The Sculpted Cake

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

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.

The sauces you will learn to make in this class are not just for special-occasion dishes you'll prepare once a year. Relying on pantry ingredients and reflecting the contemporary cook's lifestyle, they are meant to easily take a grilled meat or poached fish from simple to superlative with a pan reduction, beurre blanc or a pesto. You will master these techniques by making sauteed steak with red wine reduction sauce; poached salmon with beurre blanc and pasta with pesto.

Take a page from one of the world's most romantic countries (and cuisines) as you and your partner produce flavor-packed French favorites and gain new culinary knowledge. We'll make a complete meal that highlights the best ingredients and preparations France has to offer, including: tuna niçoise tartine; butter lettuce salad with radish and avocado in a creamy lemon-dijon dressing; coq au vin and pommes aligot.