Exquisite cooking class....enjoyable experience!
Rarely does a cooking class have the appeal to be classified as an exquisite experience...but now I've found the exception.
The evening started out with hopeful ambitions of learning a thing or two about how to grace my limited skills with a few gems in the French tradition. Nancy was a fantastic host by making us all feel welcome and connected. Since my friend and I were the only 2 males among the team, we were clearly outnumbered ....but no worries, the atomosphere was open and inviting. We all brought our own bottles of wine...sharing our favorites....tasting the newness of diversity. Nothing like getting a social function going like the fruit of the vine!
Again, I'm a person of few culinary skills (and feeling somewhat nervous about what I'd signed-up for!) but before I knew it, I was learning how to prepare cordon bleu and apple-tart pastries. The way the class was organized, we learned from master chef Philip...and we learned from other. Being an experiential learner, it was exactly what I hoped for....the opportunity to learn and interact....while doing.
The kitchen area was large and accomodating...allowing for plenty of workspace and hands-on activity...while accomodating the mid-work glass of wine and side conversation. I found Philip to be insightful and personable...it was much like joining a family, then receiving a cooking class.
Dining on the labor of our own hands, was a graceful and relaxing experience. Conversation was filled with our personal cooking experiences and ambitions (mine was more ambition than experience!). Nancy provided an excellent dining experience...and even allowed my friend to sing a pre-dinner song in French to get us all in the mood.
On the pragmatic side, we all recieved printed recipes for the meal, generous dinner portions, and personal instruction with the chef.
On the personal side, it was an enchanting evening with newly-made friends and the opportunity to experience France in my own backyard - brilliant!
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