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!!