RANCHO LA PUERTA TO LAUNCH SPA COOKING SCHOOL

Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, is to launch a spa cooking school in 2007 called Cocina Que Canta. The 4,500sq ft school will launch in the spring, and be located at the resort's six-acre organic farm, Rancho Tres Esrellas.

The cooking school idea was born after spa residents increasingly began to request that the existing cookery classes occurred more often than once a week. The cooking school will offer a series of hands-on classes followed by meals over a four-day period alongside a special a la carte program tailored to individual needs. All recipes and cooking will be rooted in the principles of fresh, organic nutrition.

The architecture of the Cocina Que Canta building has been inspired by the Mexican love of indoor/outdoor living, complete with terracotta brick walls, artisanal tile, hand-hewn open beam ceilings, open courtyards and fragrant gardens.

The owners of Rancho La Puerta eventually intend the cookery school to host one-day programs for local residents and partner a number of culinary institutes in both the US and in Mexico to help further the education of aspiring young chefs. Guests can look forward to hands-on classes, delicious meals, and the inspired tutelage of visiting celebrity and restaurant chefs.

Rancho La Puerta was founded by owners Edmond and Deborah Szekely in 1940 as a retreat dedicated to mind, body and spirit wellness. The ranch boasts more than 3,000 acres of nature reserve alongside 40 miles of hiking trails around the property. For details, visit www.rancholapuerta.com