January 14th, 2014

Cooking Classes, Delaware Beaches, Southern Delaware, Love Exploring the Culinary Side!! For Some cooking is an Art, For others, it is Therapy, and for the rest of us…Pure Pleasure!!

The Delaware Beaches are a culinary destination!!  We have all the necessary ingedients to make cooking a success…we just need the chefs that can lead us on that path.  Here are some of the cooking classes and demos that are coming up.  If you are wintering in Coastal Delaware, check them out.

This post is all about cooking….I mean learning to cook.  “If a pot is cooking, the friendship will stay warm.”

NAGE – This is a very popular restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, located at 19730 Coastal Highway (Rt. 1).  Tel. 302-226-2037.  Website? http://www.nagerb.com.  Click on Cooking Classes.  The following classes are on the schedule:  They begin at 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Healthy Cooking Class on January 25th.

Slow Cooking Class on February 15th.

Low Country Cooking Class on March 15th

Nage Classics Cooking Class on April 12th

BIG FISH GRILL – Located at 4117 Highway One.  Tel. 302-227-9007.  Website?  http://www.bigfishgrill.com/classes-a-events.html.  I have attended one of these classes and they are so much fun.  The classes feature menu items from Big Fish and Summerhouse.  Be prepared to participate.  Don’t be afraid.  Attending this class will give you the opportunity of seeing what Big Fish looks like from behind the scenes.  There will be a whole fish cutting demonstration, as well.  The classes are $75 and you must register in advance.  Time? 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.  Special requests are accepted.  Group/theme/private classes are available.

The doors will open at 9:45 a.m., giving you the chance to have coffee and to meet the chef.

January 18th, February 1st and 15th, March 1st, 15th and 29th, April 12th and 26th, and last one will be on May 3rd.

STINGRAY SUSHI BAR & ASIAN LATINO GRILL – Located at 59 Lake Avenue in Downtown Rehoboth Beach.  Tel. 302-227-6476.  Website? http://www.stingrayrestaurant.com.  Learn How to Roll Sushi!!  $45 per person.  For tickets and more info., please visit the website.  Classes will be from Noon until 2 p.m.

February 23rd, April 27th, and May 18th.

ABRA…CA…DINNER!! – Chef Kris will be holding these classes in her own kitchen.  Size of classes range from 6 to 8 students, depending on the topic.  Each hands-on class will last 90 minutes to 2 hours.  The cost is $55 per class, special topics will require an add-on charge.  Driving directions and anything may need to bring along will be sent to you by email ahead of each class.

For further info., please call Chef Kris at 302-228-6125 or email her at chef@abracadinner.com.  Website?  http://www.abracadinner.com/classes.html.  Purchase 4 classes and receive a complimentary fifth class, valid for use within 6 months, where space permits.

January 25th – Soups for You!

February 1st – Chili Duet with World’s Best Cornbread

February 8th – Cooking Under Pressure

February 22nd – One Pot Wonders

March 15th – Roll’em Up

March 22nd – Apps in a Snap!

April 5th – Eating the Rainbow

April 12th – Let’s Slaw Down!

May 3rd – Viva Italy!

REHOBOTH BEACH MUSEUM -SOUPER SATURDAY on February 1st at 4 p.m. with Denise Clemons, Cape Gazette columinst of Cape Flavors will present 2 prepared delectable soups and will stage a demonstration of a third.  For fun and for better tasting the Museum is suggestion you BYOS (bring your own spoon).  Admission is free, just bring a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank of Delaware.  The Museum is located at 511 Rehoboth Avenue.  Tel. 302-227-7310.  Website?  http://www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org.

FOOD-LORE – The Museum presents Ed Okonowicz Folklorist and Storyteller on February 7th and 7 p.m. The discussion, Food-lore, from scrapple (my favorite) to muskrat shares proof of what we eat tells much about our regional identity as well as, our family history.  Mr. Okonowicz offers an insight to Delaware’s food lore in a power-point presentation and conversation with his audience.

For admission to this event, participants are asked to bring a non-perishable item for the Food Bank of Delaware.  Reservations are required by calling 302-227-7310.  The Rehoboth Beach Museum is located at 511 Rehoboth Avenue next to the Visitors Center.  Parking is available and the Museum is handicapped accessible.

On March 7th at 7 p.m. the presentation at the Rehoboth Beach Museum will be THE FRENCH CHEF, JULIA CHILD FRENCH CLASSICS.  This PBS video will be shown at the Museum.  It is unlike anything ever seen on t.v. before.  As Julia herself said, “If I can do it, you can do it…Bon appetit!”  This video is part of a special collection of six original black and white episodes from the 1960’s.

NORTHEAST SEAFOOD KITCHEN –  One of Matt Haley’s restaurants located at 29 Atlantic Avenue in Ocean View, a few miles west of Bethany Beach.  Tel. 302-537-1785.  Website?  http://www.northeastseafoodkitchen.com.  This will be a cooking demo with Chef Ronnie and Chef Doug.  It will be January 22nd from 6 – 7 p.m.  The cocktail hour begins at 4:45 p.m. until 6 p.m.

For many the best part of the day is having breakfast.  These two chefs will take you on a breakfast journey by demonstrating the art of making House Breakfast Sausage, Biscuits & Gravy, Waffles, Omelets, and Breakfast Cocktail!

For tickets and more info., please call the above mentioned telephone.  Or email ronnie@sodelconcepts.com.

PAUL CULLEN – A NIGHT IN ITALY – COOKING DEMO, WINE TASTING, CONCERT – Tune Your Palate is the creation of Paul Cullen.  He is a consummate performer and has a passion for cooking…Italian traditional cuisine, just like his Grandma taught him.  March 2nd at Spice and Tea Exchange in Downtown Rehoboth Beach at 10 Rehoboth Avenue, at 6 p.m….$55.  You can purchase your tickets by visiting http://www.paulcullenguitar.com.

And…remember:  “A good cook is the peculiar gift of the gods.  He must be a perfect creature from the brain to the palate, from the palate to the finger’s end.”  walter savage landor

April 25th, 2013

Cooking Fun, Tune Your Palate, The Cordrey Center, Millsboro, Delaware, with Paul Cullen…and Bonnie too!! A little music, a little homemade pasta!! A One Man Show!

It really was a great evening on Wednesday, 4/24, when Jody, Donna, and I took off for a cooking class with Paul Cullen at The Cordrey Center located in Millsboro, Delaware.  We were looking forward to great food and music.  We had heard that the previous event was so much fun and a sell-out.

Now, I was a little worried, since I have been counting fats…and calories too.  It would be very interesting…pasta…olive oil; you know what I mean.

A little reception with wine and friends.  I only knew a few people.

Bonnie (Paul's wife), Jody, Donna

Paul Cullen has his own wine label.  Both, wine and music, were for sale on Wednesday.

Louie and Frank from Frank & Louie’s located at 58 Baltimore Avenue in Downtown Rehoboth Beach, arrived with cheeses and Italian delicacies….They are the Bascio Brothers who are on their own and waiting for you to come to the store and check them out.  Their tel. 302-227-5777.  You can find them on Facebook.

Maria DeForrest was taking the professional photos of the evening.  Please check her out at http://www.deforrestphotography.com.

So let’s get started…we all got the recipes…Paul does not measure; it is a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Paul had fixed an Antipasti Salad with White Balsamic Vinaigrette.  The salad consisted of Romaine, fennel, radishes, cucumbers, red onion, salami, and sharp provolone.  The dressing took no time to make with Paul mixing the white balsamic vinegar, Virgin olive oil, stoneground mustard, a dash of salt and pepper.  Simple, tasty, and so easy.

Next course was Ricotta Cheese Crostini with a Balsamic Drizzle…..the key for making the homemade Ricotta Cheese is to stir constantly to keep the milk and half and half from burning on the bottom of the pan.

The next course was Homemade Potato Gnocchi with Pancetta Chive Sauce.  Plenty of Italians in attendance at this event.  They liked them!!  Paul did make this dish look easy.  To tell you the truth, I would have made such a mess in my kitchen!

You have to work in batches…bring out the potato ricer…make a mess!!

Knead until dough comes together…form into a ball, divide and roll each piece between hands.

Cut and place them in boiling water and as soon as they float, they are ready!!

The Pancetta Chive Sauce was easy and was done in no time…key ingredients?  Butter and Olive Oil!

Paul took a little break from the kitchen while we were all enjoying our food and played a little music for us.  The evening was flowing well.  Everyone was relaxed, taking it all in.

And one more dish…making pasta dough for Ravioli.  Again, Paul made it look easy.  The necessary ingredients of unbleached flour, eggs, salt….and have fun on the counter.

The ideal is a pasta machine for roling and cutting the dough.  And, a glass of wine in front.

On this photo, Paul shapes the ravioli and then will use a glass to cut them.  He likes the round shapes.

His simple sauce called Grandma Tags Fast Sauce consisted of San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, shallot, basil and olive oil.

Bonnie watching the sauce.

And then it was our turn to taste again….So good!!  Bonnie told us that she never has to cook.  Paul does all the cooking at home!!

The evening went quickly..2 hours in the middle of the week with friends…perfect!!

Note:  Please check Paul Cullen’s website http://www.paulcullen.net for more information and other events.

Also, please visit The Cordrey Center’s website at http://www.thecordreycenter.com.  They have already on their schedule…trips, classes, events, activities and even a cruise!!

Have a good one!!