CAPS: Signature Desserts with Gale Gand

Provence is a gastronomic paradise where French techniques meet Mediterranean elements like garlic, basil, olives, lavender and honey. Throughout this enchanting evening, you will learn essential techniques to make simple and aromatic dishes that burst with flavor. On your menu will be: brandade de morue; chicken with potatoes, rosemary, olives and lemon; bouillabaisse with rouille and vegetable tian.

ICE’s Fine Cooking series are the classes on which our recreational program’s reputation was built. This intensive course expands on our Fine Cooking 1 series and takes a deeper dive into essential culinary techniques.These full-participation classes teach fundamental skills, not recipes. This course covers everything from fileting a fish, to properly sautéing, to cover poaching techniques and fundamental sauce making. As you advance through the series, you’ll gradually come to understand each cooking concept. You’ll have a firm grasp of ingredients and equipment; you’ll know why things happen; you'll learn how to avoid and correct mistakes. Most importantly, you’ll gain the experience you need to cook with confidence and pleasure - without relying strictly on recipes. Each class culminates with a student-prepared meal. Prerequisite: Fine Cooking 1.

Sushi-making doesn't have to be limited to the view from a seat at your local Japanese restaurant. Bring the sushi bar home by practicing your skills at preparing nigiri (sashimi fish on top of thumb-size, compact sushi rice), perfecting the texture of rice, and learning the proper techniques to create a stellar hand roll. Once you've gotten the basics down, you will try your hand at: sushi rice; maki and futomaki rolls (both thin and thick), inside-out rolls; nigiri and temaki (hand roll).. You will soon learn that sushi is something you too can master.

Fermentation is an ancient culinary art praised for its environmental and health benefits, as well as the robust flavors that it yields. In this class, students make four jarred ferments (to take home) then apply the same ferments (created for in-class use) to make dishes they can replicate in their own kitchens. These dishes are Fermented Taqueria Vegetable Nachos; Fermented Pineapple Red Pepper Salsa; Fermented Tomatillo Serrano Goddess Dressing; and Fermented Mango Hibiscus Punch. Through theory and hands-on practice, students will discover fermentation flavor profiles and learn fermentation techniques and safety protocols. (Note: This class is vegan & gluten free.)