Dining for Destinies, a fundraising program to support Jovenes Adelante’s outstanding but underprivileged university students, will host its first public event, a salsa cooking class by Maestra de Maestra de Cocina Mexicana (teacher of Mexican cooks) Kirsten West, January 12 from 11 am. – 4 p.m. “Only 14 people will be able to participate,” said organizer Diana Ellsworth, “so we are publicizing this popular event early.
West is an international chef and cooking instructor who has studied regional Mexican cuisine for more than 25 years. Her teachers have ranged from Diana Kennedy to Mexican cooks to Rick Bayless, both recipients of the Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca (Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle), the highest recognition given to foreigners for disseminating Mexican culture through food.
Kennedy is considered the person who almost singlehandedly put Mexican cuisine on the world map. During West’s eight-year collaboration with Bayless, considered the top US chef specializing in Mexican food, she tested all of the recipes for three of his cookbooks – and there were thousands! Through this experience she and Bayless created food lines for Crate and Barrel and Williams Sonoma.
West offers her students the complete Mexican culinary experience at her cooking school, La Piña Azul Escuela de Cocina. Her highly informative, culturally and historically rich and fun cooking classes range from easy-to-make, delicious and nutritious home cooking to more elaborate offerings. “This class will be simple, showing how minimal cooking can make an enormous difference in your meals,” said West.
After more than 50 years studying, exploring, and fine-tuning Mexican recipes, West is truly a master of Mexican cuisine. Wearing an apron she wore in her nursing days and a lace head wrap made by her grandmother 100 years ago, she brings experiences from her days at Neiman Marcus and with Mick Jagger to make every event spectacular.
“My goal teaching my classes is, no matter which cuisine, to show how to make tasty meals from fresh ingredients, that are also easy to prepare at home,” said West. “Discover how to enliven your favorite dishes with Mexican classic salsa. You will love the results,” continued West.
The Dining for Destinies Salsa Cooking Class with West will be at La Pina Azul Cooking School at Orizaba 39A between Refugio and Sabino in Colonia San Antonio. In addition to the class, participants will receive a meal complete with wine. The price is only $65 or $1,200 pesos, and participants will receive a recipe from Diana Kennedy as well as new ability and satiety from the meal.
Reserve your place today by contacting Dining for Destinies Salsa Cooking Class Organizer Diana Ellsworth at bonjourdianae@gmail.com and paying by check to Jovenes Adelante (La Conexion, Box 49A) or online at JovenesAdelante.com.
By Robin Loving
- What: Cooking Class
- Title: Salsa Cooking Class to Benefit Jovenes Adelante
- Date, time: Thursday, January 12, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Where: La Pina Azul Escuela de Cocina
- Address: Orizaba 39A between Refugio and Sabino
- Extra info: 415 112-3413
- Cost: $65 USD/$1,200 pesos