Northshore Cooking Classes

I am looking for a unique birthday present for my MIL. She loves to cook (is a widow, so mostly for her herself now). She's in Libertyville and I thought it would be easiest if she didn't have to travel that far. I've googled "northshore chicago cooking classes" and came up with Northshore Cookery [url](http://www.northshorecookery.com/lessons/default.asp)[/url]

Website doesn't help much with what is offered and when. Anyone ever taken classes from them?

I also found this list of cooking classes. They have a section "VARIETY/NORTH/NORTHWEST. Any opinions here?

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/aug/13/health/chi-cookingshools-story


I'd really like her to be able to get a gift certificate so that she can pick and choose what type of class(es) she would like to attend and on what dates. And of course, her party is this Saturday so I have to make up my mind quickly! My husband seems to think 4 days is an eternity!
Thanks for your help.

Hi,

Northshore Cookery went out of business sometime ago.

Kendall College in Chicago has a continuous series of adult education cooking classes. A lot of the high schools have evening cooking classes as part of adult continuing education.

Shoba teaches Indian cooking classes at her home in Glenview. You can find more information here.

Patrick Chabert, who was once a sous chef at Le Francais under Jean Banchet, has a catering business. He also teaches classes, often one-to-one, and will very likely cater a class to your Mother's interests. You may contact him via p.chabert@comcast.net or leave a cell phone message at 312 215-4688. LTH poster Cynthia has taken classes from Patrick as well as from Shoba.

Of course, you could buy your MIL a Weber Smokey Mountain, 80-pounds of wood charcoal, a Weber chimney starter, a big bag of hickory and a copy of GAry's upcoming book on Low and Slow BBQ. She might have a future as the other North Shore Maven of BBQ after me, of course!

Good luck! Do let us know what happened.

Regards,

What about Viking Cooking School in Glenview or Corner Cooks in Winnetka? I haven't been to either but have heard good things about Viking. Maybe they'd be worth checking out for your MIL.

http://www.vikingcookingschool.com/hc-cgi-bin/hc?templ=new_vcs%2Fcalendar.html&store=42

[url]
http://www.jerrys-restaurant.com/index.html[/url]

Jackie, thanks. The Viking set-up and line-up was what I was looking for. Have to check with the hubby to see what he thinks.

Anyone else taken any classes at Viking or heard any feedback?

Beverator wrote:Jackie, thanks. The Viking set-up and line-up was what I was looking for. Have to check with the hubby to see what he thinks.

Anyone else taken any classes at Viking or heard any feedback?

I seem to remember LTHForum.com contributor Louisa Chu writing a piece about the facility in Glenview but I couldn't find it via a google search. It's probably available at her blog:

http://www.movable-feast.com/

=R=

Now We're Cooking in Evanston also offers both demonstration and hands-on cooking classes. http://www.nwcookin.com. I've attended a couple of events there and really enjoyed them, but haven't taken any of their hands-on classes.

I've taken 3 classes at the Viking School - the Basic Knife Skills class, the BBQ class and a grilling class.

Keep in mind that the classes are intended for students to use Viking equipment (you get a 10% discount after the class) and are not what I would consider true "schooling". The facility itself is very nice and full of oontzy equipment. It is an enjoyable event, they feed you and give you alcohol, which is nice, but the class is less instruction and more socializing. The Knife Skills class was the most useful of the 3 (they held off on the booze until we were done with the sharp things), the BBQ class was done using their gas grills and ovens (no charcoal, the horror!) and the grilling was fine.

It's not a bad value if you go in expecting it to be more entertainment than education. I would take other classes there.

Thanks for all the comments. Looks like we are going to do this for Mother's Day so I have more time to research. Viking looks interesting and a nice way to socialize at the same time.

Cathy, the BBQ suggestion is awesome. She'd probably find her 4 sons hanging out with madre a whole lot more!

We went to a birthday party/cooking class at Corner Cook in Winnetka, it was a lot of fun.

Corner Cook
507 Chestnut St
Winnetka, IL
(847) 441-0134

Hi,

So what did you give your MIL for Mother's Day?

Regards,

After discussion with the rest of the SIL's, it was determined that there were quite a few gift certificates for services, plays, etc. that she had receieved but never used.

So in keeping with a theme that I have been using for birthdays, Xmas and other holidays, I went again with a book with a food theme. This time it was "Trail of Crumbs" by Kim Sunee. Caught my eye at Borders.
Now that I read the reviews on Amazon, it might not be that great a choice.

Other books that I have given her include:
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
various books by Ruth Reichl
The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears in Paris at the World's Most Famous Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn
The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food by Judith Jones

Thanks for all the suggestions about the cooking classes even though that didn't pan out.

For future reference, scads of restaurants also offer cooking lessons or "day in the kitchen" options, including Vie, Carlos', Restaurant Michael, and Le Titi de Paris. There are certainly more, but these are the ones I wrote about recently. Here's the article, which offers more info, along with prices, should you wish to pursue other cooking classes:

http://www.hungrymag.com/2009/05/07/beyond-dining/