Registration now open for Urbana Park District spring cooking classes

Welcome to the 10th season of my long-running Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking classes at Urbana Park District. Since spring 2022, we have traveled around the world and sampled cuisines from Greece to Inida to Jamaica. This spring we're going to France, Vietnam, and Palestine to taste what each country has to offer. 

This spring, I will be joined by two guest chefs who will share their personal recipes. With these upcoming cooking classes, our goal is to show you that making great-tasting ethnic dishes is not hard at all. Here's the schedule:

• French Classics (February 20): Arguably, French gastronomy is the most influential of European culinary traditions. The French invented haute cuisine, then turned everything upside-down and re-invented itself with nouvelle cuisine — a simpler, lighter approach with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and presentation. Tonight's menu features three French classics. 
• Vietnamese Cooking (March 3): Influenced by the flavors of neighboring China, Cambodia, and Laos, Vietnam offers some wonderfully delightful dishes unique to its own culture. Learn about the versatility of rice noodles and enjoy a special homemade Vietnamese dinner with guest chef Thu Nguyen.
• A Taste of Palestine (March 27): Palestinian food begins at home with recipes that evoke feelings of homesickness, happiness, and nostalgia that have been passed down by generations. The cuisine is healthy, delicious, and vibrant. Tonight's class will be taught by guest chef Fairouz Abu-Ghazaleh.

Our classes are "dinner party" style events. We'll demo how we cook at home and you get to participate in a hands-on cooking party where we'll slice, dice, and chop our way to a multi-course dinner where we'll eat everything that was prepared that night. We'll also share stories and notes about the cultural traditions of each country as well as lots of tips and tricks on how to get from A to B to Z quickly and efficiently.

Registration is now open for the entire series. The cost is $40 per class for residents. These classes tend to sell out quickly, so reserve your seats today.

More information about my cooking classes and pop-up events can always be found on my website, where you'll also find over 200 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!