Authentic Tuscan Home-Cooking
This special cooking class will provide a perfect way to not only impress your partner or date on a special evening but also bond as you two work as a team on creating an authentic Italian meal that will transport you to Tuscany. Not just limited to a couple, this experience is also a great way to show someone you care, whether it is your family member or a dear friend. Under an expert guidance of Chef Mark, you will have undivided attention throughout the class and learn the tips and tricks that will equip you to cook with confidence in your own home kitchen after your lesson is finished.
How did you get the chicken to taste so good? You’ll be tired of that question from your family and friends after learning this ancient method of poultry cooking originally from Tuscany region of Italy. The magic happens in the heated brick that acts as a seal to create a meat that’s intensely juicy with a slight herb essence and skin so crisp it cracks with a tap of the fork. We pair Pollo Al Mattone aka Chicken Under a Brick, with a simple yet rich rosemary aioli to increase the depth of the flavors.
To make the meal complete, a salad is needed. Bring a historic San Francisco recipe to life as the chef teaches you a homemade Green Goddess dressing. According to food historians, chef Philip Roemer of the Palace Hotel in San Francisco invented the salad dressing in 1923 to honor actor George Arliss, who was staying in the hotel while he starred in a play called “The Green Goddess”. The traditional version of Green Goddess (courtesy of the Palace Hotel) includes only two herbs - chives and parsley - as well as white wine vinegar, sour cream and mayonnaise – although chef will show you his San Francisco version of the classic!
Included is a lesson on the art of butchering chicken, simple knife skills and making mayonnaise from scratch - once you go fresh, you’ll never buy it again! If bringing wine, chef recommends a light bodied white like a Sonoma County Pinot Grigio or Spanish Rose.
*The ticket is on per person basis* No experience is required! We provide all the equipment and ingredients, which are easy to find at local markets in case you wish to recreate the dish on your own after the class. Our events are casual and meant to be fun and instructive, not hardcore. This class is designed to be just as fun for the cooking enthusiast who wants to be a part of every step as it is for the first-timer who’s happier observing and assisting (or taste testing).
Chef Mark has a rich family history with food. His grandfather ran the busy San Francisco produce market, his grandmother was a whiz at anything Italian, and his mother is a winemaker. At a young age he attended the Institute of Culinary Education, then moved to Northern California to work in the kitchen at the famous Auberge Du Soleil in the Napa Valley.
A lengthy career working with gourmet food products gave him an opportunity to work closely with hundreds of the world's top chefs and culinary professionals. After much travel he developed a deep passion for gourmet ingredients and embarked on a personal journey, opening his own artisan cheese shop and catering company encompassing all his dedication for food, cooking, and the passion of good eating.
The class will take place in Chef's home, where Chef will implement utmost safety and sanitation measures. Guests are invited to BYOB wine, champagne or beer. You are encouraged to bring reusable containers to take any leftover home. The chef has a small cat - in case you have allergies or need medication beforehand. The chef can put him in another room too.
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