As the head of local cooking school Ayesha’s Kitchen, Ayesha D’Mello is known for her authentic Indian food—a rarity in Miami. D’Mello, who was born and raised in India and worked for software companies before her love of cooking took over a year ago, has added a new component to her business: private cooking classes for corporate groups. The classes focus on teaching groups how to make six to eight traditional Indian dishes, such as murgh makhani (butter chicken) using health-oriented, easy-to-follow recipes.
Groups can choose from nine different menus—from “Vegetarian Delights” to “Flavors From the Beaches of Goa.” Classes are entirely customizable, depending on the group. For instance, a group of experienced cooks might want to learn how to make more complicated dishes, whereas beginners might want to focus on simpler items, like naan (Indian bread). Held at D’Mello's Miami home, most classes are three hours long: two hours of cooking and an hour for a sit-down meal. All classes include a copy of the recipes, cooking instruction, an overview of Indian spices and their many health benefits, and the meal.
Pricing starts at $75 per person (bundle packages are available for groups wishing to take more than one class). D’Mello can accommodate a minimum of nine people and a maximum of 15, if the classes are held at her home. For larger groups, she can bring all of the food and cooking materials to the kitchen-equipped venue of a planner's choice.
