EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Cooking Classes Celebrate Spring

Cooking Classes Celebrate Spring

Thinking about Mother’s Day yet?

Any of these cooking classes would surely thrill the Moms in your life. Participants gain new skills along with fresh recipes to enjoy in the warmer months. And these classes are a blast to enjoy with someone you love.

Search the categories and locations below to find kosher, vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan classes sure to lure you into the kitchens at some of our favorite cooking schools and culinary hot spots in CT and NYC.

New York City

KOSHER

One of our favorite chefs, Jennifer Abadi, will be teaching a Sephardi Shabbat class on in just a few days – so mark your calendar. This time, she’s coming to teach some exceptional dishes from all around the Sephardic Jewish diaspora that will certainly spice up your Shabbat dinner.  Turkish pistachio ba’lawa with rose water syrup, Syrian soup with lemon, Iraqi chicken with figs, and other tantalizing recipes will be taught!

 

 

Here’s a great idea on how to spend this Mother’s Day!  Surprise your Mom with a creative tutorial on creating cake pops! Head on over to the CKCA on Mother’s Day and learn just how cutesy (and delicious) these cupcakes-on-a stick can be.

 

image courtesy of CKCA
image courtesy of CKCA

 

This class is SO up our alley. Israeli native Chef Shlomo Shwartz will provide a culinary story telling of New Israeli cuisine in his Israeli Melting Pot class at the CKCA. After traveling throughout Tel Aviv & Jerusalem, as well as other major world cities like LA and NYC, he knows what he is talking about when it comes to understanding flavors of the contemporary Israeli palate. Learn to cook and then indulge in true Israeli dishes like a Mediterranean Freekah Tabouli, Sabich tartine, and Lemon & Herb Couscous with roasted pistachios.

 

 

 

Karen Nicolas is back again, this time with some fresh ideas from Philly’s renowned kosher restaurant, Citron & Rose. This time, she will show you how to make each one and then serve  strictly kosher prepared dishes after she’s done. Again, the only food that is not kosher will be the demo versions that Karen prepares on stage; all attendees will be served kosher food that was made in their restaurant’s certified kosher kitchen.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

 

  • Date: Thursday, May 22nd
  • Time: 1pm-3:30pm
  • Location: DeGustibus NYC
  • Price: $80/person

 

There were simply too many great kosher classes here to list them all individually, but we encourage you to check out the JCC in Manhattan and see what tempts you. The innovative classes in this strictly kosher kitchen range from an Israeli Independence Day Feast, to Vegetarian Mexican and even one called Famous Chefs’ Favorite Salmon Recipes.

 

 

VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE

 

Sick of being left out on sushi night? Fear not, for this cooking class will allow you to have it any night of the week from home! With Chef Hideyo Yamada at the helm, you will learn how to make some fantastic vegan sushi (…and beyond), like a dragon roll, tazuna sushi and a vibrant summer roll with peanut sauce.

 

 

 

VEGETARIAN & GLUTEN-FREE (OPTIONAL DAIRY-FREE)

 

In this hands-on all vegetarian class, you will learn some of the tastiest classic veg meals and plenty of new ideas. How about creamy lemon risotto with grilled carrots & toasted black sesame seeds and purple potato gnocchi with sugar snap peas and  homemade ricotta & mint pesto? Keep in mind you will be able to request non-dairy versions for the recipes for this class. Oh, and wine will be served. Awesome.

 

 

 

VEGETARIAN

photo

Remember when we featured some of our Chef friends’ fave Middle Eastern spices earlier this year? Well, this is your opportunity to learn even more straight from one of them. Jennifer Abadi will walk you through some of her best Middle Eastern dishes, utilizing cumin, harissa, tamarind and more.

 

 

VEGETARIAN

 

The Natural Gourmet Institute is offering a great class that focuses on the best techniques for creating vegetarian hors d’oeuvres for your next cocktail party or casual get together. Join Chef Richard LaMarita to create avocado & pickled ginger spring rolls, fried olives, and fennel-marinated feta with cucumber & mint.

 

 

 

VEGETARIAN

 

Healthful dishes are the main focus of this class at the I.C.E. You’ll learn some simple, fresh, and flavorful dishes – enough for a hearty and healthy three-course meal.

 

 

VEGETARIAN

 

Green really is the color of spring, so let’s celebrate it! In his class called Green with Envy, Chef Peter Berley of The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen and Fresh Food Fast will take you on an exploration through the many varieties of leafy greens that are at their peak at this time of year. You will make and enjoy emerald risotto, spring salad with mint vinaigrette, slow cooked mustard greens with garlic & chilies, frittata with dandelions and more.

 

 

VEGETARIAN

 

photo courtesy of Glen Allsop and Haven's Kitchen
photo courtesy of Glen Allsop and Haven’s Kitchen

Feeling lethargic after a mostly sedentary winter eating those hearty root vegetables and grains? Time for a “Spring Clean Cleanse” with Haven’s Kitchen! Throughout the two-part series (May 5th and May 19th), you will detox your body by refraining from toxin-loaded foods and drinks and will learn the best, healthiest foods to ensure your body is getting the optimal spring-cleaning.

 

  • Date: Monday, May 5th, 2014
  • Time: 7pm -9pm
  • Location: Haven’s Kitchen
  • Price: $275/person (total for the 2 classes)

 

VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE

 

Even though we love our gluten free granola in the morning, we also know that variety is the spice of life. That’s why we are so excited about Haven Kitchen’s Seasonal Vegan & Gluten Free Breakfast class, where we are going to learn some refreshing new recipes to create a scrumptious breakfast or brunch.  

 

  • Date: Monday, May 12th, 2014
  • Time: 10am – 12pm
  • Location: Haven’s Kitchen
  • Price: $115/person

 

 

VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE

 

Emily  of Lael Cakes is coming to Haven’s Kitchen for a super informative class on how to create delicious layered vegan and gluten-free cakes, including the icing. You don’t want to miss this one!

 

  • Date: Monday, May 19th, 2014
  • Time: 1pm-3pm
  • Location: Haven’s Kitchen
  • Price: $115/person

 

VEGETARIAN

 

photo courtesy of Glen Allsop and Haven's Kitchen
photo courtesy of Glen Allsop and Haven’s Kitchen

Chef Zoe Maya Jones will be at Haven’s Kitchen teaching some new vegetarian dishes (and techniques) that feature seasonal vegetables. This Simple, Seasonal Suppers class is sure to delivery. And as always at Haven’s Kitchen, wine will be served “liberally” throughout the class.

 

  • Date: Monday, May 12th, 2014
  • Time: 7pm-9pm
  • Location: Haven’s Kitchen
  • Price: $135/person

 

VEGETARIAN & DAIRY-FREE

 

Ready to be transported across the world without even leaving your kitchen? You will be able to after this Korean Vegetarian Home Cooking class, where you will master the unique flavors and seasonings of this Asian cuisine.  Enjoy pancakes 3 ways, vegetable bibimbap, and homemade Korean energy bars whilst sipping on some refreshing beer.

 

 

VEGETARIAN

 

Need a new idea for date night? The Brooklyn Kitchen invites Vegetarian Couples to come create a veggie-loaded four-course dinner and enjoy. As they say, “learning is sexy!”.

 

 

  • Date: Friday, May 9th, 2014
  • Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm
  • Location: The Brooklyn Kitchen (note that this class is at their Brooklyn location)
  • Price: $175/couple

 

 

CONNECTICUT

 

VEGETARIAN

 

AMG Catering of Wilton, CT has a great new state-if-the art kitchen where you can pick up some great new recipes from professional culinary instructor, Chef Grace. In this Spring-themed class, you will learn some unique new twists on orzo, barley, quinoa and other green salads.

 

  • Date: Tuesday, Ma7 27th, 2014
  • Time: 7pm-9pm
  • Location: AMG Catering
  • Price: $78/person

 

 

VEGETARIAN

 

Join Amanda Cushman as she walks you through how to make a fantastic Indian vegetarian feast at the White Gate Farm. The enticing, exotic menu includes Aloo Paratha (Indian bread stuffed with paneer cheese & chilies) and Madras eggplant with lentils.

 

  • Date: Thursday, May 29th, 2014
  • Time: 6pm-9pm
  • Location: White Gate Farm
  • Price: $90/person

 

KOSHER FRIENDLY

 

photo courtesy of Fig Cooking School
photo courtesy of Fig Cooking School

Did our recent review of F.I.S.H. restaurant get you craving more? Head to the Fig Cooking School to learn some fantastic new fish dish creations, like a seared tuna with mango and avocado salsa and timbale of smoked salmon and trout mousse.

 

 

VEGETARIAN

 

Radish Carpaccio- photo courtesy of Six Main
Radish Carpaccio- photo courtesy of Six Main

We know planning for June classes might seem a bit far in advance, but these intimate classes fill up super quickly, so book now! Six Main’s Rachel Carr will showcase one seasonal ingredient per class and teach you how to use it in diverse and creative dishes.

 

  • Date: Friday, June 16th (radish class); Friday, June 20th (strawberry class), Friday, June 27th (blueberry class)
  • Time: 11am-1pm
  • Location: Six Main
  • Price: $60/person

 

Head on over to the Shoppes at Farmington Valley for some Mother’s Day bonding and indulgence. Sur La Table will be hosting a Mother’s Day themed macron class where you will learn the basics of making these sweet, decadent desserts for the whole family to enjoy.

 

 

Chef Deborah Miller of Sur La Table is leading a Vegetarian Spring Cooking class on how to prepare some great new veg dishes, like a Cauliflower & Parmesan Soufflé with Herbed Butter Sauce and Zucchini Pancakes.

 

 

VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE

Big-ol-salad

One of our favorite local vegan spots is kicking off the Farmer’s Market season with a seasonal spring-themed class. Join Carissa Dellicicchi of The Stand as she teaches you some recipes focusing on spring greens and ramps – everything will be vegan and gluten free!

 

 

As summer approaches, what new skills would you like to learn in the kitchen or garden? Do these classes hit the spot for you? Tell us what you are interested in as the seasons shift. We’ll try to help you to find the right class or instructor.

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