Global Local Gourmet

Cooking Classes and Parties

The Global Local Gourmet Cooking Class Experience

A modern day interpretation of the 17 th century French salon where an encouraging chef  brings people together to captivate each other and enhance their repertoire of refinement by engaging in food, conversation, and other experiential endeavors.

-Upon arrival you will be presented with the chef’s Amuse bouche, a small treat to whet the appetite.

- The chef will go over the menu and reveal tips, demos, culinary artisans and farmers, and tales from the kitchen confidential

- Working in teams, the menu is prepared

- After the dishes are completed, we will sit down to a delectable multi course meal and deconstruct the meal and leave with recipes and resources about how to recreate the meal and similar at home. Hopefully you will leave with some new friends and you will have a gourmet bag to share with some old ones too!

Cooking Classes and Parties are the perfect way to bring together family, friends, and collegues, for memories they will not forget. Cooking together is an excellent way to celebrate special occasions and mix and mingle in a non – passive way with new friends. We all know the most fun happens in the kitchen!

Superb for birthdays, singles’ mixers, fundraisers, girl nights, bachelor parties, alumni events, church groups, social clubs, and holiday parties.

COOKING CLASS AND PARTY DESCRIPTIONS (We can customize a class for your needs and love doing so.)­­­

Amuse Bouche and Hors D’eurvre 

The French have perfected the elevation of food to both an art form and a celestial experience. The amuse-bouche, which means essentially “mouth teaser,” is usually a gift from the chef as an unexpected token of hospitality. As a diner’s first exposure to a host’s cuisine, the amuse-bouche sets the tone of the meal and the evening. Hors d’oeuvres are meant to whet the appetite and bridge the gap between the arrival of guests and the main meal. Come join us to make an array of French-inspired culinary little wonders meant to wow your guests. Some of the tiny morsels will include seafood crème brulee, Roquefort thyme and honey canapé, grilled beef brochette with a truffle ponzu sauce, and chickpea and fennel hummus.

Are You feeling Hot, Hot, Hot?! Regional Caribbean Cooking

Throughout history, the Caribbean has served as a crossroads of the world.  This was truly illustrated when trade routes of all sorts connected the Caribbean with Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. Consequently, this continual movement brought a progression of people and cultures that in turn graced the region with their complex culinary customs.  All the while, the cuisine was constantly adapting to the produce of the region, foodstuffs introduced to the region by trade, and tropical climate to create gastronomy where inspiration is drawn from the diversity of their people and histories. We will cook from the English, Spanish, Dutch, and French Caribbean. Some of the food we will prepare are Jerk Pork Tenderloin, Empanadas, Colombo of Chicken, Yellow Rice, Rum Spiced Black Beans, Shrimp Fritters, Eggplant in Coconut Cream, Tropical Trifle, and Passion Fruit Mojitos to name a few. Come explore this beautiful region and its’ amazingly rich and delicious food.

Around the World in a Bite

Call it tapas, meze, or dim sum, every culture has small plates made to share as a start to a meal or a meal in itself. Join us for a globetrotting trip that will take you to Spain, Greece, Vietnam, Morocco, Brazil and a few surprises in between. The menu includes chorizo with wine, lamb and feta pizzas, cilantro-peanut summer rolls, and piccadillo with plantain chips. Learn great recipes to have in your entertaining arsenal for life. All your guests will love you and wish to be invited to your parties.

Breakfast Blast

Preparing breakfast is a great way to start the day. Come learn how to make the best breakfast dishes ever. Menu includes Fresh Fruit Smoothies, Carmel French Toast, Good Morning Muffins, Maple Ham; Crunchy Ranch-Style Home Fries, and Tropical Granola Bars. Learn how to make your families most important meal the best ever.

Chinese Take-Out

Chinese food is popular with people all over the world. Take this fun class and you’ll be on your way to making the Chinese food you love instead of or calling for less health conscious take out. Menu includes Won Ton Soup, Summer Rolls with Dipping Sauce, Chinese Chicken in a Packet, Pineapple Fried Rice, and Almond Cookies.

Cooking From the International Pantry – Inspiration to Create Meals Without Recipes

Discover how a well-stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer, proper tools, and fresh ingredients can make good cooking uncomplicated and fun. A well-stocked kitchen helps keep your

weekly grocery list to just a few perishable items: fresh herbs, bagged greens, fresh veggies, milk, fish, meats, cold cuts, and bread. Fill the fridge with foods that easily make dinner more interesting, For more exotic cravings, don’t forget couscous, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, coconut milk, hoisin sauce, Thai curry pastes, tahini, canned chipotle chilies, dried porcini mushrooms, and dried fruits. Come learn how to make a myriad of recipes from things that you can have on hand in your kitchen all of the time.

This class will demystify ethnic markets and also show you how to maximize your trips to the supermarket so you can make meals that are tasty, varied, nutritious, and easy to prepare all of the time. We will cook from international pantries from around the globe. The first class we will cook food from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and African pantry. The second class dishes from the Asian cupboard will be explored. Lastly we will prepare cuisine using ingredients from this side of the hemisphere with recipes from Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean being taught. Some of the dishes we will cook include Eygyptian Hummus, Tuna Tapa, 10 Minute Antipasto Platter, Miso Glazed Cod, Grilled Tofu with Peanut Sauce, Pantry Chipotle Salsa, Curry Vegetable Rice, Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse, to name a few. Do you want to break away from your dependence on recipes, cut preparation time, and be a more adventurous and creative cook? Let a professional chef teach you the tricks of the trade and fundamentals of fine cooking. We will travel around world through the international pantry and along the way learn what staples to keep in your cabinets, the best cookware and equipment to purchase, proper cutting and chopping techniques, and how to use master recipes to create a variety of dishes. 

Cooking For Parents: Feeding Your Family Healthy and Wholesome Food 

For most parents, the battle starts the moment they wake up in the morning: how to get their kids to eat nutritious food. We beg, we lecture, we warn — and for good reason. With childhood obesity and diabetes rates on the rise, eating habits are a major issue for many children. Parents increasingly lack the time to think about cooking with all the running around they have to do. How many times do you stop for fast food or buy groceries that are riddled with preservatives and have little nutritional value for you or your family? In this class, you will be given an arsenal of recipes and methods that demystify the kitchen and will allow you not to be intimidated by making the most fabulous meals imaginable. You will learn a variety of tricks that will help you spend more time with your family yet provide them with meals that taste good, are easy and fast to cook, and appeal to all age groups. Recipes we will prepare will include Cajun Pork Chops, Oven Fried Chicken, Salsa Fresca, Grilled Quesadillas, Scalloped Potatoes, and Flawless Peach Tart to name a few. You will learn how to assemble a month long menu and grocery list building upon the techniques learned in class. Food will be fun for your family and a chore nor more!

Cooking Without Recipes: Secrets of a Professional Chef 

Do you want to break away from your dependence on recipes, cut preparation time, and be a more adventurous and creative cook? Let a professional chef teach you the tricks of the trade and fundamentals of fine cooking. Whisk through the professional chef’s secret domain as they teach you to use your sense of taste to achieve the desired results. You’ll learn what staples to keep in your cabinets, the best cookware and equipment to purchase, proper cutting and chopping techniques, and how to use master recipes to create a variety of dishes, desserts, sauces, and vinaigrettes. You’ll enjoy and prepare specialties like Baked Brie en Croute, White Bean and Escarole Soup, Coconut Shrimp, Pan-roasted Chicken with Lemon-Sherry Sauce, and more. To complete our meals, we’ll enjoy desserts such as Caramelized Apple Tarte Tatinand Chocolate Mousse. This class is for students who have basic cooking skills.

Cuisine of Brazil

When Americans think about Brazil, they probably think of the lush Amazon jungle, the colorful Carnival held annually in Rio de Janeiro, or the classic bossa nova hit, ”The Girl From Ipanema.” As more Americans visit Brazil and more Brazilians immigrants to America, Brazilian cuisine is finally beginning to establish itself on the American dining landscape. Leading the Brazilian-food boom are churrascaria rodizios, Brazilian all-you-can-eat steakhouses. It’s somewhat puzzling that it took so long for Brazilian cuisine to gain a foothold in America. Brazil is only slightly smaller than the United States; it is the world’s fifth-largest nation, with more than 157 million inhabitants. Besides that, Brazil is home to many immigrant groups, including Africans, Portuguese, Spaniards, Italians, Germans, Syrians, Lebanese and Asians. It would seem that a nation so large, and with so many culinary influences, would have made its mark on these shores long ago. So change that, and sign up for this cooking class and learn how to make this exquisite and eclectic cuisine. Some of the delights we will prepare include Frigideira (Seafood frittata), Pao de Queijo (Cheese bread), Moqueca de Camarao (Shrimp Stew, Bahian style), and Coconut Kisses. After this class, you will be able to bring Rio to your own kitchen.

Cuisine of the Provence and French Riviera  

The South of France in spite of its fast, modern, jet set image has some of the most imaginative food in the Mediterranean. Over the centuries it has been at the crossroads for conquering armies as they made their way north to conquer Europe. The food is a fusion of French & Italian with a hint of North Africa and Arabic. They use only the best of ingredients - the taste reminds us of places where there is constant summer and vegetables are grown outside in abundance in their natural environment. Come cook the foods of places such as Cannes, St. Tropez, Monaco, and Nice. Provence and the Cote d’ Azur is a land of warm-hearted people and delicious cuisine. Come and learn how to make Ratatouille, Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic, Salad Nicoise, and Apple Cake to name a few of the dishes we will create from the cuisine of the sun.

Greek Meze

The Greek meze is a snack or appetizer that is eaten at any time of the day. Usually accompanied by a beverage, meze may be part of a buffet meal or may be served during the cocktail hour, which in Greece, often extends late into the evening. Come discover a little part of Greece one plate at a time. Some of the delicious dishes we will prepare include Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Spicy Tomato – Pepper Relish, Feta Whipped with Basil, Lemon, and Pepper, Greek Tuna Salad with Wild Herbs and Onions, Pumpkin Cheese Triangles, and Papoutaskia “Little Shoes” – Stuffed Eggplant. Add some of these perfect noshing treats to your entertaining repertoire and bring the tavernas and bars of this magical maritime nation home with you.

Natural Epicurean 

Overhaul your diet by discovering a variety of delicious, health-supporting foods, including whole grains, vegetables, sea vegetables, soups, condiments, pickles, oils, and naturally sweet flavors. You will be able to use what you learn in this cooking class for a lifetime of delicious and healthy eating. Find out how a variety of wholesome eating approaches can bring health, balance and happiness into your life. You will learn what composes a satisfying, healthy, and delicious meal, the 411 on carbs, and how foods affect your body, mind, and emotions. If you want to feel better and not like you are giving up the foods that you love, come learn how to cook natural food that is tasty and does not feel like you are missing anything. Some of the dishes we will prepare include Creamy Tuscan Soup,Seaweed Salad, Quinoa Risotto, and Apple Cranberry Crisp. If your health is a priority and you need a little culinary coaching to revamp your meals, this class is for you.

Savor the South Pacific: The Cuisine of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia

The South Pacific is one of the world’s most tranquil, untouched, and serene destinations. The culture is relatively untainted, however the cuisine is inspired by travels around the world. Merchants introduced spices and sugar from Asia and Africa, exotic produce from South America, and the gastronomy of Europe and Australasia. The countries are surrounded by the lush water of the Pacific, thus fish is a regional specialty. We will cook our way around the South Pacific learning about the history and the culture while our pots sizzle! Some of the foods we will make include Pacific Pot Stickers, Fijian Potato Omelet, Fragrant Vietnamese Chicken Soup, and Mango Cheesecake.

Seasonal Paris

Paris is wondrous place to be. It is probably the most romanticized and fantasized about city in the world. That translates into practice too, for it is also the most visited city in the world as well. Deeply rich in history, art, fashion, lifestyle, and food, the city has been a trendsetter for the rest of the world for centuries. Whether you are having coffee at a Parisian Bistro, eating a regional specialty at a Brasserie, or having an ethnic specialty in one of Paris’ many cultural dining establishments, there are epicurean delights to be had in every district of the city of lights. We will cook Parisian Bistro Food, Regional French Cuisine, and French Ethnic Food. Paris is a cosmopolitan center that produces some of the best gastronomy in the world. Some of the foods we will prepare include Croque Monsieur, Coconut Madeleines, Coq Au Vin, Colombo Lamb, and Chocolate Mousse. Immerse yourself in the fine cuisine of this illuminating city.

Side Dishes

Tired of the same old side dishes? Our chef instructors will share some great ideas with you, focusing on make ahead dishes, and even include some of your restaurant favorites. The menu for this class includes, Gratin Dauphinois, Polenta (creamy & grilled), Pressure Cooker Risotto, Tomatoes Provencal, Proscuitto wrapped Asparagus, and Stuffed Zucchini.

South of the Border

Mexico is our neighbor to the south, and in America we have happily adopted many of their food traditions, recipes, and made salsa one of our favorite condiments. You can add spice and flavor to your meals by sharing these new recipes with your family and friends. Menu includes Guacamole with Chips, Salsa Fresca, Butternut Squash and Rajas Quesadillas, Fish Tacos, Rice &Beans, and Mexican Wedding Cookies.

Under the Tuscan Sun

Tuscany is the center of fine Italian cooking literally and figuratively. Tuscany is a unique treasure and there is no other place like it. Tuscan cuisine is known for their use of fresh ingredients plucked from its rolling hills and abundant landscapes. These flourishing lands are filled with among many things olives and luscious grapes. Tuscan food is a pure and simple gastronomy that depends on the best of what the land has to offer.  In this hands-on class; we will explore Tuscan recipes and create several traditional Tuscan dishes. Preparation of cuisine indigenous to this fabulous region of Italy will be our focus, so bring your appetite and be ready to cook food from this fabulous region!  Some of the food we will cook include Bruschette with Grilled Eggplant, Roast Chicken Stuffed with Polenta, Wild Mushroom Lasagna, and Lemon Cake. We will enjoy the bounty of the seasons as we cook food under a Tuscan sun. Buen Appetito!!!! Deliziosa!

Tapas Party 

Put a new twist on your next dinner or cocktail party by learning several simple recipes for classic Spanish plates made to share. The menu includes Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Quick Pepper Sauce; Sizzling Shrimp with Garlic; Patatas Bravas (Spicy Potatoes); Roasted Eggplant Salad; Shortcut Spinach Empanadillas; Piquillo Peppers Stuffed with Crab and Goat Cheese; and Grilled Toasts with Quince Paste and Manchego Cheese.

Trattoria

The trattoria is where Italians go for big flavors, great friendships, and good times. Share the passion Italians have for food with someone you care about. Learn the secrets of this simple, quick cuisine that’s ripe with flavor and rich in nutrition. Traditional trattoria cooking is the essence of Italian food. The cuisine of the trattoria is honest, fresh, and satisfying dishes that aren’t complicated and never go out of style. We will create an Italian buffet of several courses including beautiful antipasti, a variety of mouthwateringly simple soup, pasta, risotto, and pizza we love.  Slip away to the little trattoria we create, and discover together how easy it can be to create your Italian favorites like Orecchiette with Broccoli Raab & Sausage, Red Snapper in Parchment Paper with Olives, Capers, & Herbs, Zucchini Ribbons with Mustard, Mint, & Lemon, and Light-as-Air Limoncello Mousse.

Vegetarian Gourmet 

Did you ever think that gourmet and vegetarian seem like an oxymoron? Well, come learn how to make delicious vegetarian food. This class will convert you to a vegetable and grainllover. You will gain knowledge about different types of vegetarianism by cooking a variety of recipes that rely on nature’s bounty for their inspiration. Some of the dishes we will prepare include Samosas with Tomato Chutney, Strawberry and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese, Lentil Loaf with Mushroom Ragout, and Berry Mousse to name a few. Meat will be an afterthought after you try these recipes.

Vietnamese Food – The Nouvelle Cuisine of Asia

Looking for a quick lunch of soup, salad or a sandwich? Did you ever think Vietnamese? Maybe a lovely vegetarian meal? How about Vietnamese? Or are you in the mood for multiple courses, complementary flavors, different textures and unusual ingredients? Again, you can think of Vietnamese. Or perhaps something nourishing and “lite?” Guess what: Vietnamese food is the cuisine for you.  Vietnamese food has long been cherished in France, the former colonial power; U.S. residents are only beginning to discover its many exceptional qualities. Vietnamese chefs like to refer to their cooking as “the nouvelle cuisine of Asia.” And indeed, with the heavy reliance on rice, wheat, soy, legumes, fragrant herbs, a variety of vegetables, minimal use of oil, and treatment of meat as a condiment rather than a main course, Vietnamese food is among the healthiest on the globe. Some of the dishes we will cook include Pho Ga - Aromatic Chicken Soup with Rice Noodles, Fresh Herb and Shrimp Spring Rolls with Vietnamese Dipping Sauce, Chicken in Carmel Sauce, Pork in Lettuce Cups, Saigon Noodles, and Mango – Lychee Shake. Come and quench your culinary curiosity and take a beautiful and salivating gastronomical journey.