Valentine’s Day Dinner Date

ICE's resident sommelier, Richard Vayda, pulls out all the stops for this very special holiday class. Too many people are intimidated by champagne, tending to tiptoe around it instead of enjoying and serving it with food. No longer! In this class, you will dine on beautiful hors d'oeuvres along with a select group of sparkling wines. Your evening begins with a discussion of the origin and making of sparkling wine, while tasting various examples---from non-vintage to vintage to rosé. The highlight of the tasting will feature a Prestige Cuvée Champagne paired with an American challenger. The class rounds out with students enjoying a buffet of classic luxury food matches while indulging in additional bubbly, making for a sparkling winter evening to remember! We'll taste at least nine wines, plus foods.

While paella may be Spain's most well-known dish, the country has so much more to explore. It’s a culinary dream-spot for trying new flavors and combinations of ingredients. This class will help you discover new favorites, including stuffed piquillo peppers; pan con tomate; grilled shrimp with Romesco sauce; pork marinated in pomegranate and a watercress salad.

These exciting holiday dishes are ideal for accompanying delicious craft cocktails, providing a mouthwatering focus for any cosmopolitan gathering! Join us to make small bites and spreads that will amp up your holiday parties and go perfectly with some tipples. Together, we'll make and enjoy pumpkin spice snack mix; ricotta and cranberry jam crostini; duck fat marinated olives; roasted carrot dip with vegetable crudité; grilled lamb chops with yogurt sauce; cider sangria and a Manhattan.

The flavorful cuisine of Cuba reflects the country’s Spanish, African and Caribbean influences. From cooling ceviche to hearty ropa vieja, these influences manifest themselves in an array of seafood and meat preparations, not to mention unforgettable side dishes that will make you wonder why you didn't cook Cuban sooner. You will make ropa vieja (shredded flank steak in tomato sauce); pescado enchilado (sea bass in sofrito); frijoles negros (black beans Cuban-style); rice and tostones (savory fried plantains).