Here is what I’d like the students to take away:

·                    Discussion of cooking at home versus taking-out

·                    Proper use of knives and opportunity for practice

·                    Background information on cooking utensils, pots and pans, etc.

·                    Baking basics, types of leavening and how to use whole grains

·                    Food basics, how to combine the 4 tastes (sweet and sour, salty and spicy) for utmost effect

·                    Herbs and Spices and how they enhance a dish 

Examples of dishes I would like to cook with the students: 

·                    A variety of different stir fries

·                    Pad Thai

·                    Crepes, sweet and savory

·                    Home made breads, flatbreads, pizza

·                    Mango and brie quesadilla

·                    Flavorful orange chicken curry

·                    Fish or chicken wrapped in banana leaves

·                    Chocolate mousse roulade with raspberries

·                    Orange crème brule

·                    Berry or Apple galette

Summer Cooking Workshop for Teenagers

I’m planning to offer a one-week summer workshop for teenagers (max. of 6 per session) who are interested to learn basic (and some not so basic) cooking skills in an entertaining and food filled environment.  The classes will take place during the day at my address in Oakton, starting at 10:00 am and lasting for approx. 3 hours. The class will end with a sit-down meal during which all of our creations will be critiqued and of course enjoyed.

The target of these classes will be to instill a life-long love and interest in food. No need to accompany me on a partridge hunt but we will go as far as cutting up a whole chicken and/or filleting a fish. Every student will have the opportunity to actively participate in the cooking. I will concentrate on fresh and seasonal fare and we will make everything from scratch.  

Depending on interested, I’d like to offer two sessions, the first from June 26 to 30, the second form July 3 to 7 (no class on July 4) The classes will be taught 4 days a week. In lieu of a class on Wednesday June 28, I will take the kids to the Farmer’s Market in Vienna to take advantage of the local produce offerings. The price for a week will be $200, which includes all materials.