Taco Masterclass: Salsas, Tortillas & Al Pastor

About this experience

A cooking class held in the restaurant’s kitchen on a Monday, when the dining room is closed. No dinner rush, just cooking. Rafael teaches three salsas from his family’s recipes: a roasted tomato salsa, a green tomatillo salsa and a dried chile salsa you will char and blend yourself.

Then you press and cook tortillas from fresh masa, marinate pork in an adobo of dried chiles and achiote, and cook it on the plancha with pineapple for al pastor tacos. The class ends at a long table in the dining room eating everything you made.

Your day

1. 11:00 AM

   Chiles and salsas

   Toast, soak and blend dried chiles and make three salsas from scratch.

   45 min

2. 11:45 AM

   Al pastor marinade

   Build the adobo and marinate pork, with notes on the traditional spit versus a home version.

   30 min

3. 12:15 PM

   Tortillas

   Press and cook corn tortillas from fresh masa until they puff.

   30 min

4. 12:45 PM

   Cook and build

   Cook the pork and pineapple on the plancha and build your tacos.

   30 min

5. 1:15 PM

   Eat together

   Sit down to the meal and ask Rafael anything about the family recipes.

What’s included

• All ingredients and a full taco lunch
• Printed recipes for all three salsas and the marinade
• A tortilla press to take home

Good to know

• Let the host know about food allergies; a vegetarian option uses mushrooms instead of pork.
• Closed-toe shoes required in the kitchen. Some chiles are hot and can irritate skin; gloves are provided.
• Guests under 16 must cook with an adult.

Your curator

Rafael Ortega22 years in restaurant kitchens, 10 as owner

Rafael Ortega is the third generation to run his family’s restaurant, which his grandparents opened as a six-table lunch counter. He trained in restaurant kitchens in Houston before coming home to take over. Today the restaurant seats 120 and still makes every tortilla by hand.