Unexpected Cooking Class Wednesday Night

I received a text this afternoon, asking if I’d partner with a friend at cooking class tonight.

Something about March Madness and a sick friend –  they couldn’t attend. I was happy to fill in, third string.

Sure, I said.  I’ll go.  She picked me up around 5:45 and off we went.

My friend Barb took her own canvas bag of supplies including a bottle of dishwashing liquid-  heavy duty oven gloves.  She even brought a garbage bowl.

We were all set, slicing and dicing and preparing the recipes just as Executive Sous Chef Stephen V instructed us.

There were tables throughout the high school culinary class, each filled with two teams of two.

Here is our instructor for the class.  Chef Stephen also is an adjunct instructor at the Art Institute- Pittsburgh.

Chef Stephen

Chef Stephen Varela

Executive Sous Chef
Fox Chapel Golf Club

(I asked if it would be okay to take a few photographs and Chef Stephen consented. Thank you)

slicing pears

Barbara cut the pears for the salad.  She added some Hearts of Palm as well.

charred red pepper

Charred red pepper for the Pita Bread Individual Pizzas with Pesto or Hummus and a drizzle of Balsamic Glaze

IMG_9864

The side salad

Mixed Spring Greens with diced pear, artichokes, and oven toasted croutons with a poppy seed dressing. I was able to bring some home in a contaner (yes, my friend was prepared with empty containers) for school lunch tomrrow.

Friends at Cooking Class

Thanks for a fun evening Barb -on the right.  Me in the Zagreb,Croatia apron.

And on the way out we peeked in next door to see the Crochet Class.  At first I thought it was knitting. Everyone was so nice.