Staying in? There are dozens of classes and demonstrations for home cooks
There are plenty of virtual food, wine, family-friendly, and interactive culinary classes available online.
Philadelphia is open, but for the home cooks who choose to stay in, there are plenty of virtual food, wine, family-friendly, and interactive culinary classes available online. Celebrity chefs, including Jennifer Carroll of Spice Finch are among the stars creating experiences. There are also subscription services with classes taught by James Beard Award winners.
Here are a five types of classes to help improve your skills this summer.
Breakfast class
Amirah Kassem, owner of the acclaimed bakery Flour Shop, and judge on the Disney+ show, “Foodtastic,” will host a live virtual cooking class showcasing yummy ways to incorporate Nutella into pancakes, crepes, French toast and more. The family-friendly event is part of the Williams Sonoma Breakfast Club, with all proceeds benefitting No Kid Hungry, an organization that fights to end childhood food insecurity throughout the U.S. . 2:30 p.m. July 10. Cost, $5.
To register: williams-sonoma.com
Top Chef’s classroom
Jennifer Carroll, the executive chef of Spice Finch, Top Chef alum, offers a variety of custom kitchen experiences through her company, Carroll Couture Cuisine, including team building activities, and virtual cooking demonstration or cook-alongs for up to 50 people. Smaller groups can participate in quick-fire-style challenge using three ingredients specified in advance. A Q&A session is included with each culinary experience; participants may also add-on a la carte experiences such as a cheese and charcuterie board making demo, signed Carroll Couture swag and a cocktail or mocktail making demonstration. Demo or culinary class, up to 50 persons, $2,000 - $3,000; quick-fire class, up to 20 people, $3,000.
To register: eatccc.com; 202-215-7214
Spice Finch in the Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square; 220 S 17th St., Philadelphia; 215-309-2238; spicefinchphilly.com
Summer culinary school
Sur la Table is offering a variety of 90-120-minute gourmet culinary classes led by chefs through August via live Zoom. Classes such as surf and turf steakhouse teaches participants how to cook shrimp skewers and to grill the perfect steak. Other classes such as pan-roasted chicken breast and oven-roasted potatoes; cupcake decorating; and blue-ribbon blueberry cheesecake are teen-friendly but require parental supervision. Participants can download shopping lists and prep in advance. $29 per household.
To register: surlatable.com
Host your own cooking class
The culinary team at La Cucina at the Market offers virtual cooking classes. Participants will pick up their chosen meal kit in advance with options such as the Sunday Supper maccheroni and tomato gravy; meatballs, bracciole and sausage; and mini chocolate chip cannoli. Other kits include ravioli fiesta with roasted red pepper crostini, and chicken piccata with roasted vegetables. Each private class is at least two hours and requires purchasing a minimum of two kits, which is enough ingredients to serve a party of eight. Kits are $200-$300 each.
La Cucina at the Market; 1206 Arch St., Philadelphia; 215-922-1170; lacucinaatthemarket.com
Chefs on demand
The education platform, YesChef, offers pre-recorded, chef-led culinary instruction along with an immersive documentary starring each chef. Most courses for this subscription-based service feature over a dozen on-demand lessons, five hours of instructional content and nine to 35 recipes per chef. The current roster includes Nancy Silverton and Edward Lee; future courses will be offered by James Beard award winners Kwame Onwuachi and Nina Compton. $15 per month.
To register: yeschef.me