Distinctive Tastes of Mexico: Sonora
Sonora is the part of Mexico that cooks with wheat instead of corn. That is why the flour tortilla exists at all, and it is where this night starts: with your hands in dough.
You mix, knead, rest, and roll your own flour tortillas, then cook them on a hot comal until they blister and puff. Almost nobody has done this before. It is the most hands-on part of the evening, and it quietly ruins the store-bought kind for you.
While the dough rests, the rest of the night comes together across four stations. Skirt steak goes into a citrus and chili marinade in the first five minutes, then sears hard and gets sliced against the grain for carne asada. Corn chars off the cob for esquites, dressed hot with lime, chili, and cheese. A pot of caldo de queso, the potato and cheese soup that is everyday home cooking in the north, simmers alongside and gets tempered at the finish.
Then everyone sits down and eats it together.
Eight techniques in one evening: marinating, kneading, resting, charring, searing, simmering, tempering, and slicing against the grain.
On the menu
- Tortillas de Harina: flour tortillas from scratch, kneaded, rested, rolled thin, and cooked on the comal
- Carne Asada: skirt steak in a citrus and chili marinade, seared and sliced against the grain, with everything for the tacos
- Esquites: corn charred off the cob, dressed hot with lime, chili, and cheese
- Caldo de Queso: the Sonoran potato and cheese soup, tempered at the finish
What's included
Chef-guided, hands-on instruction, all ingredients and equipment, and aprons. You cook the full Sonoran menu across four stations, then sit down and eat it together. The recipes go home with you.
What to bring
Just your appetite. Everything is provided, and you are welcome to bring wine or beer to enjoy with your meal (BYOB).
Knowledge required
None. Beginner-friendly through advanced, all are welcome.
Suitable for
Adults of all skill levels. Good for date night, for friends, or for meeting other people who like to cook. Kid-friendly too: ages 14+ with a participating adult, and younger with advance approval. Vegetarians are easy here: the soup is made with vegetable broth and the tortillas with shortening in place of lard on request, which leaves the steak as the only dish to swap. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice.
Dates to be announced
This one isn't on the calendar yet. Leave your email and we will tell you as soon as a date is set. If you say when suits you, that is what decides which dates we open first.
Book your own date
Looking for a private night for two? Our Date Night is made for couples.
Make it a Date Night →What guests are saying
“I had an amazing experience at Life Plus Pasta Making! The instructor was personable, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about what he does. He shared how he developed these classes, and it was clear that his own curiosity and love of learning inspired the entire experience. He was incredibly patient with everyone, while still guiding us in a way that made sure we actually learned the techniques instead of just following directions. By the end of the class, we had made a meal that was absolutely delicious. It was hard to believe that something so good came from our own hands! I will 100% be taking another class. They offer such a wide variety of classes for different interests that I have a feeling I'll be coming back for quite a while. If you're thinking about trying one, don't hesitate—you'll leave with new skills, great food, and a memorable experience.”
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Marcie Gardnervia Google“My wife and I had an absolutely amazing time!! Mark is a great teacher, very skilled with great culture, this was a birthday gift I will never forget!! If you are looking for a good time and great experience Life Plus is where you need to be!!”
Cap Onevia Google“My colleagues and I had an incredible time at Life Plus LA! Marc led our team of 8 through the baking course. We spent 1.5 hours learning, socializing, laughing and enjoying our way through creating biscuits, fruit tarts and bundt cakes. Marc was so incredibly knowledgable, witty, and a pleasure to be around. After the baking was complete, Marc set us up in the cafe to enjoy our creations. We spent another 1.5 hours there. Finally, we packaged our leftovers and went on our way! I can't wait to try some of the other classes!”
Susana Melkonyanvia Google“My husband and I booked a Thai cooking class with Marc for date night and it was such a treat. The 5 star reviews are well deserved. We loved how thorough and knowledgeable Marc was about cooking and the food science. He makes sure to teach you not just how but also why, you’re doin something. Not to mention the food tasted amazing and we were so pleased with how everything turned out. Do not hesitate to book! 10/10 recommend :)”
Gabrielle Pretlowvia Google“Such a good time! Our class was the Vietnamese course and it was very well crafted and structured. We enjoyed learning how to handle spring rolls, flavor and plate pho, and make a delicious hearty crepe. My goal was to learn some techniques and I walked out with some new ones!”
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