Oaxacan Tamale Experience
Oaxaca cooks with corn, and this night is a corn class from end to end. You mix masa by hand and learn hydration the way it is actually taught, by feel, then let it rest while the rest of the meal comes together around it.
You wrap your tamales flat in banana leaf, which is how Oaxaca does it, and load the steamers yourself. The leaf is not packaging. It perfumes the masa while it steams in a way a corn husk cannot, and everyone opens theirs at the table at once, over the plate, with the leaf left down as the liner.
While the masa rests and then steams, you cure a curtido in salt and build a sopa de tortilla: a tomato caldo from scratch, with tortilla strips you fry yourself, avocado, and queso. The same corn shows up twice, soft and steamed in the tamale, crisp and fried in the soup.
Then everyone sits down and eats it together.
On the menu
- Tamales in Banana Leaf, Oaxacan style: fresh masa mixed by hand, filled with pollo con salsa roja, wrapped flat in banana leaf and steamed
- Sopa de Tortilla: a tomato caldo built from scratch, with tortilla strips you fry yourself, avocado, queso, and lime
- Curtido: cabbage cured in salt with onion, carrot, oregano, vinegar, and lime, for crunch and acid against the masa
What's included
Chef-guided, hands-on instruction, all ingredients and equipment, and aprons. You make the full menu, then sit down and eat it together. The recipes go home with you.
What to bring
Just your appetite. Everything is provided, and you are welcome to bring wine or beer to enjoy with your meal (BYOB).
Knowledge required
None. Beginner-friendly through advanced, all are welcome.
Suitable for
Adults of all skill levels. Good for date night, for friends, or for meeting other people who like to cook. Kid-friendly too: ages 14+ with a participating adult, and younger with advance approval. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice.
Upcoming dates
Oct 30, 2026
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Book$135
Want a different date?
Looking for a private night for two? Our Date Night is made for couples.
Make it a Date Night →What guests are saying
“My mom and I took this pastry making class for her birthday and had the best time! We made three different desserts, and everything tasted amazing. The class was intimate, with only about seven other people, which made the experience feel personal and gave us the opportunity to learn so much. It was such a fun activity to do together, and we would absolutely recommend it!”
Danielle Romerovia Google“Such a great experience and the class was wonderful for all three generations in our family! Great food, fun instructions, and Mark was very knowledgable. Definitely recommend and we plan to cone again!”
“Such a fantastic experience! We were lucky enough to find Life Plus while looking online for a cooking school appropriate for our teenage son. The 3 hr format allows for so much depth - hands-on cooking from scratch, basic and advanced techniques and skills, and they eat as a group. I was worried 3 hrs would be too long but Marc and his staff are so engaging, it's perfect. Just signed up for another session!”
KB Mvia Google“Sara was our Thai cooking class instructor, and she was lovely, thoughtful and a very good teacher. She accommodated any preferences, allergies, etc. She carefully explained each ingredient and its impact on the dish. It's obvious that Sara really cared about what we learned and wanted us to enjoy the experience. We ate in the dining area after each dish, and when we returned the kitchen had been reset and prepped for the next dish. The kitchen is clean, neat and the location felt very secure (it was an evening class). It was a delicious meal and a lot of fun. I look forward to cooking the dishes and taking another class there.”
“I had a such a great time in the sushi making class! Marc is an amazing teacher and is with you every step of the way. I felt confident that I could actually go it alone and continue building my skills. I also really enjoyed meeting and connecting with new people. Will definitely be returning for more classes.”
Tamika Lewisvia Google“Our instructor was very knowledgeable and fun to be with. His instructions were clear and easy to follow. Class was delicious and taught us skills im sure ill never forget!”