La Cocina Que Canta

My job here at the Ranch is to teach 3 hands on cooking classes, while enjoying everything else that is offered—what’s not to love? Tuesday morning, Tuesday evening, and Thursday evening I teach at the cooking school, La Cocina Que Canta (The Kitchen that Sings) 

Gabriella giving instructions (she rocks!)

Salvador (It's HIS garden), Gaby, and Juan

All ready for dinner!

The Courtyard

Stations set up

Mise en place

Picking chives for our saute

The absolutely ridiculous and ugly border fence---the only thing it keeps out are indigenous animals

Picking Kale

Strawberries

It’s a joy to take the students into Rancho Tres Estrellas (3 Star Ranch) to meet Salvador and to see his passion for the garden, and the ranch.  That is a recurring theme here, the employees and the guests have an affinity for this place, and many employees work here for decades.  The visitors are mostly returnees; it’s that special. 
 Tomorrow I'll post photos from our other classes.

Another World

 

40 miles south of San Diego, lies the city of Tecate, in Baja California.  A sleepy border town with a brewery, shops, auto repair businesses, and one of the largest employers, Rancho La Puerta.  Founded in 1940’s by Professor Edmond Szekely and his wife Deborah, Professor Szekely declaring that Tecate had the most perfect climate in the world.  Over the years, the ranch has evolved, and into a place of rest and refreshment for thousands of happy guests from around the world, offering mind, body and spirit fitness.

You could fill your days here with an activity every hour, or you could choose to be selective and decide what you want your week to be. I’ll be here from Monday through Friday and teaching 3 cooking classes, so I have elected the rest and relaxation track, with stretching in the morning, and swimming, to limber up my tight right shoulder that I broke last December.  

Around every winding path, there is a glimpse of beauty, from the beautiful sculptures, water flowing, flowers blooming, quail rushing through the underbrush, lizards lying in the sun and the vistas of the surrounding mountains, the beauty here, is breathtaking, and each walk leads you down a different path.  

There are art classes, and cooking classes, as well as all the exercise related classes.  The best part is the people you will meet; last time I was here, I met people from San Diego, but also met friends from Singapore, New York, and Canada.  Last night at dinner, I was seated with one woman from Switzerland, two from the Bay Area, and two from New York City; the two friends from NYC have known each other since they were 12 years old and they have come here for many years.  What a gift!  And the staff, many of whom have worked here for over 20 years, and their dedication to the ranch and its mission is remarkable.  

I am blessed to be here!