Culinary Mini Session
Photo courtesy of iStock
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, noon-1:15 p.m.
$50 member/$70 non-member, includes Arboretum admission plus all supplies and ingredients.
Program location: Farm at the Arb - Kitchen Classroom (Myers Education Center)
Adult 18+
Class Overview:
Join Chef Cheo this summer for short, engaging cooking sessions inspired by the season. Each class features a culinary demonstration, fresh seasonal ingredients and a light lunch tasting. These fun, approachable experiences are perfect for a midweek outing.
This session celebrates bold street food flavors, featuring the heavy hitters of the mid-August harvest. We will begin in the Foodscape garden gathering the foundational elements of our meal: sun-ripened tomatoes, sweet corn and crisp peppers. Viewing the garden through the eyes of a chef, we will discuss how to select produce for peak flavor and sweetness, while learning which plants are ready to pick and which are better to skip for a few more days in the sun.
After harvesting, we will move into the kitchen to explore the preparation of street food-style favorites updated with fresh-from-the-garden ingredients. We will learn the techniques behind creating mini birria tacos, the balance of heat and creaminess in a jalapeño crema dressing and how to elevate a simple grilled corn salad with fresh from the garden flavors.
- Mini Birria Tacos: Tender, slow-braised beef and cheese tacos with grilled peppers.
- Elote Salad: A vibrant mix of garden greens and grilled sweet corn with green peppers, queso fresco, and a jalapeño crema dressing.
- Fresh Garden Salsa: Tomatoes, peppers, onions, and garlic balanced with cilantro and lime.
- Watermelon Refresher: A cooling, seasonal beverage to balance the bold, savory spices of the street food menu.
You'll enjoy a sampling lunch featuring these dishes, along with take home recipes.
Please note: We are unable to accommodate individualized changes to the menu.
Instructor:
Chef Cheo Smith brings his experience in kitchens of all sizes — from the home oven to producing hundreds of school lunches a day, and now, to the Farm at the Arb. A Minnesota native, Cheo is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and descendant of the White Earth Nation. He seeks to bridge the gaps in access and knowledge that prevent many people from getting farm fresh ingredients to their dinner table. His mission is to make preparing great tasting and healthy foods accessible to the home cook.
We recommend that you enter the Arboretum via the back gate on 82nd St, not the main entrance on Hwy 5. This is the most direct route to access the Farm at the Arb, and avoids potential delays when driving through the Arboretum.
Address: Farm at the Arb Entrance Gate
If you do wish to enter through the main Arboretum gate on Hwy 5, you can take 3-Mile Drive through the Arboretum and turn right on Peter Moe Drive to get to the Myers Education Center (this route may take an additional 15-20 minutes, so please plan accordingly).
Main Entry instructions:
You will receive a bar-code ticket for entry to the Arboretum in your email purchase confirmation. Your ticket is valid for entry on the day of your class. Present your ticket to the gate attendant as you enter the Arboretum. You may stay at the Arboretum after class as long as you want during our operating hours.