Meet the Culinary Entpreneurs: Jeffrey Katz

Fermentation is an ancient culinary art praised for its environmental and health benefits, as well as the robust flavors that it yields. In this class, students make four jarred ferments (to take home) then apply the same ferments (created for in-class use) to make dishes they can replicate in their own kitchens. These dishes are Fermented Taqueria Vegetable Nachos; Fermented Pineapple Red Pepper Salsa; Fermented Tomatillo Serrano Goddess Dressing; and Fermented Mango Hibiscus Punch. Through theory and hands-on practice, students will discover fermentation flavor profiles and learn fermentation techniques and safety protocols. (Note: This class is vegan & gluten free.)

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

By the latter half of the 19th century, bistros were centers of social life in Paris, catering to great painters, writers, musicians and other artists. The simple, down-to-earth food served at such bistros quickly became as celebrated as the eateries' most famous patrons - and it's still celebrated in Paris and around the world today. You will make traditional dishes of that bygone era, such as: steak tartare; frisée salad with apples, lardons and goat cheese in a warm shallot-bacon vinaigrette; moules frites and haricot verts amandine.

Grilling is one of the best ways to cook food simply while obtaining a maximum amount of flavor. You can grill on the stovetop, in your backyard, or over charcoal or gas. In this class you will learn how to modify your grilling technique depending on the medium used. You will also discuss how dry rubs and sauces are used on the grill, then put those lessons to use as you make: grilled steaks; shrimp skewers; chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce and grilled portobello mushrooms and zucchini.