This intensive four-day immersive study offers hands-on experience as we explore, in depth, the numerous variables involved in each step of the chocolate making process from raw cacao to finished product. In this workshop, open to pastry and culinary professionals, ICE Chef Michael Laiskonis will guide students through the underlying art and science of chocolate manufacturing. Students will roast, winnow, grind, formulate, and refine multiple batches of artisan-quality couverture. Special attention will be given to the use of the Chocolate Lab’s machinery to perfect flavor and texture. This hands-on course will cover: - A historical overview of chocolate consumption and manufacturing - Post-harvest treatment of cacao beans at origin - Cleaning, sorting, and analysis of cocoa beans - Roasting, winnowing, and grinding cacao beans - Refining processes for dark, milk, and specialty chocolates - Multiple tempering processes and molding techniques - Comparative identification and sensory analysis of chocolate products Multiple batches of artisan chocolates will be produced over the four-day session, and students will leave the class with samples of the chocolates produced.
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.
Get ready to bake up a storm in this 3-hour class! You'll master classic American sweets that are perfect for any bake sale or after school treat. Learn to make vintage whoopie pies, ultra-delicious brownies, and amazing chocolate chip cookies. You'll also bake exquisite lemon bars from scratch. Leave with a box full of delicious creations and the skills to sweeten any occasion!
All About Technique: Eggs is a skills-focused class exploring eggs in their many forms. You’ll practice making omelets, crisp-edged fried eggs, silky poached eggs, and tender hard-cooked eggs, while also mastering mayonnaise from scratch. The class emphasizes precision and technique to build confidence with this versatile ingredient.
Step down from the barstool — and go behind the bar instead! This Mixology 101 class teaches the foundational cocktail-making skills and techniques used by professional bartenders. (Much like “knife skills” is the first course taken by aspiring culinarians, Mixology 101 is the first building block toward more comprehensive cocktail knowledge.) This class covers: highball, old fashioned, martini, daiquiri , sidecar/daisy, and flips
Sitting down to an assortment of dim sum in a bustling restaurant is the culmination of a weekend stroll through Chinatown. It's never easy to choose from the myriad of delicacies that pass by the table, or to not try just one more thing. In this class, you will learn to prepare a variety of popular dim sum dishes, to impress family and friends with a feast of your own. You will make: shrimp shao mai; spring rolls; spareribs with balck bean sauce, and pan-fried vegetable dumplings with spicy dipping sauce.
Ranked as America’s Best Culinary School (USAToday 2019), our roster of Chef-Instructors have run top kitchens around the globe.