Norma Soued preparing the mate during her Argentine Cooking Classes, video by Debbie Stone.

While exploring Argentina, my taste buds were treated to the delightful flavors of empanadas, sparking my curiosity to learn the secrets behind their creation. That's when I discovered Norma Soued and her Argentine Cooking Classes. Norma's love for cooking and her worldly adventures perfectly complement her fluency in four languages. From her early days, Norma absorbed her mother's culinary wisdom, spending countless hours in the kitchen mastering traditional dishes. Embracing her passion for exploring diverse cultures, she embarked on a journey to study their cuisines in-depth. Surprisingly, Norma is also a skilled psychotherapist with her own private practice. You may be wondering, as I did, how cooking relates to psychotherapy. Norma eloquently explains, "As a trained psychotherapist, I strongly believe that cooking serves as a therapeutic activity for both adults and children. By immersing ourselves in the joy and 'flow' of cooking, we can momentarily forget our worries and tap into our creativity. In turn, we prepare dishes infused with love to share with our loved ones." Since 2008, Norma has proudly opened her home in Buenos Aires to offer cooking classes. With two weekly small group sessions and private sessions available upon request, you too can learn the art of crafting exquisite Argentine delicacies like empanadas, lentil stew, and alfajores (a dulce de leche-filled cookie). As you savor the fruits of your labor, Norma will regale you with stories about Mate, a traditional hot beverage, while you indulge in Argentina's naturally produced wine.