Michael Stillman grew up in the restaurant industry watching his family’s restaurant business. He worked for Union Square Hospitality Group and The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group and gained experience in kitchens and purchasing departments before participating in staff recruitment and training, menu development and operations for Smith & Wollensky openings in Houston, Dallas and Boston. Michael channeled his creative vision and business sense into the concept creation of Quality Meats, which opened in New York City in 2006 and Miami Beach in 2015. He led the execution of every aspect of the new restaurant, from recruiting acclaimed design firm AvroKO and talented young chef Craig Koketsu, to negotiating lease terms and working with contractors to keep the job on budget and schedule. After closing the sale of The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group and founding Quality Branded in 2007, Michael created a succession of restaurants that achieved critical and popular acclaim: Park Avenue Summer (Autumn, Winter, Spring), Quality Italian, Quality Meats Miami Beach and Quality Eats. Michael will share his advice for the smart, effective expansion of a restaurant brand.
You will work in teams to execute the class menu. At the end of class, participants gather to enjoy the food they have prepared. Wine is served with meals in most classes. All class menus are subject to change. While a snack platter is offered in both morning and evening classes, you may want to consider a light snack before joining us for class. Students are encouraged to bring a light lunch or dinner to all pastry classes.
You will work in teams to execute the class menu. At the end of class, participants gather to enjoy the food they have prepared. Wine is served with meals in most classes. All class menus are subject to change. While a snack platter is offered in both morning and evening classes, you may want to consider a light snack before joining us for class. Students are encouraged to bring a light lunch or dinner to all pastry classes.
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.
Join an ICE Pastry Chef to learn the secrets behind perfect pâte à choux-based desserts. This versatile dough can take all sorts of shapes and sizes, for end-results that look complicated and impressive but are in reality easy to make. Your recipe list includes eclairs with chocolate glaze and chocolate pastry cream and cream puffs with vanilla pastry cream.
The Loire is France’s longest river, and also home to a large and varied wine making region. Crisp sparklers, mineral-driven whites, refreshing rosés and fruity reds, with choices from dry to sweet; this northern region seems to have it all! This tasting, led by Richard Vayda, ICE's resident sommelier, reviews some of the classic and essential wines of this ancient winemaking region. Discussions will include French wine regulations and labeling, as well as a taste of some regional cheeses, tastily illustrating the culinary adage: "What grows together, goes together"! The class will sample at least nine wines.
Ranked as America’s Best Culinary School (USAToday 2019), our roster of Chef-Instructors have run top kitchens around the globe.