Our merry little cooking class elves are busy at work adding classes to our schedule for late December through February. There are weekend date-night offerings, daytime weekday classes, and even kids’ classes before they head back to school after the holiday break. Take a look at the following new additions to the calendar…
Junior Chefs Academy (ages 9-14)
Mexican New Year’s Eve Fiesta
Wed, Dec 27, 2:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Instructor: Ariel Johnston
Hands On | Tastings
Junior chefs will travel south-of-the-border for an authentic New Year’s Eve Fiesta! Experienced cooking instructor, Ariel Johnston, will show how to prepare awesome Mexican dishes to ring in the New Year! You’ll throw on an apron and get lots of hands-on cooking time as you and learn culinary techniques like mixing, measuring, knife skills, cookie decorating techniques. You’ll also get lots of practice time for your newfound skills as you help prepare tasty Mexican recipes like Homemade Guacamole, savory Empanadas de Pollo (that’s fancy Mexican talk for seasoned chicken in a pastry pocket!), and Cilantro Lime Rice. We’ll end by whipping up a batch of warm Sugar Cookies.
Flavorful Weekend Nights:
The Splendid Table…
A Sensational Surf & Turf Menu
Fri, Dec 29, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Molly Flynn
Limited Hands On | Dinner
Enjoy working alongside Chef Molly and your fellow classmates as you learn how easy it is to prepare an elegant surf & turn dinner at home using trending ingredients from land and sea. This will surely become one of your favorite go-to menus for entertaining.
Junior Chefs Academy (ages 9-14) – Adult/Child Option
Cook Global, Eat Local.
A Tasty Chinese New Year Celebration
Fri, Jan 2, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Instructor: Katie Newell
Hands On | Tastings
The Chinese New Year isn’t until February this year, but why not start the celebration early and learn to make the traditional foods of this popular Asian holiday so you can make them for your family and friends on the actual day.
Li’l Kids in the Kitchen (ages 5-8)
Let’s Make Cinnamon Rolls
Wed, Jan 3, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Instructor: Laura Thomsen
Hands On | Tasting & Take-Home, Ready-to-Bake Cinnamon Rolls
Get those aprons on and grab your li’l chef (ages 5-8)! We’re up to our ears in cinnamon and sugar and flour and butter as we turn into pastry chef teams! Today, we’re going to learn to make cinnamon rolls from scratch — TOGETHER! All four hands will be mixing, kneading, shaping and sprinkling as we learn real baking tricks and techniques alongside culinary instructor, Laura Thomsen.
Flavorful Weekend Nights:
At The Chef’s Table…
A Special Wine Dinner featuring Chef Molly Flynn
Fri, Jan 5, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Molly Flynn
Limited Hands On | Dinner & Wine Flights
Enjoy an evening of masterful culinary instruction, great food and wine. Chef Molly is a seasoned chef who knows how to put that special touch to a meal, plus she has a teaching style that’s fun and easy to understand.  Get ready to be amazed as you watch Chef Molly show off her mad cooking skills while she teaches you to prepare a gourmet dinner that you’ll want to recreate over and over again in your own kitchen.
Midwest BBQ Institute:
The ‘Art of Smokology’ – Smoking 101
Sun, Jan 21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Instructor: Richard McPeake
Demonstration | Tasting
Richard McPeake (a/k/a Educator of “Queâ€) shares his extensive experience in this very special, power-packed 4-hour class. Whether you think you’re pretty good or you don’t know a thing, this class is GUARANTEED to take you to a new level. Chef will cover all the basics of backyard smoking so you’ll learn the secrets to perfect BBQ: use of a smoker and how they work; various fuels; types of wood; matching wood with foods; product identification; meat selection; trimming ribs, pork and briskets; time and temperature; proper techniques of smoking; developing “smoke ring†and “bark,†how and when to apply a rub; when, why and how to use a mop; making a dry rub; the four “flavor†stages; sauce testing; proper pork shredding techniques; what to look for in BBQ from start to finish; and discussions of BBQ regions. And you’ll learn, step-by-step, some incredible recipes!
Learn to Cook Like $%@# Gordon Ramsay
with Chefs Tosha Gutheridge & Stephane Laporte
Sun, Jan 21, 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Tosha Gutheridge & Stephane Laporte
Limited Hands On | Dinner
Chefs Tosha Gutheridge & Stephane Laporte are “bringin’ it†for the first time with us here at the CCKC as they share their deep culinary experience in the kitchens of the uber popular Chef Gordon Ramsay’s Vegas restaurants. In this up-close-&-personal-style limited enrollment class, you get what you have always dreamed of…lessons in cooking like rock star Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay … except we’ll put the “ixnay†on the profanity! (C’mon, we’re a class act here at The Culinary Center!)
Mastering Knife Skills
Thu, Feb 1, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Instructor: Molly Flynn
Hands-On | Snacks
Chef Molly will teach you how to masterfully perfect knife skills fundamentals such as basic cuts, mincing, brunoise, batonnet, julienne, and more. Plus, several advance techniques, to boot. She’ll also include a discussion on how to choose the knife that is right for you, how to sharpen and store them the proper way, and so much more.
Flavorful Weekend Nights:
Julia & Me: Classic French Dishes
Sat, Feb 10, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Molly Flynn
Limited Hands On | Dinner
Bring one of your favorite aprons if you like, a sense of humor and your best “Julia voice†and let’s learn how to cook some classic French recipes straight from the works of Julia Child. We’ll create awesome French beauties like Coq Au Vin and Trout a la Meuniere.  And don’t worry, Chef Molly will include a lovely French dessert, as well.
Vegan For Everybody
Mon, Feb 26, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Molly Flynn
Limited Hands On | Tastings
You might just be pleasantly surprised to discover the variety of rich and tasty dishes you will be able to savor using grains, legumes, nuts, oh yes, and veggies. See, it isn’t just about veggies! Chef Molly will teach culinary skills as she walks you through some incredibly delicious plant-based recipes.
