Good cooking has nothing to do with fancy equipment, complicated recipes or hard-to-find ingredients. The fundamentals are really quite simple: It’s all about instinct, technique and freshness. ICE alum Annemarie Ahearn, who has been teaching at her Maine cooking school, Salt Water Farm, for over a decade, believes that developing these essential skills can lead to a greater sense of confidence and fulfillment in the kitchen. In this class, students will review the basics of country cooking: how to properly use and hone a knife, make fresh bread and butter, season and employ cast iron in the kitchen, use a mortar and pestle to make a transcendent salad dressing, build a basic homemade stock, and make a simple and sensational pie dough and vanilla custard. Your menu includes: fresh focaccia with lemon, herbs and homemade seasoned butter; orecchiette with green peas and ricotta; farro, asparagus and arugula with herbed buttermilk dressing; cast-iron chicken thighs with leeks, mushrooms and cream; and strawberry galette with vanilla bean custard. Each student will receive a copy of Annemarie’s new book, "Modern Country Cooking: Kitchen Skills and Seasonal Recipes from Salt Water Farm."
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.
These delightful cupcakes come in a range of flavors and frostings, not to mention some well-matched fillings. As we make the cakes, fillings and frostings from scratch, we'll pair strawberry with vanilla, chocolate with white chocolate ganache, peanut butter with chocolate icing, and even birthday cupcakes with a piñata surprise of sprinkles inside. Your cupcake menu: strawberry shortcake with vanilla bean cake and whipped vanilla bean buttercream; chocolate trio with dark chocolate cake, white chocolate ganache and milk chocolate frosting; birthday "piñata" cupcakes with sprinkle buttercream; and peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting.
The Loire is France’s longest river, and also home to a large and varied wine making region. Crisp sparklers, mineral-driven whites, refreshing rosés and fruity reds, with choices from dry to sweet; this northern region seems to have it all! This tasting, led by Richard Vayda, ICE's resident sommelier, reviews some of the classic and essential wines of this ancient winemaking region. Discussions will include French wine regulations and labeling, as well as a taste of some regional cheeses, tastily illustrating the culinary adage: "What grows together, goes together"! The class will sample at least nine wines.
Unlock more Thai culinary secrets in "Essentials of Thai Cooking II.” This hands-on class builds on fundamental techniques, guiding you through authentic dishes and dispensing lessons in more rigorous skills. Master the refreshingly crunchy Green Papaya Salad, then temper the hot and sour notes of Tom Yum with Shrimp. Learn to stir-fry savory Pad See Ew with Chicken and layer flavor in Green Curry with potato and eggplant. Finally, discover the secret to perfectly fluffed Coconut Jasmine Rice. Expand your Thai cooking repertoire and impress your friends with these delicious, restaurant-quality creations!
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.
Ranked as America’s Best Culinary School (USAToday 2019), our roster of Chef-Instructors have run top kitchens around the globe.