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.
Learn to prepare mouthwatering versions of fresh seafood dishes, along with a range of universally useful cooking techniques. From grilling to frying to stewing, you can't go wrong with these dishes (including sides) that you might otherwise only find in restaurants. We'll even make cioppino, the mouthwatering Italian-American seafood stew that originated in San Francisco in the 1800s. Your seafaring menu includes: fried calamari with a spicy avocado dipping sauce; grilled salmon with tapenade and smashed potatoes; and cioppino (seafood stew of clams, shrimp, scallops, mussels, fish and tomatoes).
Georgian cuisine is finally being recognized for its variety, and the depth of flavors and techniques that characterize its unique culinary traditions. Given the country's location at the exact intersection of Europe and Asia, influences from both cultures have informed the dishes that the region is known for. From the banks of the Black Sea to the Caucasus Mountains, the land provides herbs, nuts and vegetables used in all aspects of its culinary traditions. You’ll become acquainted with the new "it" cuisine as you prepare: adjaruli khachapuri (cheese bread); nigvziani badrijani (stuffed eggplant rolls); tabaka (chicken cooked "under a brick") with blackberry sauce; and chakapuli (braised lamb with tarragon sauce).
In this class, we examine the use of syrups, infusions, tinctures, and shrubs as essential components of modern mixology. Participants will explore what each preparation is, its purpose within a cocktail, and how it contributes to balance, aroma, texture, and overall flavor structure. The course covers both classical and contemporary preparation methods, with attention to ingredient selection, extraction techniques, and shelf stability. Through practical examples and guided discussion, students will learn how to thoughtfully apply these elements to enhance classic cocktails and develop original creations with greater precision and confidence.
From bibimbap to bulgogi, the signature dishes of Korea have seduced America with intoxicating flavors. Sweet-spicy flavor combos are popular, as are the vegetables, meat and seafood that are featured in main dishes as well as in banchan, the Korean assortment of side dishes that appears in most traditional meals. You will learn to make dakgangjeong (hot chicken wings); bulgogi (grilled seasoned sliced beef) with assorted banchan; and bibimbap (seasoned vegetable rice bowl).
Ranked as America’s Best Culinary School (USAToday 2019), our roster of Chef-Instructors have run top kitchens around the globe.