Italian Christmas Eve

The flavorful cuisine of Cuba reflects the country’s Spanish, African and Caribbean influences. From cooling ceviche to hearty ropa vieja, these influences manifest themselves in an array of seafood and meat preparations, not to mention unforgettable side dishes that will make you wonder why you didn't cook Cuban sooner. You will make ropa vieja (shredded flank steak in tomato sauce); pescado enchilado (sea bass in sofrito); frijoles negros (black beans Cuban-style); rice and tostones (savory fried plantains).

On Sundays in Italian neighborhoods in Brooklyn, families gather for hearty dinners of Italian-American favorites. You will enjoy the preparation of a generous Sunday dinner including: bucatini with meatballs, sweet sausage and Sunday gravy; chicken cacciatore with polenta; fennel layered with potatoes and breadcrumbs; and broccoli salad.

There's nothing like handmade pasta's flavor and texture, and in this class, we'll have a blast leaning how to make fresh handmade pasta, stuffed pasta, perfect sauces and all the accompaniments! There's nothing like handmade pasta's flavor and texture. Together, we'll learn to make dough the Old World way, then how to shape, cut and stuff it. You and your partner will create a complete fresh Italian dinner of: pappardelle with Bolognese; burro e salvia (butternut squash ravioli with sage butter).

While handling poultry can seem daunting, it really can be a clucking good time! In Knife Skills 2 you'll discover the fundamental techniques required to transform a whole chicken into popular cuts. We'll cover such topics as trussing and spatchcocking, ensuring you leave with the confidence to tackle any chicken preparation in your home kitchen. No matter how you feel when you enter the class, the class promises to enhance your knowledge of poultry preparation and take your skills to the next level. While not a requirement, it helps to have practiced the skills of Knife Skills 1 before taking this class.