Additional Class Information  
Rancho La Puerta
             
             
             
 
 
  CLASSES ~ RANCHO LA PUERTA  
The entrance from the herb garden to the dining area at La Cocina Que Canta.   Salvador Trinjeromia the Head Gardener at Rancho Tres Estrellas, the 6 plus acre organic garden adjacent to the cooking school.   The students pick a few vegetables (predetermined by Marie and Salvador) for the day's cooking class and return to the kitchen arena excited and ready to cook.   The bounty from the garden changes with the seasons.   Along with four adorable and fully competent culinary assistants, Gina, Elizabeth, Alejandro and Celia, I cook side by side with the students throughout class.
Rows of multicolored flowers and herbs are planted next to the rows of vegetables. We learn techniques, knife skillets and flavor combinations. Everywhere you look at the ranch you find beautiful artisanal crafts and art work. Before the class begins the culinary assistants organize the ingredients and equipment for the students.   In fall rows of golden marigolds grow between the rows of cruciferous vegetables.
This beautiful sculpture (one of many at Rancho La Puerta by Victor Hugo Castenada) sits in a meadow between two bountiful fig trees. In season I harvest the ripest figs, photograph some in the lovely lady's lap and share them with guests.   Several different varieties of spinach are ready to be harvested by the students.   Culinary School Consultant, Antonia Allegra, Marie, the visiting teacher and La Cocina Que Canta Chef, Jesús González.   View from the kitchen window to the bright and sunny inside courtyard.   The entrance from the herb garden to the dining area at La Cocina Que Canta.
 
   

The classes are held at La Cocina que Canta, the kitchen that sings. And sing it does. The students gather around an enormous butcher block work space, each with their own cutting board, razor sharp knives, and ingredients piled into brightly colored Mexican pottery bowls. For the first few minutes the students, all outfitted in bright blue aprons affixed with name tags in extra large and bold type, tentatively begin to organize their cooking adventure. Soon the singing begins: Voices hum, pots and pans clink and clatter, knives chop chop, water splashes and food sizzles in hot skillets. Yes, we're cooking.

This sense of joy and community is contagious. And it's why I love not only the process of cooking, but being a cooking teacher. Sometimes in the midst of all the cacophony I give myself a brief moment—and only a moment—to reflect on the positive energy in this beautiful brightly tiled space. I think to myself," If success is to be measured by laughter and a keen sense of fun, learning and adventure, then the cooking school at Rancho La Puerta—La Cocina Que Canta— is indeed a raving success.

This is why I love the ranch and adore teaching classes there. The "kitchen that sings" makes me happy beyond measure.

But, that's not all.The other reason I love teaching here is the astounding six acre organic garden and colorful flower gardens surrounding the large adobe building that houses the school.

Read more about the gardens — Rancho Tres Estrellas — and Salvador their dedicated head gardener in a feature I wrote for my Bay Area News Group monthly column, Simmons Sez, on May 6, 2009.

   
   
All Rights Reserved © Marie Simmons | Photographer: John Smith