Chef Nicolas Botomisy has been a pastry chef for over 18 years and has worked at two- and three-starred Michelin restaurants in France and the U.K., as well as luxury hotels such as the Four Seasons in Japan and the U.S. He grew up in the South of France, cooking with his grandmother. After studying in the region, he worked at the Michelin-starred restaurants Relais de la Poste, Carré des Feuillants and Georges V. in France, and Waterside in the U.K. While working in Paris, he met his Japanese wife and decided to move to Japan. There he joined the Valrhona school team in Tokyo. Most recently, he has worked at Valrhona’s Brooklyn school. This year, Chef Nicolas has opened ateliers in Tokyo specializing in chocolates and travels back and forth to the U.S. He loves to teach and share his knowledge and has based his teaching programs around the ingredients, their roles and the ways to feature them best. He will explain how he builds tastes through feelings and emotions, then allow students to apply the techniques to their own work in the class. Chef Nicolas will create various types of desserts, including: high-end gastronomy dishes; banqueting types; and bistro types. Techniques will include: emulsion; mousses; ice cream; sherbet; chocolate tempering; crunchy décor; sable; sponge; sous vide cooking; and candied fruits.
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.
Immerse yourself in the food traditions of French cuisine with "French Classics: Coq Au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon." You’ll make two dishes that define rustic French cooking: rich, wine-infused Coq Au Vin (learning to braise chicken to tender perfection) and hearty, slow-cooked Boeuf Bourguignon (learning to layer and amplify deep umami flavors). You’ll also make Haricots Verts Amandine and velvety Cauliflower Puree. Take a “tour-de-food” in this course that teaches essential techniques and cornerstone dishes of the French countryside
Nothing beats the rich flavor and perfectly al dente texture of handmade pasta. So let's practice making our own pastas by hand and concoct some rich fillings, learning how to stuff ravioli, tortellini and cannelloni. As we make these three heavenly pastas, we'll complete them with homemade sauces that are the perfect complement to each shape and filling. You'll handcraft: lemon ricotta ravioli with sage brown butter, roasted red pepper tortellini in fra diavolo sauce, and beef angolotti in brodo.
Whether you like your pizza with a thick or a thin crust, with tons of sauce or no tomato at all, this class will give you a repertoire that includes just about everyone’s favorite. You’ll start by learning to make pizza dough, and while the dough is rising, prepare various toppings. You’ll learn the best baking techniques and work hands-on to make the following: pizza dough; tomato sauce; pesto sauce; pizza toppings including prosciutto, fresh herbs and sautéed vegetables; and dessert pizza with Nutella and fresh fruit.
While handling poultry can seem daunting, it really can be a clucking good time! In Knife Skills 2 you'll discover the fundamental techniques required to transform a whole chicken into popular cuts. We'll cover such topics as trussing and spatchcocking, ensuring you leave with the confidence to tackle any chicken preparation in your home kitchen. No matter how you feel when you enter the class, the class promises to enhance your knowledge of poultry preparation and take your skills to the next level. While not a requirement, it helps to have practiced the skills of Knife Skills 1 before taking this class.
Ranked as America’s Best Culinary School (USAToday 2019), our roster of Chef-Instructors have run top kitchens around the globe.