Couples: Fire & ICE

This class is for the Italian food enthusiast! ICE Boot Camps give you the opportunity to learn how to cook and bake like the pros. This four-day Boot Camp focuses on the class cooking techniques and regional cuisines of Italy. On day one, we will tour Northwest Italy with a focus on fresh pastas. You will learn classic pasta dough techniques; how to extrude pasta and shape gnocchi and ravioli. On day two, we will cover the five courses of the Italian meal (antipasti, primi, secundo de pesce, secundo de carne, contorni) and explore the cuisine of Northeastern Italy. On day three, our main focus will be the the four pastas of Rome (carbonara, cacio e pepe, alla gricia and amatricana) while we also cover the regional cuisine of central Italy. On our final day, we will head to southern Italy and explore classic dishes like pesce all acqua pazza and fritti di melanzane as well as learn how to make fresh mozzarella.

Move over Bordeaux and Burgundy, wine from France's south is more and more becoming the go-to area for flavorsome as well as thoughtful selections. This region is not only one of the oldest wine regions of France, but also a top producer, second only to Bordeaux. The prime regions lie along the Rhône, but the subregions and many appellations - as well as the numerous grape varieties permitted - make for a varied and interesting wine selection. Certainly, delicious reds such as savory Syrahs of the northern Rhône or classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but also rich whites and refreshing rosés. Richard Vayda, ICE's resident sommelier, will host the evening's regional wine survey. Snacks for pairing will be served, with at least 9 wines included in the tasting.

Master some of the most fragrant and distinct dishes in this country's rich and varied cuisine, emphasizing a riot of toasted spices. You'll learn all about the vegetables, seafood and other featured ingredients, with a range of geographic and climatic origins, from hearty masalas to spicy curries to cooling raitas. We'll assemble a menu of: chana masala (chickpea curry); chicken tikka masala; palak paneer (spinach with paneer cheese); pulao (spiced basmati rice); and cucumber raita.

The highest quality knife can be rendered useless — and even dangerous — if it’s dull. In this hands-on class, you'll learn how to sharpen your knives using traditional Japanese whetstone techniques from Korin's Knife Sharpener, Vincent Kazuhito Lau. Vincent will employ the sharpening method passed down to him from Master Chiharu Sugai and Grand Master Shouzou Mizuyama (one of Japan's top knife sharpeners). We encourage you to bring your own knives to sharpen and receive maintenance tips. At the end of class, you’ll get to touch, feel, and — if you desire — purchase Japanese knives and accessories.