kahlo-mexican-cooking-school

We can now offer you a venue!

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 22:26:37 GMT

We now offer a venue for those unable to host their group. Do you have a group of keen Mexican cooks, but nowhere to hold your class? No need to worry, as we can help with your venue hire. For a small fee we can provide the hosting duties close to Christchurch CBD, so give us a call to discuss a class whether you have a kitchen or not.

Demonstrations now available!

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 21:31:59 GMT

We are so excited to announce that demonstrations are now available at Kahlo Mexican Cooking School!

Whether you are a school, university, club or business we can offer a unique and engaging demonstration on cooking authentic Mexican food! Please contact us for more information and get a quote and experience the best, most authentic cooking classes in Christchurch. ��

Viva Mexico

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 03:56:50 GMT

Mexico, once known as New Spain, was a colony harshly ruled by the kingdom of Spain for over 300 years. The native population was oppressed, farmland and personal wealth were confiscated and only Spaniards were allowed to hold political posts. Finally, a Catholic priest in the town of Dolores named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla had enough.

On September 16, 1810, he rang his church's bell and delivered a speech now known as the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores), demanding the end of Spanish rule. This started the brutal Mexican War of Independence, which lasted over a decade. On August 24, 1821, Spain withdrew and officially recognized Mexico as an independent country. Today, Father Costilla is known as the Father of Mexican Independence.

Mexican Independence Day has been celebrated every year since that momentous day on September 16, 1810.

INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS

September 16 is one of Mexico's most important holidays. Every year, local mayors and politicians re-enact the famous Grito de Dolores. In Mexico City, thousands congregate in the Zócalo, or main square, on the night of the 15th to hear the President ring the same bell that Hidalgo did and recite the Grito de Dolores. The crowd roars, cheers and chants, and fireworks light up the sky. On the 16th, every city and town all over Mexico celebrates with parades, dances, and other civic festivals.

Many people outside of Mexico think that Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo are the same things. Cinco de Mayo celebrates another victory when outnumbered Mexican Army defeated the powerful French militia in 1862 during the Battle of Puebla.

Why I set up Kahlo Mexican Cooking School

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 03:44:20 GMT

As a pre-teen my older sister had just graduated from a prestigious culinary school in Mexico and she was eager to show me the ropes. Every moment from there on in I was my sister’s apprentice, learning all the tricks of the trade. Travel was always something that pulled me, and spending years abroad I found food was what made me feel closer to home, just a little less homesick. I would always try to find a taste of Mexico when travelling, with varied degrees of success.

My search for authentic Mexican food has not stopped since moving to New Zealand, and admittedly it has been difficult to find a real taste of home. Mexican food is really popular here, but it is often a vastly different version to anything I grew up with in Mexico City. Mexican food is so regionally inspired that there is so much variation between the cuisine of one area and another. The Mexican food we have here in New Zealand is inspired by the northern states of Mexico and the Southern states of the USA, this unfortunately means I often miss out on the authentic Mexican food I love and have grown up with.

Missing out on something that was so much a part of me inspired me, I needed to cook my own Mexican food. Especially after coming back from my holidays in Mexico to see my family where I cooked with my mother and sister. I remember making a list on the plane of all my favourite dishes that I wanted to cook with them. When I would learn any new recipe I would add it to my family recipe book, up until now these had been passed down orally and are only now on paper. This in itself was a big task, and was only completed after a number of holidays in Mexico spent together cooking. Every time I returned to New Zealand, I was so excited to share new recipes with all my friends.

I not only enjoy cooking for myself, but love cooking for others. I feel sharing a little bit of my Mexican cuisine with friends is sharing a little bit of myself and my family with them. I love a dinner party, and I am very proud of my country so I began an annual Mexican Independence Day feast, many years ago now. I would spend a couple of days prepping and cooking my favourite authentic Mexican dishes for all my friends. Not only did I get some great feedback, I loved it too. I have always wanted to share my food with others, and the feeling I get when people try my cooking is what makes me happiest. After my first Mexican Independence Day feast a seed was planted. I had so many of my friends asking how I made the food, and I knew I wanted to share my recipes with them. After a discussing and planning with Steve I have embarked on a task to share my love of Mexican food with others.

Kahlo Mexican Cooking School was born of the desire to share with the people of Christchurch my cuisine and what authentic Mexican food is. I named my Mexican Cooking School after Frida Kahlo who was a Mexican painter and now a Mexican icon, she also was married to Diego Rivera, one of the most famous muralists in the world. They are two of the most important artists in Mexican history and are both from Mexico City. Frida Kahlo, is an icon to women in my hometown, a leader who has inspired countless Mexican women like me.

I would love to share my knowledge with you and your friends, so why not get a group together and book your authentic Mexican Cooking Lessons for a fun filled, gastronomic journey in your own home!