Techniques of Cake Decorating 1

Join an ICE Pastry Chef to learn the secrets behind perfect pâte à choux-based desserts. This versatile dough can take all sorts of shapes and sizes, for end-results that look complicated and impressive but are in reality easy to make. Your recipe list includes eclairs with chocolate glaze and chocolate pastry cream and cream puffs with vanilla pastry cream.

Georgian cuisine is finally being recognized for its variety, and the depth of flavors and techniques that characterize its unique culinary traditions. Given the country's location at the exact intersection of Europe and Asia, influences from both cultures have informed the dishes that the region is known for. From the banks of the Black Sea to the Caucasus Mountains, the land provides herbs, nuts and vegetables used in all aspects of its culinary traditions. You’ll become acquainted with the new "it" cuisine as you prepare: adjaruli khachapuri (cheese bread); nigvziani badrijani (stuffed eggplant rolls); tabaka (chicken cooked "under a brick") with blackberry sauce; and chakapuli (braised lamb with tarragon sauce).

When it comes to healthy eating practices, no one can argue the importance of including whole-food, plant-based ingredients on your plate. We’ve taken the Meatless Monday campaign and applied it to any day of the week. Learn how to incorporate more vegetables, whole grains and beans into your diet with ease. These recipes will take you beyond Monday with robust yet simple-to-prepare vegan dishes. We'll also discuss the health benefits of a vegetarian diet, the best sources for protein, and how to obtain important vitamins and minerals. On your menu: watermelon gazpacho with kale chips and avocado crème; French lentil and toasted sunflower seed burgers with red cabbage slaw and grilled summer squash, zucchini and portobello mushroom kebabs.

Often overlooked by casual wine drinkers, this ancient grape-growing and winemaking area is a star in many enthusiasts’ cellars. Passing back and forth between Germany and France several times throughout history, Alsace's Germanic influence in grape varieties and labeling is clear, but the French style of the wines shines through. While featuring fragrant dry Rieslings, Alsace offers many other charms, including delicate Pinot Noirs, sparkling Crémant d’Alsace, and other luscious late-harvest examples. Join Richard Vayda, ICE's resident sommelier, on an exploration of the history, wine regulations, labeling and, most important, wines of this classic wine region. The class will sample nine or more wines, accompanied by matching snacks.