December 2008 Cooking Classes with Chef Eric December 5, 2008

December 2008 Cooking Classes with Chef Eric

Breads Made Easy $80 Per Person
Sun, 12/7/08 10am-1pm
Forget the Low Carb Craze and learn about the oldest food known to mankind. We will cover all of the techniques necessary to produce quick and wonderful baked goods for everyday meals and special dinners. Some of the recipes include Pain de Ménage (Country Bread), Brioche-Style Bread, Traditional Baguettes, Focaccia Bread, Hamburger Buns, and Easy White Bread. More delicious recipes include Blue Cheese Shortbread, Buttermilk Biscuits, Pita Bread, Naan Bread, Cheddar Cheese Cornbread, Irish Soda Bread, and Cheese and Garlic Flatbread. At the end of class, sample your loaves and biscuits right out of the oven and watch the steam rise as the butter slowly melts.

Fish Favorites 1 $90 Per Person
Sun, 12/7/08 3pm-6pm
Some experts say we should eat fish two times per week and we tend to agree and have created some great recipes to entice all of us. With this class, CHEF ERIC will show you which fish are plentiful and how to safely shop for, store and cook your fish for delicious results – all sauces, pestos and glazes are made in class. Featured are Sesame-Crusted White Fish with Lemon Cilantro Sauce, Bass and Vegetable Packets with Pesto, Salmon Steamed in White Wine, Lemon Zest and Dill, Indian Pastry-Wrapped Tilapia with Herbs, Whole-Grilled Fish with Spicy Soy Glaze, and Panko-Crusted Cod with Lemon Zest and Chili Powder. Learn to eat flavorful healthy fish for dinner more often with these delightful recipes that are sure to entrance your family and friends with their lightness, presentation and plating appeal.

Chicken Connoisseur $85 Per Person
Mon, 12/8/08 7pm-10pm
Everyone loves Chicken; come learn new possibilities of enjoying all cuts of chicken in this class and add some exciting recipes to your repertoire for the meat that is most traditionally eaten in America. CHEF ERIC will show you what to shop for and how to safely clean and handle chicken. Recipes include delicious Pan-Seared Chicken with Fennel and Parsley Sauce, Wasabi and Panko-Crusted Chicken Cutlets, glorious Game Hen or Chicken Breast Fricassee with Walnuts, Mint and Pomegranate Syrup, Pan-Roasted Chicken with Paprika and Garlic, Thai-Style Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Thai Noodle Salad, Chicken and Chile Stew, Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Herbs and an updated recipe for an all-time favorite, Chicken Cacciatore. These recipes will have you saying, yes, we are having chicken again tonight and we are all going to love it!

Sushi Making Class $90 Per Person
Fri, 12/12/08 7pm-10pm OR Sat, 1/17/09 7pm-10pm
You will learn how to buy the freshest fish, and how to cut and prepare it properly for all of the dishes we will be making. Learn the creative art of Sushi Making as we design an Asian meal for you and your friends. We will show you how to make traditional Sushi Rice, a variety of Sushi Rolls (Nori), Veggie, Sushi on Rice (Nigiri), Spicy Sushi, Sea Eel, and how to display and serve them decoratively with the garnishes and sauces that we will be making. Add some home made Pickled Cucumbers, Pickled Ginger, Teriyaki Sauce and Sanbiauzu Sauce to the mix for a flavorful array. We’ll also make authentic Vegetable Tempura with Daishi and Ginger Dipping Sauce and Hot and Sour Soup to balance out your meal. CHEF ERIC will show you how to cut Oranges to finish off your fabulous Sushi experience.

Candy Making $85 Per Person
Sat, 12/13/08 9am-12pm
Due to popular demand, we offer this class for students who want to learn how to make delicious treats for special occasions or just any time, if you are a sweets person! Join us and learn about cooking sugar and the variety of candy you can easily make in your own kitchens. Recipes include Chocolate Truffles rolled in Cocoa Powder, Traditional Chocolate and Caramel Turtles, Delightful Divinity Fudge, Home Made Marshmallows, Chocolate Fudge, Pralines, Sea Salt Caramels, Traditional Peanut Brittle, and my Mom’s special Cuttlefish Toffee Crunch with Almonds and Dipped in Chocolate – a holiday staple every year in our family! Come join us and learn to make your new favorite candies and make some to give away.

Decadent Desserts $85 Per Person
Sat, 12/13/08 2pm-5pm OR Sat, 1/10/09 9am-12pm
Even though decadent is in the title, we do have some ideas that satisfy without adding too many calories. We start with the delicious Chocolate Torte Caprese, Chocolate and Cherry Soufflé, Ancho Chile Devil’s Food Cake with Milk Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting – this is so mouth-wateringly fantastic, Banana-Rum Crepes, Citrus Cheesecake with Vanilla Cookie Crumb Crust, Tiramisu, White Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries and Strawberry Sauce, and lovely Tuiles Cookies with a Crème Anglaise Sauce. Decadence is right – come and create this decadence with us!

Cocktail Cuisine $90 Per Person
Sat, 12/13/08 7pm-10pm
Take your Holiday Cocktail Party to a cosmopolitan level of food style and presentation. Delicious and Hearty Recipes that are perfect for Buffets or to be Hand Passed, include Artichoke Leaves Stuffed with Prosciutto and Parmesan Cheese, Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraiche Puff Pastry Bites, Caprese ‘Martinis,’ Minted Meatball Lettuce Wraps with Hummus, Spicy Peanut Curry Chicken Salad in Baked Wonton Cups, Wild Mushroom and Gruyere Tart, Orzo Pasta Salad Spoons, and Roasted Red Pepper and Gorgonzola Cheese Bruschetta. Lots of delicious and intriguing morsels that your guests will rave about. Bring a bottle of wine and invite a friend to dine with you 45 minutes before class ends to start your night off right!

Spectacular Sauces $85 Per Person
Sun, 12/14/08 10am-1pm
Many students ask, ‘How do I make a Hollandaise Sauce?’ or, ‘How do I make a great sauce without a lot of butter or cream?’ In this class, CHEF ERIC takes the fear out of sauce making giving you confidence to make these favorites as well as to further explore your sauce creativity at home. Recipes include some Mother sauces, Sauce Béchamel, Sauce Veloute, and Sauce Hollandaise. More up-to-date recipes include Pesto Sauce, Green Olive Tapenade, Chickpea Hummus, Moutabel Sauce (Roasted Eggplant and Garlic Sauce), Walnut and Parmesan Cheese Sauce, Tamarind-Almond Sauce, Spicy Lentil Sauce, Indian-Style Tomato-Onion Sauce, and Asian-Style Sesame Sauce. Now you really know how to elegantly spice up your entrees, side dishes and appetizers so many ways! We will serve Macaroni and Cheese, Steamed Vegetables, and Chicken or Fish with the Sauces so you try everything and don’t go home hungry.

Saveur Cooks – French Classics
Sun, 12/14/08 3:00pm-6:00pm
Sun, 1/24/09 2:00pm-5:00pm
$100 Per Person
Bring some Wine and a Friend for some Saveur cooking fun. Delightful and Delicious!
Join Saveur magazine and the Culinary Classroom on a mouth-watering exploration of authentic French Cuisine. Discover the techniques necessary to prepare a complete menu of delicious French classics. From the bistros of Paris to the farmhouses of Burgundy, this exciting class will take you on a historical journey of the regions and rituals that have made French food the basis for all other cuisine. The class includes a recipe booklet, a Saveur Tote Bag filled with Samples and Coupons and a one-year subscription to Saveur magazine – so you can continue your culinary adventure through France and beyond. Menu: Gougeres (French Cheese Puffs), Salade des Moines (Green Salad with Citeaux Cheese Croutons), Soupe a l’Oignon Gratinee (French Onion Soup), Sole Meuniere (Sole Sauteed in Butter), Poussin Vallee d’Auge (Chicken with Calvados and Cream), Gratin Dauphinois (Potatoes Baked in Milk and Cream), Soufflé au Chocolat (Chocolate Soufflé)

Italian Cuisine 1 $90 Per Person
Mon, 12/15/08 7pm-10pm
Food from the Mediterranean has long been enjoyed in Southern California and now you can make your own dishes with a CULINARY CLASSROOM twist! Come join us in making Fresh Home Made Pasta all’Amatriciana (Spicy Tomato Sauce with Pancetta and Crushed Red Chile), incredible Breaded Veal Chops Stuffed with Fontina Cheese, Herbs and Proscuitto, Hearty Hunter-Style Chicken Cacciatore with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, Fresh Fettuccine Pasta with Home Made Carbonnara Sauce, Flaky Torta Salata (Mixed Vegetable Torta Baked in Pastry – can be used as a main dish or as an appetizer), and delicious and light Tiramisu. Take a bite and pretend you are at your villa . . . .

Cheese and Wine Pairing Workshop $80 Per Person
Fri, 12/19/08 7pm-9:30pm OR Fri, 1/30/09 7pm-9:30pm
What kind of Cheese goes well with Champagne or a red Wine? Does Bleu Cheese pair nicely with Pinot Grigio? Learn what types of Cheese to serve with your favorite Wines, Champagnes, Sherry or Aged Port as we try each cheese and wine and discuss their qualities. We’ll show you how to arrange a Cheese Platter with Cheeses, Fruits, Nuts, and Breads in a beautiful display for your wonderful Cheese and Wine Pairing Party with friends. We tell you where to shop for the best cheeses, and suggest great wines to pair with them for ultimate flavor without spending a fortune. Enjoy them all here and learn how cheeses and wines are made as we enjoy the casual ambiance of the Classroom at a nice table with tablecloth as you are served by Chef Eric and an Assistant. Bring a friend to have more fun or join the group as we all taste and nibble to our heart’s content!

Heavenly Cupcakes $100 Per Person
Sat, 12/20/08 9am-12pm OR Sat, 1/31/09 9am-12pm
Delicious Cupcakes are all the rage for desserts today! Now everyone wants to learn how to make, frost and decorate Cupcakes for holidays, parties and just everyday eating! We make several varieties of Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes and teach you easy ways to vary Cupcake flavors for the most discerning palate. We also teach you numerous decoration techniques as we make lots of decorated items to enjoy: Holiday Cupcakes, Clown Cupcakes, Baseball Cupcakes, Flower Cupcakes and more fun designs for everyone in your family. You also receive Cupcake and Frosting Recipes similar to today’s popular bakeries; some are really quick and easy, too. Each Student receives a Cake Decorating Kit including a Pastry Bag, Design Tips and Coupler and a Decorating Manual.

Thai Cuisine 1 $90 Per Person
Sat, 12/20/08 2pm-5pm
The cuisines of Asia are many and varied and Thai Food is one of the most popular. Chef Eric has designed a class to show you how flavorful and fun it can be to cook this cuisine. Chef Eric will tell you what ingredients to look for, where to shop and variations to the recipes. In this class we will make Thai Style Shrimp Spring Rolls wrapped in Rice Paper with a Garlic Lime Dipping Sauce, Marinated Flank Steak with Chiles, Grilled Eggplant and Long Beans with Fish Sauce and Garlic, Authentic Pad Thai Noodles, Stir Fried Chicken and Vegetables with Green Curry Paste and Coconut Milk, Miang Gung (Thai Style Shrimp with Galangal and Coconut wrapped in Lettuce Leaves). Come and taste the flavor with us!

Couples Romantic Cooking 2
Sat, 12/6/08 7pm-10pm
Couples enjoy this class so much, they want to come back and cook some more fabulous dishes together in a
Cooking Party Atmosphere – there is a brief lecture and more instruction is in the kitchen as you prepare your
shared meals. Bring a nice bottle of wine to enjoy at the end of class to make this a true romantic night out as
you dine at a seductive table set with a nice tablecloth and candles. Join us for some more sensual recipes
starting with Baked Salmon and Vegetable Packages in Sake Sauce with Creamy Gnocchi di Semolina
Gratinati, Crunchy Citrus Beef over Rice Pilaf and Leeks with Stir-Fried Broccoli in Ginger and Garlic,
and Sweet and Sour Fish with Red Bell Peppers, Mixed Greens and Steamed Rice. For your romantic
dessert we have Chocolate Crème Bruleé to top off the evening.
COUPLES ROMANTIC COOKING PARTIES
THE TABLE IS SET WITH TABLECLOTH AND CANDLES FOR YOUR ROMANTIC DINING
This is a Party Class ONLY –the Instruction is in the kitchen and you are NOT lectured on all of the recipes
BRING SOME WINE AND A DATE AND HAVE FUN LEARNING AND COOKING TOGETHER
PERFECT FOR YOUR SPECIAL OCCASION
ALL PARTIES INCLUDE A GOURMET CHEESE TRAY TO START

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