Valentine's Day Macaron Treats

Experience the art of plant-based dim sum in this hands-on class, where you'll craft a variety of vegan bites inspired by classic dim sum flavors. Learn traditional techniques and plant-based adaptations to dumplings, spring rolls, buns, and rice porridge, and pair them all with fragrant tea and a sweet dessert. Students will work in groups to prepare Chili Crisp Smoked Tofu & Scallion Gyoza; Five Spice Mushroom Spring Rolls with Apricot Ginger Sauce; Sweet Hoisin Eggplant & Crushed Peanut Steamed Buns; Ginger Scallion Congee with XO Glazed Seitan Crumbles; and Chrysanthemum Goji Tea with Dark Chocolate Red Bean Truffles. (Note: This class is vegan.)

For a flash course on all the basics you need to make a varied and impressive meal, look no further. With a professional chef, you'll gain the skills vital for moving through any simple menu with ease. You'll practice knife skills, roasting vegetables, cooking proteins with a pan sauce and a vinaigrette. Then you'll use what you learned as you make a menu of: popovers; sautéed chicken with classic pan sauce; roasted root vegetable salad with fresh herb dressing and garlic mashed potatoes.

Knowing how to use knives skillfully is the foundation of all cooking, and doesn't have to be scary or frustrating. Many home and even professional cooks don't always wield a knife correctly, however, which increases food preparation time and makes the process harder --- and less safe --- than it should be. Simply put, good knives are the foundation of a well-equipped kitchen. This class remedies all these basic issues: You will learn how to slice, dice, chop, and much more in the safest and most efficient manner. This class will even guide you through the practice of keeping your knives sharp and handling them correctly.

This four-session continuation of the Wine Essentials series offers in-depth exploration and tastings of some of the world’s more interesting and unusual wines. Studies will include an expanded array of lesser-known varietals and wines, as each class concentrates on one wine category and delves into the wines’ production, characteristics and uses, including discussions of food and wine pairing. Session 1: Advanced White Wines: Side-by-Side Tasting of Interesting Aromatic and Fruity Wines. Session 2: Advanced Red Wines: In-Depth Comparison of Selected Wines From Old and New World Regions. Session 3: Off-Dry to Sweet: Exploration of Elegant Rieslings to Cru Classé Sauternes. Session 4: Fortified and Aromatized Wines With Wine Service: Fascinating Wines, From Vermouths and Sherries to Madeiras and Portos.