Dear The Kitchen,
I feel like Im a pretty good home cook, but I would be really interested in a knife skills class or a class about, say, Italian cooking or appetizers or knife skills. Shopping around for classes, so many of them feel either elementary (How to Boil Water) or fluffy. Since they are relatively expensive, I want to make sure I pick wisely.
Thanks!
Phillip
Dear Phillip,
There are several good cooking schools in NYC that offer programs for amateurs. You can find a great 2-hour knife skills class for under $100, a 3-month immersion course meant for home cooks, and everything in between. Try the Institute for Culinary Education and the New School's Culinary Arts program for a good range of classes. For something a little more professional, try the French Culinary Institute's Amateur Culinary Arts program. For classes focused on healthy/natural cooking, the Natural Gourmet Cookery School has dozens of classes open to the public.
Another route to go is to hire a teacher to come to your home and give you some tips that would be tailored to your needs. Some of these teachers will cook with you and your friends and prepare a dinner to enjoy afterward. Call any of the above-mentioned schools and ask if they have students or graduates who teach privately.
Good luck!
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Ok Phillip, not that this will help you since i am in Chicago but....when I got married 6 yrs ago I practically cut off a finger every time i used a knife. we took a knife skills class here in Chicago (at the chopping block if anyone is on from Chgo). it was so worth it! i can now slice and dice with the best of them-never even cut a finger. i do stay away from the mandoline though....highly think knife skills classes are essential. good luck finding classes in nyc.
The knife skills class at the New School is well worth it. Take Karen Snyder-Kadish's class if you can--great teacher.
Thanks for posting my question and thanks for the tips! I will look at the New School catalog and see which teacher is teaching the night-time class.
I'm very interested in a teacher to teach a small group at my house too, if anyone has a recommendation for that.
I have a knife sharpening business her in NYC and I have had many requests to give a knife sharpening, handling seminar. I am in the process of putting one together. It will probably be in the Spring. Please email me if you are intetested.
Margery
Phillip,
I don't know if you are close to a Wegman's grocery store. They are in and around New York State. They offer cooking classes at some of their stores. Sometimes they have celebrity chefs come in to teach classes. The classes run around $30.00 per class. Check out Wegmans. com. Cooking classes aside, they are fantastc stores. Great produce and lots of whole and organic foods.