FUNDRAISER: THAI AREPAS CLASS

About the class

Join us for a unique culinary experience where we blend the traditional Venezuelan arepas with vibrant Thai-inspired fillings. This class captures the essence of Los Angeles, a beautiful fusion of cultures and flavors that come together to create something truly special.

Throughout the class, you'll learn the complete process of making Thai Arepas—from kneading the dough to cooking them to perfection, and finally assembling them with delicious Thai-inspired fillings. To enhance your experience, a welcome drink and a charcuterie board are included in the ticket price.

What are Arepas? 🫓

Arepas are cornmeal cakes that originated hundreds of years ago in a region that now makes up Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama. Traditionally, they were cooked on a pan called a budare, but they can also be grilled, baked, or fried. In this class, you’ll learn to prepare Thai-inspired fillings and explore how this creative fusion bridges culinary traditions to create something truly memorable.

What to bring

• comfortable outfit

• comfortable shoes

About Mercedes Rojas 👩‍🍳

Mercedes Rojas is the founder of The Arepa Stand, a pop-up food stall that sells traditional Venezuelan cuisine with a Los Angeles twist, at farmer's markets around the city.

"She moved to Los Angeles in 2015 to learn under chef Suzanne Goin. Then Rojas opened The Arepa Stand in 2019 when she was out of work after frequently making arepas as a staff meal. She knew this would be her path. 'It’s very close to my heart, so it was a no-brainer for me to start something like this,' said Rojas".

From: Spectrum News 1

About Paul Chuanchaisit 👨‍🍳

Chef Paul Chuanchaisit is a culinary virtuoso renowned for his innovative approach to Thai cuisine, heavily influenced by Japanese culinary traditions. Born and raised in Thailand, Chef Paul's passion for cooking was ignited by his family's rich culinary heritage. After mastering the fundamentals of Thai cuisine, he embarked on a journey to explore the intricate flavors of Japan.

Throughout his career, Chef Paul has seamlessly blended Japanese techniques and ingredients with traditional Thai flavors, resulting in a truly unique culinary experience. His dishes reflect a harmonious fusion of delicate Japanese craftsmanship and the bold, vibrant flavors of Thailand.

With a dedication to excellence and a commitment to sustainability, Chef Paul has garnered acclaim for his inventive dishes that celebrate the best of both worlds. His innovative approach has earned him recognition as a trailblazer in contemporary Thai cuisine with a distinct Japanese influence.

About IMPASTIAMO

Founded in the spring of 2020 by Silvia Carluccio, formerly at Live Nation Entertainment, we set out to pair our love of food with our love of music–a consistent theme in all of our cooking class experiences. 

 Since then, we've hosted over 520 cooking classes with chefs from Milan, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Costa Rica, Sicily, Tuscany, Spain, and India. We've proudly supported over fifty small businesses including restaurants, private chefs and nonprofits in this time, and that number continues to grow.

Support the Wildfire Relief Fund

Please note: All proceeds from this class will go to the Wildfire Relief Fund 2025 organized by Gofundme.org.

Access to the class is only available with the purchase of a "Cooking Class" ticket. If you'd like to make an additional donation, you can do so by entering your preferred amount under "Additional Donation".

Ticket Policy

Classes are non refundable. If you can no longer make your class, you are  able to modify the date/time of the booking, up to 72 hours prior to the event, or can transfer your ticket to a friend. After 72 hours, refund, exchanges or modifications are not accepted.

This event is sponsored by Co-opportunity Market, providing fresh, high-quality ingredients for our Thai Arepas Class.