All About Technique: Braising

Braising - searing at a high temperature, then finishing in a liquid at a lower temperature to infuse flavor - can add umami and more to pretty much any meal! And the best part is, it creates tender, juicy dishes with a minimum of effort. We'll master this technique as we make a braised banquet of: Guinness-braised short ribs with creamy polenta; braised chicken thighs with mushrooms and balsamic vinegar and braised fennel.

Sushi-making doesn't have to be limited to the view from a seat at your local Japanese restaurant. Bring the sushi bar home by practicing your skills at preparing nigiri (sashimi fish on top of thumb-size, compact sushi rice), perfecting the texture of rice, and learning the proper techniques to create a stellar hand roll. Once you've gotten the basics down, you will try your hand at: sushi rice; maki and futomaki rolls (both thin and thick), inside-out rolls; nigiri and temaki (hand roll).. You will soon learn that sushi is something you too can master.

Whether you're making a casual dinner or a gourmet multicourse meal. We'll cover techniques including poaching, sautéing, grilling and cooking risotto. Using your newly acquired skills, we'll make and dine on a complete meal of: grilled vegetable gratin; mushroom risotto; pan-seared steak with compound butter and mesclun salad with Dijon vinaigrette.

Unleash your creativity this holiday season in our Advanced Gingerbread House class! Perfect for bakers looking to elevate their holiday decor, this two day, hands-on workshop guides you through the entire process of designing and constructing an impressive gingerbread house. You’ll learn advanced techniques for from scratch baking, assembling, and decorating, including intricate royal icing piping, modeling chocolate embellishments, and other classic edible decorations. Our instructor will provide tips on achieving structural integrity while adding artistic flair, ensuring your house is both stunning and stable. By the end of the class, you’ll have crafted a show-stopping gingerbread house to display proudly throughout the holidays. Join us for a festive experience that blends baking with artistry, and leave with skills that will impress family and friends for years to come!