Fall registration opens on August 7 for all Urbana Park District events

Mark your calendars! August 7 is only 3 weeks away, and that is when you can start registering for the 9th season of my long-running "Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking" classes. In this series, we travel around the globe to taste all the diversity that our wonderful world has to offer. Learn how to make anything taste ethnic by following a few master recipes and utilizing simple flavor principles. By the end of the series, you will be able to customize flavor profiles and adjust recipes like a pro. Here's what's on the menu:

• Persian Classics (September 19): Dive deep into this ancient Middle Eastern cuisine inspired by the courts of ancient Persia (as Iran was called until the 1930s). Learn how to combine herbs and spices (like saffron) with nuts and dried fruit to make elaborate stews and rice dishes. Enjoy a silk road-inspired royal banquet that's both sophisticated and simple. 

• German Oktoberfest Feast (October 10): Originating in the Bavarian city of Munich, Oktoberfest is the largest folk festival in the world. At this dinner party celebration, we'll be making festival favorites that are rich, hearty, and robust, often balancing savory and tangy flavors. This session will be co-presented with Brittany Heyen (@highinfiber.rugs), who will be sharing traditional recipes from her German grandma, Elona

• A Taste of Korea (November 7): As Korean pop-culture gets more popular around the world, so does Korean cuisine. Inspired by both Japanese and Chinese influences, Koreans have taken their food culture to another level with creative twists on old traditions. Let's cook up some popular Korean dishes and enjoy them with beer and soju tastings.

Do come hungry and thirsty because the tuition includes a multi-course dinner with alcoholic beverage pairings because we will be cooking and eating at the same time. Registration for these classes and all other Urbana Park District fall events opens on August 7, 2024 at 10am. Full menus and details are here: www.cooking-with-paul.com/upd-2024-fall.html

More information about my cooking classes and pop-up events can always be found on my website, where you'll also find over 150 recipes from my classes (no ads!). You can also subscribe to my email newsletter or follow me on Instagram or Facebook and like my posts. Bon appétit!