but this is the one to do! We took a class with our 20 year old son, and it was a highlight of our trip to Oaxaca! After selecting our menu, Betsaida took us to local market to pick the freshest ingredients for the day. We then went to her state of the art kitchen, and we prepared an authentic Oaxacan meal that was amazing - who knew how complicated a mole could be! Along the way, Betsaida told us about her culture and the local history. This is a passion project that she started recently, and we were the beneficiaries of her devotion to Oaxaca. She and her family are so much fun to be with, the food is top notch, and we had a wonderful time. Highly recommend this cooking class!

Wow! what an experience. The whole process was amazing and Betsaida was so kind and welcoming and wonderful. We started at the market and picked up the raw ingredients and then went to her place where she had a beautiful and open kitchen and we got to make some of the best food we had in Oaxaca. 10/10 experience and would definitely recommend

Our cooking class with Betsaida was the best food we had in Mexico, and we helped to make it! She spoke excellent English and she was able to guide us masterfully through the many dishes we chose to make. Our 14 year old son ended up participating so much more fully than he expected to, and he learned some good basic skills. "Betsy" was so much fun to cook with. She made the experience festive and she helped us to understand how to adapt the ingredients and processes to what we have available in the U.S. I have already used much of what I learned. 100% recommended.

Betsaida is knowledgeable and an amazing teacher! We had a wonderful time spending the day with her and cooking in here beautiful kitchen!

Loved this class. Food we made was EXCELLENT, I learned a lot about the local culture and traditions

This was the BEST DAY EVER!!! Betsy is by far the most wonderfully engaging, informative, charming, and professional guide, teacher, and host. The day before the cooking class I took her food tour in the city which was a great introduction to the culture. My time with her was absolutely extraordinary, and by the end of it I felt like I had truly experienced Oaxaca. We started at a local market buying the freshest produce, meat, and supplies. Then, she drove me to her home where she had a gorgeous private kitchen waiting for us, and prepared for our feast. The next few hours we cooked a hearty soup, decadent mole, and sweet dessert completely from scratch. She was even willing to teach me solo on CHRISTMAS!!! I mean, who does that?! She is a total gem of a human and anyone who visits Oaxaca simply must do her cooking class AND food tour!

I celebrated my 60th birthday by taking a mole cooking class with Betsy. It was FANTASTIC! Betsy is so fun, her English is great, her cooking knowledge is amazing, and it was a true highlight of my trip to Oaxaca. She started by picking my and my husband up at our hotel. Then we went to the market to purchase ingredients. It was so interesting to see the different foods at the market. Then we went to her house where we cooked. Her Mom, Dad, and husband were there. They were her sous chefs. All of them were so nice and friendly. We learned so much about how to cook mole. The food was so delicious! Without a doubt, do not miss this when you're in Oaxaca.

I did the cooking class with Betsie and it was amazing. The day started with her picking me up from my hotel and we went together to "Mercado Merced" to buy groceries for the cooking. The market itself is very well organized and clean and has a different vibe than Mercado Benito Juárez for example. Later Betsie drove us to her house, where. The kitchen is. It is around 20-30 minutes drive away from the city and it gives you a chance to see other areas around Oaxaca, including some of the amazing mountains and views around it. All along the way I Betsie gave me information about Mexico, Oaxaca and cooking, and answered precisely to every question I had. The kitchen is really clean and well equipped, besides Betsie that was really nice I got to see her generous husband and cute son as well. During the cooking, Betsie gave a lot of explanations about cooking and we talked in a really good environment. She is nice, funny, great cook, humble, and very generous and happy. There was music, I got beer and appetizers and the whole day was in a really good environment. I cooked "Molotes de plátano" for appetizer, "Mole negro" for the main dish, and "Carlota" for dessert. Only when you cook it you get to know the real Mexican kitchen, and with Betsie the experience is even better and you get to learn a lot. I highly recommend it especially thanks to the amazing Betsie that made this day really fun, tasty, and full of tons of added value.

During our stay in Oaxaca, doing a cooking course was at the top of our to-do list. After some searching on Tripadvisor we came across Betsy's day course. Without a doubt I booked 2 tickets and our anticipation could begin. On the day of the course, we got an app from Betsy that the course would be just for me and my husband and we met at the local market in Oaxaca, after which the fun could begin. Betsy had sent us a selection menu in advance and based on our choices we went shopping at the market. Fresh vegetables, masa, meat, cheese. Betsy showed us everything and talked enthusiastically about the ingredients that make Oaxaca's cuisine so tasty. After the shopping she took us to her cooking studio and started the fun. Full of dedication and enthusiasm, Betsty taught us how to make those tasty dishes. After an intensive cooking session (you really need to get to work!), we were allowed to snack on our meal. After which Betsy brought us safely back to the center of Oaxaca. Afterwards we received the recipes by email and she also answered all the questions we had about certain ingredients. If a cooking course in Oaxaca is on your wish list, don’t hesitate to follow it at Betsaida. Because this friendly woman knows better than anyone how to translate the passion from the Oaxacan cuisine and provide you with a tasty afternoon. Betsaida, thank you! We will meet again in the future.

I don't know where to start. There are many things we liked about this class. But the reason we chose this class was because it is a small, 4-person class. We made no mistake about our choice. The class was amazing. The fact that it is a small group gave us the opportunity to participate in all the dishes we made. We did absolutely everything; burn the chilies, grind the seeds, make the tortillas, dessert. Etc We decided to cook as a starter tacos with Oaxaca cheese, black mole with chicken and rice, and as dessert mango carlota. Everything was delicious. The delicious mole. Learning how to make Oaxacan black mole was an incredible experience. Takes you to the local Market to buy all the fresh produce that will be used for the class. In his house and kitchen we felt very welcome and comfortable. She's super friendly and funny. While the class is taking place, it offers you some beers, mezcal, snacks, fresh water. Etc. In short, an experience not to be missed if you come to Oaxaca.