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Mark your calendar: registration for summer cooking classes starts on April 3, 2024

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April 3 is only two weeks away! Please mark your calendars because that is the first day to register for the next season's cooking classes at Urbana Park District's Phillips Recreation Center. The eighth season of the "Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking" classes starts on June 13, but we know from past experience that this series sells out fast! This summer, we'll be going to Jamaica, Greece, and Japan. In each of these classes, we'll be deconstructing the recipes of each cuisine and breaking down the flavor principles of these culinary traditions. By following a few master recipes and utilizing simple flavor profiles, you will be able to customize and adjust your own favorite recipes and make tasty ethnic dishes every night for dinner. This is our summer schedule: June 13: Jamaican Cooking July 11: Greek Classics August 1: A Taste of Japan  All my cooking classes are for adults and the tuition includes a multi-course dinner complete with wi

Our April pop-up dinner event: We're going to India!

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Our monthly Sunday night pop-up dinners continue next month with a MUMBAI STREET FOOD TOUR special event on April 14, 2024. In the tradition of featuring good eats from exotic destinations around the world, we'll be recreating a multi-course vegetarian Indian foodie safari experience like no other. We've got comfort foods, playful flavor bombs, and indulgent treats – buttery, spicy, sweet – you name it! Join us for a vegetarian culinary ride through the heart and soul of Mumbai's street food scene: Chaat: Pani Puri  • Playful little flavor explosions that packs a punch Sev Puri  • Light, crisp canapes topped with potatoes, onions, flavorful sauces and thin crispy fried chickpea noodles Idli Sambar Chutney  • Savory steamed lentil and rice cakes with a lentil tamarind stew and coconut chutney Paneer Frankie  • A favorite among college kids, a soft wrap encasing a spicy paneer filling Pav Bhaji  • A flavor-packed spicy vegetable mash served with a buttered

New Recipe: Medovník (Czech Honey Cake)

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As part of our Czech pop-up dinner event next week, I made this delicious honey cake for dessert. A throwback to the Soviet era, this very popular treat is available at almost all Czech restaurants and coffee shops during the Christmas season. Although this cake is fairly easy to make, the process does take three days. So plan ahead! On day 1, you'll want to make the caramel cream filling. Because you're boiling a can of condensed milk, it is recommended that you chill the unopened can in the refrigerator overnight. This way, you won't risk burning yourself when you open the can the next day. On day 2, you'll make the cake itself, but you should let it sit overnight in the refrigerator so that the flavors meld together as the wet cream filling moistens the sponge cake layers. It'll be so much better the next day! You can serve the cake on day 3, but be sure to let it sit out for an hour or so before dessert time. Since there is a lot of butter in the cream f

New recipe: Moscow Mule (the gourmet version) 

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As part of my Russian cooking class series at Common Ground Food Co-op, I developed this gourmet version of the infamous Moscow Mule cocktail. Traditionally made with vodka and ginger beer, this refreshing drink is my go-to cocktail during the hot summer months. Although there's nothing wrong with the traditional recipe (which doesn't have anything to do with Moscow or Russia), I thought the drink could be cleaner. So I invented my own version. The "gourmet" version replaces ginger beer with real ginger juice. The unique "zing" of ginger is what makes mule drinks special and using the real thing makes all the difference. Without ginger beer, there is also no sweetener to balance out the lime juice. So I use agave nectar instead -- it's so much better for you than the corn syrup usually used to sweeten ginger beer. But what about the bubbles, you say? No problem, let's use seltzer water instead.  Now the big question: what kind of vodka s

Registration for Urbana Park District summer cooking classes opens on April 3, 2024

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It's only March, but summer is coming! The eighth season of the "Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking" classes at Phillips Recreation Center starts on June 13, 2024, but we know from past experience that this series sells out fast! So mark your calendars for April 3 because that is the first day that registration opens for all Urbana Park District summer events.  All my cooking classes are for adults and the tuition includes a multi-course dinner complete with wine, beer, and/or cocktails. Do come hungry and thirsty because these classes are "dinner party-style" events where we'll be tasting and eating everything that will be made that night. Whenever possible, students will also get to participate by helping me make a dish or two. I'll also share all the tips and tricks I know on how to get from A to B to Z quickly and efficiently. This summer, we'll be going to Jamaica, Greece, and Japan. In each of these classes, we'll be deconstructing

We're going to the Czech Republic this month 

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Our monthly Sunday night pop-up dinners continue this month with AN EVENING IN ČESKÝ KRUMLOV on March 17 at 6pm. In the tradition of featuring gourmet meals from exotic destinations around the world, we'll be recreating an authentic five-course "Old Bohemian" dinner featuring Czech classics like:  Kulajda  • A rich and creamy mushroom soup with potatoes and dill Vepřové Koleno  • Pork knuckle marinated in dark beer, baked until crispy on the outside and fall-off-the-bone tender on the inside Braised Red Cabbage  • Stewed for hours with caramelized onions and vinegar Fried Cheese  • A Czech national treasure Medovník  • A luxurious and rich honey cake with layers of caramel cream infused with rum Of course, there will be imported wine and beer pairings all evening long, plus a few surprises! While Prague is a great city, the best-kept secret in Czechia is a picture-perfect town called Český Krumlov. Just two hours south of Prague, this charming fairy

Next "Deep Dive" cooking class series at Common Ground: Let's go to Russia!

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In another life as a Parkland College professor, I had several Russian students in my classes. One of them invited me and my partner to Russia for a visit and we said "yes." The result was a trip of a lifetime and a cultural immersion experience like no other. I can vouch personally that the Russian people are the warmest and most welcoming of people. And their food culture and zest for life is definitely something to admire. Now might be the best time to celebrate Russian culture just to remind us that the people and its government are not one and the same. Just as not all Americans are fans of Trump, not all Russians follow Putin.  So let's do as the Russians do – make some great food, indulge in a celebration of good company, and make a feast of traditional Russian favorites. Of course, we'll start the evening with caviar and vodka shots, but we'll also indulge in another Russian favorite – French bubbly.   In this "double feature" cooking class se

2024 pop-up dinners preview

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In July 2023, we launched a series of Sunday night pop-up dinners featuring gourmet meals from exotic destinations around the world. We are happy to announce that these special themed dinner parties will continue in 2024 with a brand new season of exciting new culinary adventures. We're lucky that Champaign-Urbana is home to an amazing variety of restaurants serving a broad range of international cuisines. Despite this abundance, we’re still missing a few important culinary traditions. Our goal is to fill in that gap with unique dining experiences not typically available locally. Here's what we've planned so far for this upcoming year: February 11 - Valentine's Dinner in Napa : A romantic five-course gourmet meal with wine pairings for every course March 17 - An Evening in Český Krumlov : An authentic five-course traditional Czech meal with wine and beer pairings April 14 - Mumbai Street Food Tour : A guided survey of all the best eats available in this vibrant India

Only one seat left for Urbana Park District cooking classes

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The spring 2024 edition of the "Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking" series starts on February 15. This series always sells out fast and as of today, two out of the three classes have already sold out. However, there is still one seat left for the Mexican cooking class on Thursday, March 14 at 6pm.  Although the Chinese and Ethiopian classes are full, Urbana Park District does have a wait list and you can still add your name to this list. Full menus and registration links are on my  website . Tuition starts at $40 per class for in-district residents of Champaign County. All my cooking classes are for adults and the tuition includes a two-course dinner complete with wine, beer, and/or cocktails. Do come hungry and thirsty because these classes are "dinner party-style" events where we'll be tasting and eating everything that will be made that night. Whenever possible, students will get to participate by helping me make a dish or two. I'll also share all the

This season, give the most delicious gift of all

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Custom and personalized gift certificates are now available for select cooking classes and pop-up dinners. Each gift certificate is custom printed on heavy card stock and comes with an envelope ready for gifting to your loved ones. To make this gift extra-special, you can even personalize the gift certificate with a custom message for that special someone. For adventurous eaters who want to try new cuisines, our Sunday night pop-up dinners might just fit the bill. An exclusive experience for 10 people, these private dinner parties feature international fantasy destination themes like the upcoming " An Evening in Český Krumlov " on Sunday, March 17, 2024. Other cuisines planned for 2024 include Indian, German, Japanese, Persian and a special Halloween surprise. The cost is $95 per person which includes a full multi-course dinner with wine and beer pairings all evening long. Details and examples of past events are here:  www.cooking-with-paul.com/popups.html For those who lo

New Sunday pop-up dinner: Let's go to the Czech Republic!

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It's only December, but our February 11, 2024 pop-up dinner has already sold out. So we're pleased to announce that we're now taking reservations for our March 17 event called " An Evening in Český Krumlov ." At this pop-up event, we will be serving an authentic five-course traditional Czech dinner with wine and beer pairings. The Czech Republic (a.k.a. Czechia) is at the crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe and its "Old Bohemian" cuisine reflects their storied historical influences. While Prague is a great city, the best kept secret in Czechia is a picture-perfect town called Český Krumlov. Just two hours south of Prague, this charming fairy tale village of 13,000 is a Unesco World Heritage Site with a stunning castle, an old town square, and a great place for gypsy music and amazing food. At this upcoming pop-up dinner, I'm going to recreate a traditional Old Bohemia dinner that I had in this town ( see pictures from this trip ). Full menu

Registration opens today for all Urbana Park District programs

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Reminder: registration for all Urbana Park District spring 2024 programs starts today. This includes the next edition of the "Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking" series. From past experience, we know that this series sells out fast. Full menus and registration links are on my website . Tuition starts at $40 per class for in-district residents of Champaign County. In the seventh season of this long-running "dinner party-style" cooking classes, you'll be able to learn how to make almost anything taste Chinese, Mexican, or Ethiopian. In each of these classes, we'll be deconstructing the recipes of each cuisine and breaking down the flavor principles of these culinary traditions. By following a few master recipes and utilizing simple flavor profiles, you will be able to customize and adjust your own favorite recipes and make tasty ethnic dishes every night for dinner. Do come hungry and thirsty because the tuition includes a two-course dinner complete with

Registeration now open for the next Common Ground "Deep Dive" series

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In February 2024, we're going on another "deep dive" into another tasty ethnic cuisine. This time, we'll be visiting Russia! Now might be the best time to celebrate Russian culture just to remind us that the people and its government are not one and the same. Just as not all Americans are fans of Trump, not all Russians follow Putin.  In this deep dive "double feature," we'll do as the Russians do – make some great food, indulge in a celebration of good company, and make a feast of traditional Russian favorites. Of course, we'll start the evening with caviar and vodka shots, but we'll also indulge in another Russian favorite – French champagne.  You can book one or both of the classes in this series:  Summer Picnic at the Dasha (February 27) : Dashas are summer homes for city dwellers in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Because Russian summers are relatively short, many people spend most of the warmer months in the country growing their own vegetabl

What's cooking at Common Ground?

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I started the "deep-dive" cooking classes at the Common Ground Food Co-op last fall with a series called "A Taste of China." This series of three classes was designed for serious foodies who want to explore ethnic cuisines in depth, so traveled through China region by region and cooked up a variety of Cantonese, Sichuan, and Shanghai dishes. This series sold out quickly, so we scheduled another one right away. In spring 2023, we offered a series called "A Taste of Japan." This time, we explored three different categories of Japanese cuisine -- one at a time. First, we did a deep dive into noodles and cooked up my favorite ramen, udon, and soba dishes. Next, we explored Japanese-style barbecue and made yakitori, kushiyaki, and shioyaki. Finally, we hosted a make-your-own omakase feast with sushi, sashimi, chirashi, and makizushi. French food is hard to find in our town, so we had to offer "A Taste of France" next. Like the Chinese "deep

Urbana Park District: a recap and a preview for spring 2024

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Back in fall 2021, I approached Janet Soesbe at Phillips Recreation Center with a cooking class proposal. Janet is the community program manager for all of Urbana Park District, and at the end of our 15 minute meeting, she signed off on a new cooking class series that we called "Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking." The series was a big hit and almost every class sold out. After teaching more than 18 of these classes in their beautiful James Room Demonstration Kitchen, it's almost time to  celebrate our two-year anniversary. And how are we going to do that? By not changing a thing and repeating what we've been doing for the last two years. I mean, why fix something that's not broken? So starting in spring 2024, we're going to offer the same cooking classes that we offered in spring 2022. This means if you tried to register for a class in the past but couldn't get in, this is your chance to try again. Be warned, some of these classes do sell out fast

Sunday pop-up dinners: here's what you've missed so far

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We started in July with "Bullet Train to Osaka," a 10-course Japanese fantasy foodie safari of small plates that also included sake, highball, beer, and sochu pairings. Then in August we hosted "An Evening in the Cinque Terre," a four-course Italian pesto feast. Next, we traveled to Greece for a six-course meze dinner that we called "Greek Sunset in Santorini." Last month, we hosted a Spanish small plates feast called "Tapas Crawl in Barcelona." The final pop-up dinner event this fall will be a "Formal French Dinner in Paris" where a classic seven-course gastronomic meal will be served on Sunday, November 12 (sorry, this event is already sold out).  We're going to be taking a break from hosting these monthly dinners, but we will be back on February 11, 2024 with a "Valentine's Dinner in Napa" special event. This romantic fantasy destination dinner will start with oysters on the half shell and end with crème brûlée.

Chambana Proud Podcast Episode #27

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On October 19, 2023, Terri & Carly from Explore Champaign-Urbana invited me to chat about food, cooking, international travel and more on their weekly podcast. To listen to this episode, head over to Podbean or listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts (search for "Chambana Proud").  The Chambana Proud podcast is a weekly show about all things Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, otherwise known as Chambana. These self-proclaimed Chambana gurus highlight everything from local businesses and events to people and must-know stories. Brought to you by Experience Champaign-Urbana and the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, these are the same people who run the Chambana Welcome Crew ambassador program for newcomers to our little community. More information about upcoming pop-up events and cooking classes can always be found at www.cooking-with-paul.com . For the latest news, feel free to subscribe to my monthly email newsletter .  

New Pop-up Event: Formal French Dinner in Paris

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What is the ultimate dinner experience? Some say it's the classic French gastronomic meal which starts with an apéritif (drinks before the meal), ends with a digestif (after dinner drink), and contains multiple successive courses in between all paired with specially selected wines. It is a festive meal bringing people together for an occasion to enjoy the art of good eating and drinking, emphasizing togetherness, the pleasure of taste, and the setting of a beautiful environment. Since 2010, this traditional French ritual has been inscribed as one of UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity." We're going to recreate this "formal" French dinner experience with seven courses right here in downtown Urbana for ten special guests. Instead of flying to Paris and paying $360 per person (without wine) at a fancy Parisian restaurant like Le Cinq , you can have the same experience for $90 per person (with wine pairings for every course). Best of all, y

How to make grilled octopus the Greek way

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I have to admit that I have a soft spot in my tummy for octopus. Of all the different ways to prepare octopus, the grilled Greek version is my absolutely favorite way to eat this delightful sea creature. Every reputable Greek eatery worth eating at has this dish on their menu, and ever since discovering this dish in Chicago's Greektown restaurants decades ago, I have been religiously ordering it as a starter for every Greek meal. Deceptively simple to prepare, this dish delights all the senses -- from its smokey aroma to its garlicky tongue tickling zing, to the refreshing lemony acid infused dressing to the crispy charred crunch to the irresistible chewy texture -- I could go on. All I can say is that if you've never tasted this dish, you haven't really lived.  In the coming weeks, I'll be making this dish twice: once at our upcoming " Greek Sunset in Santorini " pop-up experience on September 17, and then again at Common Ground's Greek Meze Dinner co

What are Pinchos?

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Pinchos are small finger foods served at bars and taverns throughout the Basque Country straggling the border between Spain and France. In the center of Basque country is San Sebastian, a world-renowned culinary destination with the second most Michelin stars per capita in the world (after Kyoto, Japan). The city is also known for pinchos (or "pintxos" in Spanish) which are found in the bars of the Old Quarter and elsewhere in the city. Similar to tapas, pinchos have a strong socializing component and are are usually eaten in bars as a snack with wine, sangria or sherry. So what is the difference between pinchos and tapas? Pinchos (literally "spike" in Spanish) uses a toothpick to skewer the goodies to a slice of bread. No spike? Not a pincho, just a tapa.  We'll be making a lot of pinchos and tapas at both our upcoming Spanish Tapas Feast cooking class and our Barcelona pop-up dinner event. Unfortunately, the cooking class is already sold out, but seats are st

Registration now open for all fall cooking classes

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It's going to be a busy fall season at both Common Ground Food Co-op and Urbana Park District's Phillips Recreation Center as we've scheduled a full season of six cooking classes starting in September.  The first class will be "A Taste of Palestine" on September 21 at the Phillips Recreation Center's James Room Kitchen . For the first time, I will step back and assist Fairouz AbuGhazaleh who be the chef du jour and cook up several of her family recipes. According to Fairouz, "Palestinian food begins at home with recipes that evoke feelings of homesickness, happiness and nostalgia that have been passed down by generations." This class is part of my continuing series called "Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking" where we travel around and sample the best tasting ethnic cuisines available ( see full menus and details ). If you want to attend this class or the other classes in this series, please register today . From past experience, we know

What is a pop-up dinner event?

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Well, it depends on who is doing it. This is how we do it: We dream of international destinations where there are lots of good eats (the more exotic the better). We fantasize what the ultimate menu might be at this destination. We research what wines and beverages might pair well with these dishes. We set a table for 10 people and have one hell of a dinner a party!  This is what makes us different: All of our pop-up events are all-inclusive prix fixe dinners. This means you get a multi-course dinner complete with wine and other beverage pairings all evening long for one fixed price. Unlike at restaurants, all taxes and tip are included as well. Since we're only inviting 10 people, these are small intimate affairs where you can easily meet other like-minded foodies and make new friends. Yes, it's a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun. We just pulled off a 10-course Japanese tasting menu around the theme BULLET TRAIN TO OSAKA. We're looking forward to exploring France

New recipe: Okonomiyaki

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Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake similar to the Korean pajun. Made with eggs and flour, this giant omelet is similar to a French quiche or an Italian frittata, but it's all made in a pan. In fact, flipping this pancake is the most challenging part of making this dish because of its sheer size.  Like an omelet, you can pretty much put anything you want in an okonomiyaki pancake. Although traditional ingredients might include seafood, ginger, and scallion, the most common choice of vegetable to add to this pancake is shredded cabbage. Surprisingly, Worcestershire sauce is favored as a seasoning instead of the traditional soy. But everyone's favorite condiment for this dish is Japanese Kewpie mayo which is generously squirted on top. Kewpie mayo is the top-selling brand of mayo in Japan and it's a little sweeter than the American version -- and a little thicker because it is made with egg yolks (instead of whole eggs).   Often served as a street food snack in Japan, the pros

New Pop-up Event: Greek Sunset in Santorini

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A new pop-up dinner experience has been scheduled for Sunday, September 17, 2023. This time, we will be visiting the Greek Island of Santorini for a six-course meze dinner complete with imported wine pairings all evening long. This pop-up dinner is part of our on-going series of international prix fixe experiences complete with wine pairings all evening long. Since the recent closing of Chicago's legendary Santorini in Greektown, it's becoming even more challenging to experience authentic Greek food the way it's meant to enjoyed — random morsels of tasty bites served in no particular order along with some great Greek wines and a shot of Ouzo. In Greece, this is called a meze dinner -- a complete meal of small bites or appetizers without any main dishes.  Tonight's fantasy Greek meze dinner takes place on an imaginary terraced restaurant overlooking the village of Oia on Santorini, the most picturesque and most visited of all the Greek islands. Imagine a table full of

Reminder: Urbana Park District Fall Registration Starts on August 2, 2023

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As we wrap up the summer season of my "Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking" series, I'm starting to test recipes for the fall season which starts on September 21, 2023. But here's a more important date: August 2, 2023 . Mark your calendar as this is the first day registration opens for all fall events at Urbana Park District. From past experience, we know that this series sells out fast. Even though we've increased the seating to 12 people per class, we anticipate this series selling out within days.  The "Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking" is a very popular long-running series of classes at Urbana Park District's Phillips Recreation Center. The class meets on Thursdays from 6–8pm and the tuition is $40–$75 per person which includes a full two-course dinner along with wine and beer tastings.  The sixth season of these long-running "dinner party-style" cooking classes will continue in the fall when we visit Palestine, the Czech Republic