Seasons of My Heart Cooking School

An unforgettable culinary adventure in Oaxaca! We attended Seasons of My Heart Cooking School as part of a group culinary adventure, and it was truly the highlight of our time in Oaxaca. From start to finish, it was a fantastic, immersive experience learning about Oaxacan cuisine—especially the deep traditions behind mole and time-honored cooking methods. Chef Kaelin and his incredible team guided us through preparing beautiful, multi-course meals using traditional techniques. We made everything from chocolate and cheese to roasting chiles for complex moles, along with delicious soups and desserts. Every step felt hands-on, thoughtful, and rooted in culture. Add in music, mezcalitos along the way, and the warmth of the team, and it simply could not have been a better experience. Chef Kaelin is also wonderfully inclusive, thoughtfully accommodating all eating styles—meat eaters, vegetarians, and pescatarians alike. The entire team created a magical, intimate, and joyful cooking experience. I highly recommend Seasons of My Heart if you’re looking for adventure, connection, and unforgettable food in Oaxaca.

This was a wonderful immersive experience that I would recommend to anyone looking for a deep dive into the foods of Oaxaca. Chef Kaelin was a superb guide, taking us through the largest market in the city where we sampled food and met many of the vendors who have supplied top quality ingredients to his family for years. We stopped frequently for fascinating explanations of the cultural history and use of the many unfamiliar edibles, and then we went out to the ranch with its beautiful open kitchen and learned how to prepare everything, followed by a scrumptious meal. Everyone we worked with was delightful, and it was a happily stuffed group of people, heads bursting with new information, that returned to the city.

What a great experience! Chef Kaelin took on a morning tour of the Abastos market which was fascinating and a great introduction to the markets in Oaxaca, with lots of stops to sample various delicious food. The class in the afternoon at their beautiful facility was terrific. Chef took us through all of the mise en place for all dishes, then we divided up to work on various dishes. You can also circulate and see what other teams are doing. We all sat down at the end of the afternoon to enjoy the moles, salads, and other dishes prepared. Fantastic experience!

Two friends and I had a brilliant experience at Seasons of my Heart cooking school in August 2025. Kaelin brought us through Oaxaca’s largest food market where we tasted and learned about local dishes and ingredients, and later we were guided through preparing and cooking a five course meal. Every part of the experience was fun and interactive and we were made to feel completely at home at the family-run cooking school in the Oaxacan countryside. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in learning about Oaxacan cooking - thank you to Kaelin, Sofia, Norma and Mago for their incredible hospitality and teaching!

The Seasons of My Heart cooking class was so much fun. Kaelin is knowledgeable and has a broad experience with cooking. The kitchen at the ranch is beautiful and the staff so helpful as we prepared our meal. Highly recommend.

Our family of five had a fantastic time with Chef Kaelin And his team for this cooking class. We started with a fantastic eating tour through the Mercado de Abastos in Oaxaca, where Kaelin knew all the best vendors to not only taste incredible food, but also with the option to purchase amazing foods and other items. His team then transported to his family farm established by his parents where he continues the legacy of teaching his love of Oaxacan cooking. His explanation of his family’s cooking history was fascinating and this cooking class for a group of 14 was amazing. He divided us into groups of two or three and we were all responsible for different parts of a five course meal. His team was incredibly helpful at guiding us through the cooking process. One of the other guests was on her third cooking class here. We, too, would definitely go back if we visited Oaxaca again. I can’t recommend the tour highly enough!

You couldn’t pick a better cooking class! I am a chef - I’ve known about Kaelin’s mother and the cooking school for decades, so I was very excited to visit Oaxaca and check it out. It definitely lived up to my expectations! I’m very food knowledgeable and I learned a ton. Kaelin took us to a market that is way more authentic and less touristy. He is a wealth of knowledge: explaining everything from types of sugars, to heirloom herbs, to a deep dive into chilis and more. We tasted things I’ve never tasted before. He has a great talent for including everyone. Our cooking class was a lot of fun and my parents who don’t cook much loved it too. Was a highlight of our trip!

Our group of 6 joined 8 others for a memorable day learning how to shop and cook with Chef Kaelin. He prepared a menu for us using local heirloom produce and guided us in creating several Oaxacan recipes. He orchestrated the making of a delicious meal working with us and his team. In the end we sat us down at an elegant table to enjoy our work. Everyone was touched by his knowledge and generosity. Many of us were talking about taking his class in Italy later this year. I am not one to take classes when I travel but Chef Kaelin turned my head around.