ICE Happy Hour: Mad Men Cocktails

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.

Sharpen your most essential cooking competency — Knife Skills! — in this hands-on workshop that teaches precision, efficiency, and professional techniques. Designed for cooks of all levels and taught by Steven Gao, Per Se alum and the content creator behind @stevenmotocooks, the workshop covers starter to more advanced executions in an approachable, real-world setting. You’ll start with fundamentals that support consistency and control. These include grip, stance, safety, and economy of movement. Steven will then demonstrate the core cuts used in professional settings, after which, you’ll roll up your sleeves and practice yourself – with fresh ingredients and personal guidance. You’ll also enjoy light bites and a selection of mocktails and cocktails, followed by a Q&A with Steven, wherein you’ll get cooking tips and insights to working in professional kitchens. This workshop is ideal for home cooks looking to build confidence; aspiring home chefs developing core skills; and anyone interested in better understanding professional culinary standards. This workshop offers a focused environment grounded in technique, clarity and practical application — because great food starts with knife skills.

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 farms, orchards and of course vineyards of California's wine country combine to turn the region into one of the most bountiful in the U.S. The kitchens of Napa, Sonoma and the Russian River Valley highlight the quality of the ingredients at hand. Learn to make some of those dishes in your own kitchen, including: fig salad with sweet-spiced walnuts, Gorgonzola and Champagne vinaigrette; pork tenderloin with pan-roasted grapes; scallops with pan-roasted grapes and sauvignon blanc; and warm Dijon potatoes with fresh herbs and peas. You will enjoy these with a selection of California wines.