Simply Brilliant Cooking Classes & Dinner Parties
Cooking classes have become quite popular over the last decade in America.
People are increasingly turning to culinary get-togethers for birthdays,
anniversaries, book or garden clubs, or other social occasions.
Over the last few years, during my various public cooking classes,
I have noticed a demand for something different, a little more personal. People
who want to learn more about cooking and the basic techniques also enjoy
the opportunity to gather in their own homes
with friends and family, and learn to cook from a professional.
I enjoy teaching people the simple pleasure of cooking and how to work with
the bounty of different foods from our region here in the Northwest. Learning
a few basic tips, you can improve the taste of your food, and make the
whole process of cooking more enjoyable. I will teach you and your group some of what
I have learned over the last 20 years working in the culinary field.
Private Cooking Class Includes:
- Site Visit
- Personalized Menu Planning
- Wine Recommendations
- Shopping for the Food
- Teaching the Class the Custom Menu
- Serving the Meal
- Kitchen Cleanup
Planning Process
There are a couple of ways to go about planning a cooking class/dinner party. First of all,
we will determine the type of cooking you normally enjoy, and what aspects of cooking in which you
feel you could use some direction. Coming up with a list of techniques is the
next step before actually talking about the foods you would like to cook. We will
then discuss what the current season has to offer, and start creating a menu that will
suit your individual tastes.
Take a look at my menu planning page for some of the menus I have
taught last summer to get an idea of my culinary style. Also check out some great pictures of
food I've done in the past.
On the evening of the event, I will bring everything we need for the meal, including a recipe packet for each guest.
An example of a proposed time frame/flow for a 6:00p.m. dinner party:
- 4:00p.m. - I will arrive at your house before the guests on the day of the party,
set up the kitchen for the class and meal, and help set the table
- 6:00p.m. - Guests will arrive to a couple of passed appetizers, some wine and beverages.
- 6:30p.m. - Class will start to gather in the kitchen. I'll go over the food,
the flow of the menu, and how we are going to cook this menu using the recipes I've provided.
- 6:45p.m.-8:15p.m. - The actual hands-on part of the class; dividing into groups,
preparing everything that we can to the point of last minute cooking, making sure
everyone understands the techniques taught, while also understanding all the recipes
from the other groups.
- 8:20p.m. - Sit down for dinner, first course is served by either me,
or have each group serve the course they worked on.
- 9:30p.m. - Dessert should be served by this point, the kitchen will be almost
cleaned up, and any last minute questions or comments can be answered at this time.
Our Rates
- Hands-On Cooking Classes: range of $75-$95 per person for instruction, food and customized cooking lesson.
- Demonstration Cooking Classes: range of $80-$100 per person,
includes instruction, sumptuous dinner, and original recipes.
- Elegant Dinner Parties: enjoy an amazing meal in your own home designed for each event. $90-130 range for parties of 8-12. An all inclusive meal from
the creation of the menu and wine pairings to handmade truffles at the end of the evening.
- Private Cooking Classes: $60 per hour per person, 3 hour minimum.
I specialize in developing cooking series for beginners to advanced home cooks.
Details of the Party
The class/dinner usually lasts 3 ½ to 4 hours, wrapping up around 10:00p.m.
During the hands-on part, and through the plating of the meal,
I will be offering tips on everything from technique to plate presentation.
As for equipment, once we decide on a menu, I'll let you know what I need in terms
of appliances. The guests would not need to bring anything, except perhaps the
wines that will be decided upon prior to the event. On my menu planning page,
I've included a group of menus that I think are exciting
and will offer an array of learning opportunities. You can choose from these,
or if you find specific dishes appealing, we can create a different menu using them.
If there are any other dishes you have in mind, and would like to learn more about, let me know.
Being relaxed and confident is the key to success in the kitchen. And gaining
that easy confidence is best achieved in the privacy of your own home and
through personalized culinary instruction. Classes are designed to suit
the needs of beginners, as well as more advanced cooks looking to strengthen
their culinary skills.
For inspiration, browse through my list of menus on the menu planning
page, keeping in mind that every
lesson can be tailored to your tastes. My menus are always changing with the seasons,
and there is no limit to what we can create. You can learn to cook anything you want!
