Ole! Ola! – Herb Hazen’s Cooking Classes
by Karen McConnaughey
As one reviewer on the Trip Advisor web site said: “If you want a totally social experience in a totally relaxed environment with a wide array of delicious food and drink, this is the weekend spot for you... Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are rocking at Ole! Ola! on the corner of Donato Guerra and 16 of Septiembre in Ajijic village. It is a serious amount of fun... And a different experience every time you go... Herb has added a breakfast menu on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday so you can relax into your morning, visit with friends and linger over french toast with agave syrup or poached eggs on spinach... But best of all - the most fun ever - are the cooking classes that pop up every once in a while... If you get the chance - attend... You will be privy to some of Herb's wonderful culinary secrets, a geography lesson and interesting travel tips. This is a total experience - Don't miss it...”
Herb Hazen is a retired Captain with Delta airlines, and apparently developed a love of cooking too. Maybe it’s all that traveling he did.
Recently, our friend Cathleen Countryman put together a cooking class. Everyone who knows me or who has read the newsletter knows that “The Queen does not Cook!,” but she does love to eat, so Bill and I signed up for this class on the spot!
Herb’s class that day was called “Let’s Mango.” We learned how to cook (and eat! :-D) Cold Mango Soup, Coconut Shrimp with Mango Dipping Sauce, Chicken Tagine with almonds and mangos, Mango Mousse and Anise Bread, Moroccan-style (Khboz). I’m getting hungry again just typing this! It was an awesome meal and I can’t wait to attend another cooking class…I may even actually cook this time!
Ole! Ola!’s cooking school is called "Delicioso" - for information or to get on their mailing list, send an email to oleoladelicioso@gmail.com.
We had a good-sized group for Herb's "Let's Mango" cooking class.
Ole! Ola! is on the corner of Donata Guerro & 16 de Septiembre.
Herb Hazen is a retired Captain with Delta airlines.
Gary Evans helped with the preparations and cooking.
Most everyone there, except me, liked to cook. However, EVERYONE there like to EAT! :-D
Colleen McGavin, resident of Lake Chapala (Los Sabinos) and
Focus Alumna from February 2007 lends a hand.
Making Khboz, Moroccan Anise Flat Bread. It was later judged by our panel for the best-looking. Nancy Friend was the winner and won the biggest dessert!
Needless to say, we consumed their good and bad efforts with equal joy!
El Dorado residents, Janice Mabry (Focus alumna from April 2007) and Bernie Coogle.
Cathleen Countryman, Lake Chapala resident (Chula Vista), Focus alumna from March 2008 and grand organizer of the cooking class, tries her hand at making flat bread.
I believe Herb had some unkind comments about the shape of her bread.
Do not kill the maestro before we get to eat, Cathleen!
The flat bread cooks on a grill.
Judith Leone (alumna from Feb 2009) tries her hand at the flat bread...
kind of looks like Australia, doesn't it? :-)
Bernie and Riviera Alta resident, Nancy Heine (alumna from October 2006)
smooth out their bread efforts.
Debra MacPherson (Focus alumna February 2007), Cathleen,
Nancy Friend (winner of the dessert!) and Colleen.
N
Nancy shows off her grilling bread...as well she should. I watched & ate to my heart's content! You do notice there are no photos of Karen cooking. And, of course, there's no photos of Karen eating, because, well, I WAS eating! :-0)))))))
It's true, you know...your eyes are important in eating as well your as your taste buds.
This was a beautiful, wonderful, tasty soup!
Nancy Friend won the dessert prize of Mango Mousse. We all got smaller ones, of course, but hers was beautiful and BIG. I think she shared it with hubby Doug.
Karen McConnaughey: Operations Manager for FocusOnMexico.
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