Casa Jacaranda

I cannot say enough good things. I tried to sum it up here — I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone:

What an experience! We were expecting a hands-​on cooking class, and we definitely got that. But more than that, Jorge and Beto provide a glimpse of many centuries of Mexican food culture.
The class starts in the nearby neighborhood market. For anybody that has visited a Mexican market in one of the border towns, the impression here is completely different from what you might expect. This market is clean, well-​kept, and well-​stocked — much more like some of the great city markets we see in the northeast US. We started at a small storefront by learning about corn and the nixtamalization process, which creates the white corn masa that can then be used to make tortillas, tamales, and other common foods. From there we moved into the market to see and understand the many things that make up Mexican cuisine. These included vegetables, fruits, coffee, peppers, sugar, herbs and spices, cheeses, and meat.
After you learn about the foods, it is time to cook. The kitchen is actually in the home of the two chefs in a quiet neighborhood with big trees. The cooking is done at a large countertop with several prep stations and a cooktop at one end next to the home’s working kitchen. Our class was the Antojitos, or Mexican Finger Foods, class. We made tacos, enchiladas, tamales, and empanadas. Also, we made a sweet dessert from Mexican pumpkin. We learned to use a tortilla press and make tamales. We also made three types of salsa using three different methods.
The food was terrific. Sampling huitlacoche and fried chapulines (grasshoppers) definitely stretched my comfort zone, and I ate each an additional time on the trip. Attendees get to eat the lunch they have prepared on the rooftop garden of the house — perfect end to a busy day. We sampled Mexican wine and mescal, with jamaica agua fresca on the side. Oh, and your recipes are printed in a notebook, along with a number of restaurants, cafes, and bars favored by the chefs. I wish we’d had this list at the start of our trip!
Jorge and Beto are great hosts. They know so much about Mexican cooking (and cooking in general). On top of it all, they speak English very well — non Spanish speakers should have no concerns about booking this class. And it is hands-​on. You definitely learn how to do it. It’s now January here in Maryland; it’s cold outside but I am still creating the bright flavors of Mexico City here at home.

Casa Jacaranda
Great Experience! My wife loves cooking so I thought the Casa Jacaranda experience would be the perfect gift for her, and it exceeded our expectations! Beto and Jorge are amazing hosts they make you feel welcome and right at home from the first minute.
The experience starts with a visit to an old school tortilla factory (tortilleria). This tortilleria differs from others since they make their own flour. By using their own flour the taste of the tortilla is totally different something you will notice later on!
After the tortilleria the group goes to Mercado de Medellin, Casa Jacaranda is a big promoter of the Merado, the Mercado is great they have stores with top notch things for foodies, excellent dairy products, coffee, etc… For me the best was this Yucatan food place that has the most amazing salsas, I strongly recommend the mango habanero one, it goes well with everything.
After the market you finally go to Casa Jacaranda a beautiful Colonia Roma house that has been renewed and decorated by Beto and Jorge.
Different from other similar cooking classes that I have taken this one is really hands on, Beto and Jorge give directions but the guests cook everything, that day we cooked, some guacamole as appetizer (guacamole and chapulin tacos) the most amazing tamales, fish «al pastor» and flan.
I really enjoyed preparing the tamales, it was really fun and I always had in mind that tamales were a really hard thing to do, but Beto’s and Jorge´s directions made it really easy, also I’m not a very big fan of tamales but I will say it again the tamales were amazing!
After everything is ready you eat in a very comfy rooftop, that day we had to go inside since it started to rain, but the rainy afternoon was the perfect setting for mezcal and tequila.
We had a great afternoon just drinking and talking with Beto and Jorge and the other guests, good food, good drinks made the perfect environment so it felt like we have known each other for ages.
Casa Jacaranda is an amazing experience for locals and foreigners that want to get a taste of Mexican food and vibrant Colonia Roma.

This tour and class exceeded any and all of our expectations. Jorge and Beto were so warm and knowledgable about their culture, their city, and food. The market tour exposed us to flavors and stories that we wouldn’t have discovered on our own. The cooking class part of the day was very thorough and approachable. I’ve already made most of the recipes they shared multiple times! Jorge and Beto, as hosts, were welcoming, encouraging, and passionate. It was a pleasure to take this class and meet them. I highly recommend doing the full market tour and cooking class for the ultimate and authentic Mexico City experience!

Pues llegue a este lugar como parte de una reunión de Elite´s de esta red, llegue muy tarde por cierto, pero debo decir que me encanto el lugar, es como la casa que todos quisiéramos tener.
Ofrece una experiencia única, ya que en este lugar tienes que cocinar lo que te vas a comer, sí desde ir al mercado a comprar los ingredientes hasta hacer una autentica salsa de molcajete nada más para acompañar tu platillo.
Lo que me enamoro realmente y se escuchara raro, fue el baño, es precioso… No tuve oportunidad de subir a la terraza aunque espero regresar muy pronto.

This was such an incredible experience and it’s changed the way I look at Mexican cuisine. My friend and I took the class and had the most memorable and amazing time!
The class was so informative, we went to the local Market to buy the ingredients for the day (Jorge and Alberto know all the good vendors and we got a bit of history on local flavors, produce and what’s in season!) The market was fabulous, it would have been overwhelming if we had not had this kind of «tour.»
Then on the see how the corn flour is made for the Tamales (we made Tamales and fish tacos that day). Also a really amazing educational experience! We learned that the art of making Tamales is ancient and considered a World Heritage food! Oh, and also a «super food!»
Then back to the Casa Jacaranda! Such a beautiful place! Filled with light and art, very tranquil atmosphere.
AND the actual cooking itself was well communicated, clear and very hands on! We each get a part of the task and all watch, then try it out so we are really learning!
Last but not least, we all go outside to the terrace and enjoy the meal we made together with some wine or Mezcal! Everyone in our class was very cool and it was a truly international experience!
Jorge and Alberto are fantastic people, the Casa is amazing (and easy to get to by Metro!) and the food we made of course was the best in Mexico City! Thanks to them I have a new addiction to Tamales!!! But I am also learning Spanish so that I can spend more time in Mexico and visit them again!

Gran experiencia la e Casa Jaranda, el lugar es hermoso y te hace explorar todos los sentidos, tengo pendiente volver y disfrutar otras opciones que ofrecen

I have seldom troubled to write a Unilocal review until attending Jorge’s and Alberto’s cooking cooking class at Casa Jacarande. A real treat! I have visited Mexico City several times and taken other tours, and this experience was a highlight. Our market tour was really enjoyable, enlightening me about the culturally unique ways of the Mexican market, and the experiential cooking class was informative, even for the experienced home chef, and best of all, tasty. Thanks Jorge and Alberto!

Suele pasar que nuestros primeros –e ingenuos– acercamientos a la cocina terminan en sendos desastre gastronómicos. Desde mole insípido hasta carne cruda, pasando por arroz quemado (o batido), chilaquiles secos, frijoles duros, esas experiencias se graban en la psique de forma traumática. Para alguien que, como yo, tiene problemas incluso con huevos cocidos que exista un lugar como este me parece una experiencia didáctica y divertida que tienes que probar.
Es una casa, más bien muy bonita casa! en la roma donde en la compañía de dos apasionados de la cocina te acompañan y guían. No se trata solo de darte indicaciones de cómo no azar un chile guajillo, sino de todos los preparativos a la hora de hacer de comer.
Todo empieza por ir juntos al mercado de Medellín, aprender a distinguir productos y calidad en los ingredientes a comprar para preparar el menú que hayas elegido preparar. Jorge, uno de los chavos, a quién tuve la oportunidad de conocer en un evento Elite de Unilocal.Me platicaba de estas visitas, de cómo visitar los diferentes locales y lo padre que le resulta a las personas que ya han vivido la experiencia en Casa Jacaranda llegar a preparar ellos mismos deliciosas comidas que nunca creyeron posible hacer.
Dependiendo del menú que elijas a la hora de reservación será el tiempo que te lleve estar en la cocina. Todo se prepara de manera tradicional, un mole puede llevar bastante tiempo si decides moler en metate los ingredientes. Hay licuadora por si quieres acelerar el proceso y no acabar exhausto para el momento de poner la mesa. Aunque recomiendo armes un grupo para que entre todos tus amigos puedan dividirse las actividades.
Considerando los precios por persona de restaurantes de comida mexicana como SanAngel Inn, Nicos u otros en los que he tenido la oportunidad de estar, la experiencia me parece bastante accesible si quieres hacer algo diferente, divertirte, aprender y pasar un buen momento en compañía de familia, amigos o pareja. Cocinar juntos es una de las cosas que más disfruto con la mía aunque mis actividades se limitaban a picar las cosas. Soy muy bueno en eso. La próxima vez que esté en la cocina sabré al menos preparar una rica salsa verde. Aprender a hacerla me hizo feliz.
Cada una de las recetas lleva detrás un proceso de investigación que se remonta al tiempo de las abuelitas de todos nosotros. Lo padre es que la receta es exclusiva y puedes llevártela una vez termine tu visita para que cuando tengas algún evento especial puedas lucir tus nuevas habilidades.
La terraza del lugar es un lugar increíble. Está llena de plantas (lavanda, helechos, hierbas) alrededor y la gigantesca jacaranda completa perfectamente este entorno agradable y verde. Es bajo su sombra donde se lleva acabo la comida. Una plática amena en la que puedes seguir preguntando dudas y pidiendo consejos sobre cómo mejorar tu coeficiente gastronómico. Hablar, reír, conocer gente nueva y pasar un buen momento en la tarde mientras degustas tu platillo es la culminación perfecta de esta experiencia que inicia por la mañana en el mercado.
Además de muy ricas salsas podrás, próximamente, adquirir también otros productos para tener en casa. El día de mi visita probé un mezcal wow! Pregunta por él! Casa Jacaranda es muy muy recomendable!

Well, I had totally different expectations of the actual experience and my perception of what it really was. I was told to meet Alberto and Jorge on the corner of Campeche and Medellín by the Medellín market, I thought, that is odd for a cooking class, but as told I went and meet them, right on time they where expecting the group for the «experience of the day». 2 American girls from NY, a couple from Mexico and Russia and myself. When they begin to explain to me that we where going to go to a tortilleria that makes tortillas the old and proper way and then we will be shopping by the market everything we needed for the cooking class, then I understood why they call it an experience instead of just a cooking class. The term «Farm to table» just doesn’t describe fully what these 2 guys had plan for us.
It all begin at the tortilleria, we got inside the back and got to see the whole process of how a corn kernel becomes a Tortilla by the old ways of nixtamalization. The smell, the machines and the people that work there combined with the explanation of Jorge and Alberto were amazing. After buying some Masa to make tamales we left to the market to start shopping the rest of the ingredients.
First we stop by «El yucateco» the guy from Yucatan he specializes in everything related to typical Yucatan culinary treasures from ingredients of the area to already prepared salsas and dishes, the stars were all kinds of forms of habanero and axiote.
We move on to the fresh fruits and vegetables, I realized there were some beautiful Zapote negro that I haven’t seen for a while and I told Jorge and Alberto that we should get some and try with our friends from NY. They agreed and they even change the desert that was planned for a delicious zapote desert.
After shopping and trying lots of kinds of fruits, vegetables, chile’s, moles, dairy products and meats we head to the beautiful Casa Jacaranda to start the cooking class.
Let me tell you that I’m Mexican, I been living a few blocks away from Medellín market for a few years and go often shopping there, after going with Jorge and Alberto, it changed the whole way of how I appreciate the market and the way I do my shopping.
By the time I got to the house and realized how beautiful the set and setting was, we were already feeling like a group of old friends just hanging out at casa jacarandas kitchen.
I wouldn’t like to spoil the rest of the experience to you so the rest you will have to live for yourself, what I can tell you is that it was the best culinary experience I had of Mexican cuisine (remember I’m mexican) Jorge and Alberto shared some amazing recipes from their families and in a great way show us how to make them, from shopping to chopping to cooking and finally to taste them. All these complemented by great music, amazing tequila and mezcal with an easy going vibe.
Don’t miss the opportunity to have the Jacaranda experience.