Oaxaca - Mole, Mezcal & Mexican Cooking

Oaxaca | November 2026

One of the experiences we were most looking forward to in Oaxaca was learning more about the region's famous cuisine.

And what better way to do that than through a traditional Mexican cooking class?

Our class was hosted by Chef Gerardo, whose beautiful home was surrounded by bougainvillea.

We were welcomed by Maria, who prepared delicious Mexican hot chocolate. Naturally, I decided that adding a little coffee would be an excellent idea.

There was also an unexpected guest in the bathroom: a cockroach!

I decided it was preferable to keep the bathroom door open so I could keep an eye on our little friend. Apparently, privacy wasn't going to be an option.

Time to Get Cooking

I had been slightly concerned that our cooking class might involve something particularly challenging, such as chopping off chicken feet or removing the head of a chicken.

Fortunately, nothing quite so dramatic was required.

Most of our work involved relatively simple food preparation.

The most entertaining part was making tortillas.

It turns out that flattening the dough is only half the challenge. Removing the delicate tortilla from the plastic and transferring it onto the hot cooking surface without tearing it is a skill that requires considerably more practice than anticipated.

There were definitely a few attempts that had to go back for a second try.

Eventually, we got the hang of it.

Our menu included mole verde with picadillo, Aztec soup, and quesadillas filled with Oaxaca cheese and zucchini flowers.

Everything was absolutely delicious.

Chef Gerardo also encouraged us to share what we'd learned with family and friends — and not to be stingy!

Discovering Mezcal

Oaxaca is also famous for mezcal, so naturally we were interested in learning more about this traditional spirit.

Between tastings, exploring local establishments and discovering the different flavours, mezcal became another memorable part of our Oaxacan experience.

The cooking class was easily one of the highlights of our visit. It was relaxed, entertaining, delicious and a wonderful opportunity to learn about local culinary traditions.