Luscious and Lean Vegetarian: Summer Dishes

Hearty hardly begins to describe the extravagant steak feast you'll be making in this class. Not only will you learn how to make the perfect filet mignon, skirt steak and more, but you'll also become versed in the art of rich sauces, like cognac cream, béarnaise and chimichurri. Your saucy menu includes: filet mignon au poivre with cognac cream sauce; onglet béarnaise (hanger steak with tarragon sauce) and skirt steak with Rojo chimichurri.

Do you need an antidote for the cold weather? Can that antidote never be too rich or too flavorful? How about spending a whole evening with lush red wines from around the world and hearty cheeses that match them? Richard Vayda, ICE's director of wine studies, will discuss cheesemaking and cheese service, as well as red wine and food pairing, as you sip and eat the evening away. We'll taste at least eight wines, plus matching cheeses.

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.

The genius of Tuscan cuisine lies within its simplicity of fresh ingredients. The landscape is a romantic patchwork of grapevines, farmhouses and olive groves. If you and a date are considering an Italian countryside getaway, save yourself the plane tickets and join ICE for an intimate Tuscan feast where you will make: Tuscan chicken liver paté; shaved fennel and radicchio salad; handmade pappardelle with truffle sauce; and bistecca alla fiorentina.