The Beauty of Braising

You want to make great food in a minimum amount of time, but don't have a clue how to go about it. Or you're on your own for the first time and have discovered that eating out is expensive and takeout is tiresome! You need a small repertoire of dishes for daily dining, but you can barely manage instant coffee. Does this sound like you? Then this is the course to take. We assume you know nothing --- absolutely nothing --- about cooking and take it from there. In three relaxed, fun-filled classes, we'll get you on your cooking feet, teaching you how to prepare simple, healthful, delicious food. You'll learn about basic cooking equipment and menu planning; knife skills, including vegetable chopping and paring; how to make salad, vinaigrette, and other easy no-cook dishes; how to roast garlic and root vegetables; how to prepare delicious pasta; how to sauté and roast meats and more; and how to make desserts in minutes. You will learn to make three complete meals in three easy lessons, including: guacamole and chips, make-your-own taco bar, tres leches cake; classic Caesar salad, roast Cornish hens with root vegetables, and blueberry crisp; shrimp cocktail and garlic bread, classic fettuccini alfredo, arugula and radicchio salad with apples and glazed walnuts, and ice cream tiramisu

Recreate a French bakery at home with this selection of delectable desserts. They may seem intimidating now, but they definitely won't be once you get done with this class. Together, we'll tackle: mousse au chocolat; palmiers and gâteau au yaourt (yogurt cake).

This two-session class, crafted by ICE's resident sommelier, Richard Vayda, is tailored to the wine novice who wants a quick, fun and basic introduction to the world of the grape. You'll learn the fundamentals of wine, wine tasting and appreciation, which will start you on the road to critically judging wine color, aroma, flavor and body. You’ll discover the meaning of such wine concepts as dryness, acidity, fruitiness, tannins, varietals, vintages and more. Participants interested in continuing their exploration of wine are encouraged to go on to Wine Essentials. We'll taste up to 18 wines, plus matching cheeses.

Before heading out to your local sushi bar for your next date night, come to ICE to learn how to create your own sushi and sake bar at home. Together, you'll start by learning the basics of how to make the foundation of all sushi: delicious, seasoned rice. You'll then create a variety of sushi accoutrements, along with vegetables and raw fish. Finally, you'll learn to make traditional hand rolls, maki, futomaki, and nigiri, before sitting down to eat with a refreshing glass of Japanese sake or a cucumber-sake cooler.