Basic Cooking Classes

 

Knife Skills

Knowing how to skillfully use knives is critical for cooks, yet many people have never mastered proper technique. In this class you’ll learn to safely chop, julienne, chiffonade and slice to perfection-this will save you lots of time in your cooking! You will also learn proper care of your knife, sharpening and honing. You’ll take home everything you cut up! Bring your own chef and paring knife to the class.

Soups for the Soul
Learn and create the three classic types of soup -- clear, thick, and specialty soups with Chef Mann. Making delicious homemade soups is a snap! Come try your hand!

 

Sauté & Pan Sauces

Are you in a rush to create a quick meal for a hungry family?  Sautéing is one of the most important techniques you’ll use over and over again in your kitchen. Learn the correct way to sauté, deglaze, and create quick sauces for your family.

 

Braising and Poaching

What is braising? It’s a wonderful way of slow cooking a delicious entrée to maximize its tenderness and flavor. What is poaching? A low-heat cooking method for meat and fish that will guarantee it stays moist and juicy. Chef Mann will teach you the secrets to preparing classic braised and poached dishes.

Basics of Baking
Join chef Mann, in this in-depth four-week course of the basics of baking. This participation class will focus on cakes, custards, pastry, plus tarts and pies. Learn the skills of creating German chocolate cake, jelly roll, angel food cake, crème brulee, apple-caramel tart, raspberry soufflé with crème anglaise, almond-orange biscotti, chocolate éclairs, plus much more.

Soufflés, Mousses and Custards
Learn the secrets to creating light soufflés and creamy custards, with both sweet and savory dishes. Join chef Mann for a hands-on class creating a classic cheese soufflé, Ham Quiche with herb and asparagus Salad, chicken-fontina soufflé quiche, pumpkin mousse with ginger snap cookies, and crème brulee with raspberry sauce.

 

Roasting  

Roasting is a great way to prepare delicious entrees for your family and friends. Discover the techniques that will guarantee success every time.

 

Salads and Dressings

Tired of plain green salad with bottled dressing? Find out how simple it is to create delicious and versatile salads for home, family get-togethers and special occasions. Once you’ve made your own dressing, you’ll never go back!

 

Sandwiches!

Wraps! Hot sandwiches! Cold sandwiches! There’s a lot more to sandwiches than cold cuts and bread. Learn creative new ways to dress up a lunchtime classic. Chef Mann will also show new tasty new recipes for sandwich salad mixtures.

 

Grilling

Everybody in Hawaii loves to grill. Whether you use a hibachi or an ex-55 gallon drum, everybody has their secrets. Come learn a few professional techniques, tips and recipes from us as we teach you some sure-fire ways to make your next barbeque a success!

Amazing Appetizers
In minutes, we will prepare hors d’oeuvres that look and taste like they took hours to fix. We’ll create a selection of recipes that can be made ahead, perfect for holiday entertaining, and of course, every class ends with a feast!

 

Economical Cooking Courses

 

Family Favorite Dinners

Learn to cook healthy and hearty meals that will impress your family and friends. Come join us for an evening of fun and a great meal.

 

Cooking for One

Using just one main ingredient, Chef Mann will stretch his creations to include several dishes with plenty of delicious leftovers—enough to savor throughout the week.

Girls' Night Out
Feast on a tasty menu as Chef Mann treats the ladies to a tropical celebration of the Caribbean.

 

Main Course Salads

When it’s hot outside, sometimes you don’t want heavy meals to weigh you down. How about trying a hearty and delicious salad for dinner, or anytime… Chef Mann will share with you his recipes for great classical dishes. Easy to make, and full of flavor, you’ll love these recipes.

Extreme Recipe Makeover
Learn the art of substituting lower fat, healthier, and diverse ingredients like flaxseed, agave syrup and non-wheat flours for the usual suspects of dairy, egg, and sugar.  Gain an appreciation of how to cook more creatively and an understanding of the health issues surrounding these substitutions.

Date Night for Couples
Treat yourselves to an evening out with fabulous fare inspired simply by romance! This hands-on class for couples will prepare classic meals.

 

International Cooking Courses

 

My Mediterranean
From Greece to Turkey to Egypt, small plate dishes will often make the whole meal. Simple, savory and delicious!

Salute to Sushi
Learn the secret techniques of making traditional and creative Japanese Sushi in one lesson, including California roll and Rainbow roll, Miso soup, vegetable dishes and more.

 

Confucius Says...

Wok cooking is simple, quick, nutritionally balanced and great tasting. In this fun class you will learn Chinese stir-fry and other wok cooking techniques, and some fun and festive ways to use chopsticks and a rice bowl. As the class progresses, you will learn about the major regions of Chinese cuisine, as well as the history, culture, customs, and spoken languages of China.

 

Paella Rules!

Learn the secret to making the perfect pan of Paella, as Chef Wynton takes you on a culinary journey to the foods and flavors of Spain.

 

Seasonal Cooking Courses

 

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Do you like to eat fish in restaurants, but are scared to cook it at home? Or, are you bored of baking salmon with a squirt of lemon, but not sure how to expand your repertoire? Come to this class and explore the bounty of the sea. You'll learn to find a good fish market in your area, buy the freshest fish, learn all about fish personalities and substitutions, and test fish for doneness. We'll make salmon teriyaki, trout in almonds, halibut in sorrel sauce, broiled bluefish, and swordfish Provencal.

 

Dinner & Dance

Grab your partner and join us for a unique experience of dancing and dining. The evening begins with a one-hour Latin salsa dance lesson that will spark your appetite for an incredible evening in the kitchen.

 

The Delicacy of Mushrooms

Enjoy a full mushroom experience from the earth to the table. The focus of this class will be on identifying, foraging, and cooking with local and seasonal mushrooms.

Picnic in the Park
Join us in celebration of the picnic, as Chef Mann prepares a menu that combines gourmet flavors with standard picnic fare. You’ll also learn how to organize and pack for a picnic to make the most of your outdoor dining experience.

 

Elegant and Easy Winter Dinners

Make nutritious winter dinners, using the beautiful products unique to the area. In each session we will create a three course meal and discuss the techniques and materials specific to each menu. This hands-on class is designed to build your cooking confidence and skill level.

 

Winter Soups and Stews

Spend a winter’s day cooking some of your favorite seasonal recipes. Using local produce, we will prepare various Stews (vegetarian), chicken soup with fresh herbs, homemade bread to go with your soup and other enticing dishes. Class is hands-on.

 

Elegant Lunches

Learn how to prepare the perfect lunch for friends and family members with some classic recipes made easy.

Take Another Little Piece Of My Tart
It is acceptable to ask for seconds when a little piece of Christie's tarts just isn't enough. Enjoy both sweet and savory variations, as Christie prepares smoked chicken-gouda tart, roasted garlic-spinach quiche, maple-apple tart, triple chocolate-macadamia tart, plus lemon-lime soufflé tartlettes.

 

Healthy Cooking Courses

Vegetarian on the Verge
Not quite a vegetarian but enjoy many meatless meals and need lots of new ideas for simple and delicious dinners? Learn the basics of healthy vegetarian cooking with emphasis on proper meal balancing, proper nutrition, saving time in the kitchen, eating out, cooking charts for grains and beans and delicious entrees! New recipes from soups to desserts and everything in between.

 

Healthy Snacks

One recommended way to lose weight and feel better is to eat smaller meals, more frequently. And if you feel like a snack, how about a few good healthy snack ideas? If you have a sweet tooth, how about flavorful pineapple oat breakfast bars? For a quick and easy bite, how about a tofu scramble in tortilla wraps? You might even be surprised by how good a tofu, avocado and brown rice musubi could be.

 

Good Food for Good Kidney Health

In conjunction with the National Kidney Foundation, we will show you how to manage sodium, saturated fat, cholesterol, and total fat in meals planning, balancing nutrients intake over a period of time, and finding interesting ways to create variations and substitutions in recipes.  This class will make it easier, and a lot more fun, for you to eat good food and stay healthy. 

Good Food for a Healthy Heart
In conjunction with the American Heart Association, we will show you how to manage sodium, saturated fat, cholesterol, and total fat in meals planning, balancing nutrients intake over a period of time, and finding interesting ways to create variations and substitutions in recipes.  This class will make it easier, and a lot more fun, for you to eat good food and stay healthy.

 

Eating for Nutrition

Although we all know we need a certain minimum of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber to maintain good health, we all love foods that we all know aren’t the best for us. Well we have been working hard to put together recipes for every meal that will help you improve your nutritional intake with every bite. How about starting the day with a ginger bran breakfast cake, or stuffed cabbage with Spanish rice for lunch, or a warm and yummy vegetarian shepherd’s pie for dinner? We’ll help you learn to eat your way to better health.

 

Cleansing, Detoxing and Rejuvenating

One of the stereotypes of “healthy” food is that it’s dry and unsatisfying, or that it lacks flavor.  Let this class blow you away with natural foods that are filled to the brim with life.  The recipes we will teach you in this class naturally cleanse your body, support ageless living, and provide you with ample energy and vitality to enjoy each and every day.

 

Totally Tofu

Tofu contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids, aids in lowering cholesterol, and has ample amounts of iron and protein.  In addition, it’s also amazingly versatile, with recipes ranging from salad dressings and dips to desserts to entrées and more!  We will teach you several different innovative and creative ways to enjoy tofu.  People often rave about these tasty dairy-free recipes!

 

"The Three E's: Educate, Entertain and Excite" We want our students to learn new skills, to have fun in the process and to go home excited about cooking!"