Chicago Dept of Cultural Affairs: Winter '08 Cooking Classes

Your tax dollars at work, people! Take advantage! Incredibly inexpensive, hands-on classes...possibly the best cooking class deal in town.

Classes start with a short lecture/demonstration, then students are grouped to prepare a handful of recipes with the assistance of the World Kitchen's experienced instructors. At the end of class, all dishes are set out, family-style, and students share what they learned and EAT.

January:

More Than Marinara: Thursday, Jan 10 - 6 to 8 pm: For our first class of the New Year, we’re concentrating on our budget, and our choice for a fast and inexpensive menu always includes a few great pasta dishes. To celebrate ’08 we’re going to make eight great sauces we think you will depend on all year long.
Magnificent Meatless Meals: Saturday, Jan 12 - 11 am to 1 pm: Add new interest to your everyday meals by learning how to cook these delicious and healthy dishes. Learn how to use plenty of vegetables, pastas and beans to incorporate into your diet and you’ll never miss the meat!
Lighthen Up: Thursday, Jan 17 - 6 to 8 pm: You’ve made a resolution to get into shape, but those warm, gooey comfort foods of winter are calling your name. Learn how to “Lighten up” the recipes for some of your favorite comfort foods.
A Caribbean Cruise: Saturday, Jan 19 - 11 am to 1 pm: Wouldn’t it be great to be in the Caribbean right now? If you can’t actually book a cruise this season, at least you can cook up some tasty recipes and dream of sunny climes. Discover typical ingredients, authentic foods, and where to buy them - set sail with us today.
Great Grains: Thursday, Jan 24 - 6 to 8 pm: Whole grains. Eat them more often, say experts, they are good for your heart and your waistline too. But do you really know what whole grains are – or why they're so beneficial? Raeanne Sarazen, a registered dietitian, will explain this and more, sharing tips on how to find more whole grain foods at the supermarket and share with you some delicious recipes you can easily prepare at home.
Winter Games: Saturday, Jan 26 - 11 am to 1 pm: When it’s cold outside, invite your friends over for Game Night. Whether it’s cards, board games or the Superbowl , we’ve got a game plan for you with make-ahead snacks and sweets that will please all your guests and assure that you are the Winner!
Chocolate Challenge: Thursday, Jan 31 - 6 to 8 pm: Chocolate is the favorite flavor for nearly everyone, and there are a million choices when the shops are filled with Valentine’s candy, so we have generously volunteered our students to help pick a favorite! Valerie Beck, who leads the Chocolate Tour of Chicago’s sweet shops brings in numerous varieties for sampling and comparison. Don’t miss the chance to take part in the “Chocolate Challenge” with pastry chef Dan Sikorski from Hannah's Bretzel.

February:

Gong Hay Fat Choy: Thursday, Feb 7 - 6 to 8 pm: We love to celebrate Asian New Year with a bang! We have new recipes and dishes from throughout the continent which are do-able in your own kitchen. Learn about ingredients and how to shop for them, and then prepare a celebration meal to honor the holiday.
Re-Discover Casseroles: Thursday, Feb 21 - 6 to 8 pm: Staples of a bye-gone era or time saving (and dirty dish saving) stand bys for your every day menus? We will rediscover the secrets to making some of the most delicious one-dish meals ever in this warm-hearted class.
Chicago Streets: Thursday, Feb 28 - 6 to 8 pm: Street food in Chicago is filled with memories and stories of the neighborhoods and the past. Help us celebrate 171 years since our city was chartered by focusing on snacks and dishes you can make at home. Some originated in Chicago, others are only found in it’s 75 unique neighborhoods.

March:

Chicago Cooks History: Saturday, March 1 - 11 am to 1 pm: Two new books just out detail kitchen life in the late 1890’s and the past 25 years. Join Carol Haddix, editor of Chicago Cooks: 25 Years of Food History with Menus, Recipes and Tips from Les Dames d'Escoffier Chicago, and Eleanor Hanson, recipe developer for Learning to Cook in Chicago in 1898, a memoir of learning to cook over a century ago. Each will talk about how they took recipes from other writers and compiled them, tested them, and made them into books you’ll want in your library for their history lessons as well as their recipes. . Both books will be for sale in the class.
Kitchen Confidence Series: Thursdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 - 6 to 8 pm: In this series of classes, we to give novice and intermediate cooks the confidence to feed themselves or their guests better and easier. Each week features a themed menu as we practice the basic kitchen skills and techniques of professional chefs and apply them to at-home recipes.
Five Star Dining: Saturday, March 8 - 11 am to 1 pm: While we celebrate the city’s 171st “Birthday”, let’s take time today to celebrate our fine dining restaurants which have put us on the Culinary Map! Today we will duplicate some of the signature dishes from our best white tablecloth places....make them at home and get your own 5-star rating!
In Praise of Pie: Saturday, March 15 - 11 am to 1 pm: Did you know there was a National Pie Day? It is March 14....so join us in the kitchen when we fill our pie plates with winter favorites. Learn to make a lattice top for the classic apple pie, or discover ways to make unusual crusts and new and delicious fillings that would win any bake-off. We know you will love this class!
Make Mine Vanilla: Saturday, March 29 - 11 am to 1 pm: Spectacular results happen when you add a few drops from that little brown bottle on the kitchen shelf. We will meet the Cam Nielsen of Nielsen-Massey, celebrating their 100th year of making world-class vanilla and other flavorings right here in Chicago-land. Their new cookbook “A Century of Flavor” provides recipes both sweet and savory and will be for sale and signing at the class.

All classes take place in the Gallery 37 Kitchens at 66 E. Randolph Street. All classes are hands-on and cost only $30 (except for the Kitchen Confidence series which costs $100). Please wear appropriate clothing and non-skid shoes. Bring an apron if desired.

Registration begins on December 12th...hurry! as class sizes are small (usually no more than 21 people). To register, call (312) 742-TIXS (8497) or visit the box office at Gallery 37 Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6pm.

PM me with any additional questions.

Thanks!
Judy