What's Cooking?

What's Cooking?

The regional specialties simmering in Oaxaca's kitchens are reason enough to visit the city. Whether you want to master a mole or be an expert on the multicolor chile peppers at the local market, cooking courses offered by some of the city's top chefs are a great way to immerse yourself in Oaxacan culture. Pilar Cabrera (951/516-5704www.laolla.com.mx), proprietor of La Olla restaurant, offers private or group classes in which you prepare a five-course meal. If you take private lessons, you can choose which dishes you'd like to learn and classes usually start with a market visit to select ingredients. The most exclusive course is by Casa de Oaxaca's Alejandro Ruiz (951/514-4173 or 951/516-9923www.casaoaxaca.com.mx), who's take on Nuevo Mexicano cooking is the best in the city. Casa Sagrada (951/516-4275 or 310/455-6085www.casasagrada.com) in the Central Valley town of Teotitlan offers half-day cooking classes or weeklong courses that focus on Zapotec specialties.