Pili

Upon leaving guest left with an Ogio backpack bursting at the seams with items like gummy chews by Superberries, Hempz bodycream, Pureology hair products, Stephen James Luxury Organics food including raw energy bars try the Pizza Bar or the sushi roll flavored Tokyo Bar, Volcanic Pili Nuts and Saffron-Pink Himalayan Salt.

Zorianna Kit: 2012 Grammy Awards Gifting Suites Zorianna Kit 2012

Upon leaving guest left with an Ogio backpack bursting at the seams with items like gummy chews by Superberries, Hempz bodycream, Pureology hair products, Stephen James Luxury Organics food including raw energy bars try the Pizza Bar or the sushi roll flavored Tokyo Bar, Volcanic Pili Nuts and Saffron-Pink Himalayan Salt.

Zorianna Kit: 2012 Grammy Awards Gifting Suites Zorianna Kit 2012

Pili learned the basics and the subtleties, including the mysteries of the famed seven moles, from her grandmother, who learned from her grandmother before her.

Authentic Mexican cuisine at Oaxaca's La Casa de los Sabores cooking school 2008

As always, a recent culinary odyssey with Pili, as she is known, began at La Casa de los Sabores first thing in the morning -- at 9: 30 a.m.

Authentic Mexican cuisine at Oaxaca's La Casa de los Sabores cooking school 2008

Mary, her sous-chef, did preparatory work such as halving limes, slicing chilies and preparing chicken stock and poultry for the mole, freeing Pili to teach us the rituals and secrets of Oaxacan culinary seduction.

Authentic Mexican cuisine at Oaxaca's La Casa de los Sabores cooking school 2008

Pili trianguli et canaliculi is a rare genetic disease also known as "uncombable hair syndrome" and "spun glass hair."

Boing Boing 2008

While we were reviewing printed recipe sheets for the dishes we were about to prepare, Pili displayed our purchases in baskets filled with the components of each recipe to help us learn why we bought what.

Authentic Mexican cuisine at Oaxaca's La Casa de los Sabores cooking school 2008

Pili had readied a partial shopping list but, she advised us, she always adds "surprises," such as fresh foodstuffs that peasant women from the mountains sometimes bring down to sell.

Authentic Mexican cuisine at Oaxaca's La Casa de los Sabores cooking school 2008

Mary, her sous-chef, did preparatory work such as halving limes, slicing chilies and preparing chicken stock and poultry for the mole, freeing Pili to teach us the rituals and secrets of Oaxacan culinary seduction.

Authentic Mexican cuisine at Oaxaca's La Casa de los Sabores cooking school 2008

Pili learned the basics and the subtleties, including the mysteries of the famed seven moles, from her grandmother, who learned from her grandmother before her.

Authentic Mexican cuisine at Oaxaca's La Casa de los Sabores cooking school 2008