Cooking and baking classes with Chef Liz Sitaras Wilcox

Wow, I thought I knew all the cooking classes in the area, but this my friend is the real deal with Chef Wilcox.  When her initial dreams of being an architect/interior designer were dashed because of her dyslexia, she moved on to her passion; cooking and baking.  With the help of a math teacher, who suffered from dyslexia as well, taught her how to adapt and navigate her disability into a viable way of learning.

She enrolled in the top culinary school in the country, the prodigious Culinary Institute of America (CIA), where she matriculated through two programs earning two degrees; Culinary Arts and Pastry.  While at the CIA she was an intern at The TV Food Network on their shows during their early days featuring chefs  Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken, David Rosengarten, Michael Lomonaco, Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali, Sara Moulton and more.   

Learn more about Chef Wilcox's classes at Dara Cooks at Batlimore Post Examiner

Part 5 of 5 series on hands-on cooking classes in Baltimore: Baltimore Chef Shop

New to Baltimore but not new as a culinary instructor, Chef Scott Ryan has recently opened the Baltimore Chef Shop cooking school in Hampden.  Chef Ryan has been a culinary instructor since graduating the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in Massachusetts well over 10 years ago. During the Dim Sum class that I attended, the chef and I shared a moment fondly reminiscing about a common acquaintance, the founder of the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, Roberta Dowling who recently passed away.

Chef Ryan has taught the culinary arts in multiple cities while moving about the country supporting his wife’s career.  They have set down roots in Baltimore and truly focused on his career as a culinary instructor.  Initially, the classes were held in his house until his school recently opened on ‘the Avenue’ in Hampden. 

Read the full story and watch the slideshow at Examiner.com / Dining

Part 4 of 5 series on hands-on cooking classes in Baltimore: For the Love of Food

The only Baltimore county hands-on cooking class, For the Love of Food, is situated in the heart of Pikesville, across from the Pikes Theatre on Reisterstown Road.  Initially For the Love of Food was started by Chef Diane Bukatman, in her Reisterstown home offering up a vast array of classes for the novice, children, team building, ‘Think like a Chef’ series and was eventually sold to Chef Thomas Casey when she moved out-of-state. Chef Casey is a Johnson and Wales graduate, a working chef for 18 years from the Four Seasons to Executive Chef of The Grill at Harryman House.  His passion for food turned him to education and he became a culinary instructor at Columbia’s Lincoln Technical Institute.

Due to circumstances and time frame, I ended up auditing his Date Night – Just the Two of Us: Pasta Class not participating.  This particular evening, it was couples and what an array; two of the couples were married and enjoying time away from the kids, a first date, long distance dating couple, and two other couples at various stages of their relationships.  Some cooked together before, some just getting to know each other, but the teamwork to complete the multiple recipes would draw the couples closer together.  Gift certificates were used that evening, which were a birthday gift and an anniversary gift – just saying, great holiday gift idea.   

Read the complete story and watch the slideshow at Examiner.com 

Part 3 of 5 series on hands-on cooking classes in Baltimore: Schola

A cool, bright Saturday afternoon in late October was a perfect day for the hands-on cooking class at Scola to make warming soups.  Schola, located in Mt. Vernon on Charles Street,  is a cooking school, not a restaurant,  a home for hands-on cooking classes, private parties and team building. You will have no problem finding parking on the street, though I should have just parked in the PMI lot across the street and not worry about going back out to feed the meter – after 6 p.m. you don’t have to pay the meter. 

Schola is on the first floor on a townhouse, with daylight pouring in from the street front windows that afternoon it was bright and shiny. Everything in its place in their small space - well stocked shelves, orderly and well thought out.  Down the center of the room were tables and stools.

Watch the slideshow and read the full review Examiner.com 

Dining Dish Radio Program kicks off.

This past summer I did a radio interview on Baltimore Internet Radio with founder Dave Custy. We had great fun, told fun stories and connected on wanting to put a voice to the food community both here in Baltimore and with a national slant. Recently I ran into Dave and Janice Kaufmann, his partner in crime, at a media event.  Dave said I want to talk to you about doing a food-centric program. After a meeting and a lesson at home how to record a program I was on my way. The next step is learning how to record interviews from my home via Skype which will make for better programming. Interviews will be both local and on a national platform with the likes of cookbook authors, chefs, food producers etc.

My thoughts are doing two kinds of shows, one based on the food news in Baltimore and another based on national food news. Baltimore Internet Radio covers all things Baltimore, national and international.

Have mercy on me for this first program, I promise to become better and have more voices on the program tha other than my own. As we get rolling there will be advertising opportunities.  As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day, so give Dining Dish time as we learn to craw and grow.

Listen to the first  Dining Dish program on Baltimore Internet Radio  HERE.  

Holiday inspired cooking classes at Donna’s

Winter Squash Risotto - Donna's

There are times we just need a little inspiration, a muse of sorts, to brighten the holiday table and entertaining. Chef Donna Crivello of Donna’s located at the Village of Cross Keys has put together two demonstration cooking classes that will do that for you.  How about a winter squash risotto instead of stuffing, cranberry granita instead of cranberry relish from the can or something different and inspiring to put on your table or take to a covered dished gathering. 

Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Donna Crivello will prepare delicious dishes, share the finished creations (accompanied by specially-selected wines) with class participants, and provide her original recipes during these Tuesday night classes at Donna’s in Cross Keys. Each class will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and costs $50, which includes wine and tastes of each dish. Space is limited. Reservations can be made by phone at 410-532-7611 or by email at donnasalad@aol.com.

Tuesday, November 18
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Donna Crivello will prepare savory side-dishes to dress up a traditional Thanksgiving feast. Menu items include winter squash risotto, balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts, roasted root vegetables and cranberry granita. Wines selected to accompany a Turkey Day feast for family and friends will be served.

Tuesday, December 9
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Donna Crivello will help holiday hosts tackles the tricky task of preparing a menu and creating  seasonal cocktails for a holiday party. With her cooking class guests, Donna will prepare simple yet elegant appetizers, and will be joined by bartender Kristen Starks in introducing recipes for no-fuss, festive drinks.

Donna’s at Cross Keys, 5100 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD 21210 (410) 532 7611 www.donnas.com/crosskeys  Facebook @DonnaBmore 

Learn to make ravioli for free at St. Leo's Church

St. Leo’s Church in Little Italy is looking for volunteers to make ravioli for their Spaghetti and Ravioli Dinner that will be held Sunday, November 2 at the church.  Show up at St. Leo’s School Hall on Saturdays October 11 and/or October 18 at 9 a.m. They will show you how to make ravioli and even feed you lunch.  If you are available to help all you have to do is just show up at the church.  As they say at St. Leo’s, “It’s a little work, a lotta of fun and a nice social event.”

 What a great way to get a sense of one of Baltimore’s oldest neighborhoods, meet new folks and share stories. Baltimore City was formed by the numerous ethnic neighborhoods when many of our great grandparents came to this country for a better life. 

  

So, come make the ravioli then plan to come to the Spaghetti and Ravioli Dinner on Sunday, November 2^nd.  The fundraiser which is held twice a year will be serving homemade ravioli, meatballs, salad, Italian bread, coffee. Cash bar, soda, dessert. Tickets are sold at the door to dine in (School Hall) Adults $12 Children $6 Carryout $12.50 available in the Church Hall on S. Exeter Street.

St. Leo's was built in 1881 and has since been the emotional and spiritual 'heart' of Baltimore’s Little Italy. They have ministries and societies such as Hands & Hearts, an outreach program that serves those in need; St. Leo's Seniors Group; Knights of Columbus; St. Anthony Society; Sodality of Our Lady, and others. The Pandola Learning Center an arm of their parish which offers Italian language classes and other Italian related cultural classes held in the former St. Leo's School.

St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Little Italy, 227 S. Exeter Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 675 7275 www.saintleocc.com. Follow on Facebook.  

The Corner Pantry: Grab- n-go cafe, cooking classes, afternoon teas and more

The Corner Pantry located on Falls Road at the foot of Lake Avenue is so much more than tea and crumpets.  Chef and co-owner Neill Howell  offers a selection of his native British fare along with locally sourced Maryland goodies to eat in, carry-out and enjoy at a catered event.

Let talk lineage, Chef Neill Howell has left his culinary mark in London, Los Angeles and New York where he met his wife and now business partner, Emily, a Baltimore native. He was the executive chef at the successful Baltimore’s Bond Street Social; one might say his stepping stone to the Corner Pantry where it would be his food, his commitment to locally sourced products. Talented is a statement one would use when describing chef’s culinary acumen, his wife’s stylized marketing and their Massachusetts imported pastry chef Julie Sutula’s sweet and savory pastries. 

Check out the full story and slideshow HERE. 

North Carolina Barbecue Society BBQ boot camps: Become a cue master

Want to hone your BBQ skills? Looking for that very special gift for Father’s Day? Want to become a NCBS Certified BBQ judge?  The North Carolina Barbecue Society can answer all these questions with their BBQ boot camps.

Recognized by CNNGO.com, they named the NCBS BBQ Boot Camps one of ten Great International Cooking Classes (the only one in the USA).Each year, over the period of late spring and early fall, the North Carolina Barbecue Society runs three intensive BBQ boot camps which includes: 

• Instruction from North Carolina's Premiere Pit Masters & Chefs
• Whole hog, shoulders, chicken, ribs, brisket, tenderloin, prime rib, beef steak, fish & Brunswick stew
• BBQ dips & rubs, various side dishes and desserts
• Jim Early's award-winning Pimento Cheese & other dishes
• Quality of Life Seminar-14 Steps to Balance
• NCBS Cooking School Diploma & NCBS Certified BBQ Judge Certificate

Check out the slideshow and read the full story HERE.

The Valentine's Day gift that keeps on giving

Do your loved ones love, I me LOVE to cook or LOVE to decorate cakes or want to learn how?  If the answer to this question is yes, let’s talk two opportunities of purchasing classes for said loved one.  They learn, they prepare and it becomes the gift that keeps on giving.  

Here in Baltimore are exciting classes you can make your Valentine’s Day gift.

Learn about the classes, watch the slideshow and video HERE.

Creating happy memories - gingerbread house decorating class for children

 Bring your child to Sotto Sopra Restaurant  for Pastry Chef Mallory Staley’s gingerbread decorating class being held Sunday, December 22^nd from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.at 405 N. Charles Street. All the children need to bring is a smile and an adult chaperone. The children can leave their Legos, Lincoln Logs, and Barbie’s Malibu Mansion behind because they will be decorating their own gingerbread house that well can be the centerpiece on their family’s dining room table or mantle piece. 

Read the full story and get the details HERE.