TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2025 | 6:30 PM
with Juan Alberto Rey, co-owner of Margaret’s
Can Latin cuisine be so good you’ll be eating out of your hands? Absolutely. And Chef Alberto Rey is coming to the HKS Kitchen for an empanada and hand pie adventure to show you just how it’s done. This flavor-packed cooking class begins with an appetizer of frijoles charros, a traditional bean dish loaded with layers of savory goodness. Then you’ll learn how to craft a golden, buttery pastry dough that’s versatile enough to handle a variety of fillings, including the savory, rich beef picadillo with pickled red onions and sweet eccle cake filling you’ll be making in class. After learning the techniques to fill and bake your hand-held creations to perfection, you’ll end the evening enjoying your deliciously satisfying bites. Recipes will be provided. Tickets are priced per person.
*All class ticket sales are final. No refunds or credit transfers to other classes are available. If you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend, please contact us to check our waitlist.*
MEET THE CHEF:
Juan Alberto Rey is a Mexican-born chef who was raised in West Texas before moving to Austin to pursue his culinary passion. He has a wide range of experience. All the way from working at mom-and-pop shops to working in Michelin star restaurants in Texas.
Alberto’s love of nature eventually led him to the Ozarks, where he opened his own farm-to-table focused business. He quickly became known for serving some of the best handmade brunch using all locally sourced Ozark ingredients. He has always had a strong connection to where our food comes from, and has established extensive connections to local farmers and makers of this region. He even became the first food vendor to serve on the Board of Directors for the Fayetteville Farmers Market. Driven by his desire to break down barriers to great food, Alberto also teaches community workshops, leads cooking demos, and builds collaborations to enrich the local culinary scene.
Forever inspired by his grandmother's warming ability to provide a great meal to anyone who walked in her kitchen, Alberto hopes to share his love of food and the deep appreciation for the hard working people who farm it with his community.
