Essential Wines of Spain

Any time is the right time to brush up on your chocolate skills! In this part hands-on and part demonstration-based class, students will review the basics of chocolate tempering and formulating chocolate centers, with an array of fillings and confections for use in truffles, molded chocolates, and candies. It features recipes you’ll want to make year-round – and will make you everybody’s favorite holiday house guest!

One of the oldest winemaking areas of the world, the Iberian Peninsula is currently considered one of the most exciting as well. Steeped in tradition, but not afraid to update and experiment, Spain offers an incredible array of elegant, delicious and varied wines. This class, led by ICE’s resident sommelier, Richard Vayda, offers a sampling of some top regions’ Reservas, as well as fascinating lesser-known examples. Specially chosen regional cheeses and bites will accompany our delightful tasting. We'll taste at least nine wines, plus matching cheeses.

Emilia-Romagna, which stretches between the Adriatic coast, northern Tuscany, and the Po Valley, is one of the most prolific agricultural regions of Italy. It is known for its pasta, balsamic vinegar, Parma ham and Parmigiano-Reggiano, among a wealth of other products. While enjoying wines such as Sangiovese and Barbera, you will learn to make traditional dishes that include: brodetto fish stew; cotechino con lenticchie; chicken cacciatore with creamy polenta; and warm zabaglione with Marsala wine for dessert.

For a flash course on all the basics you need to make a varied and impressive meal, look no further. With a professional chef, you'll gain the skills vital for moving through any simple menu with ease. You'll practice knife skills, roasting vegetables, cooking proteins with a pan sauce and a vinaigrette. Then you'll use what you learned as you make a menu of: popovers; sautéed chicken with classic pan sauce; roasted root vegetable salad with fresh herb dressing and garlic mashed potatoes.