Registration opens December 3 for all spring cooking classes

Spring may still feel far away, but registration for all Urbana Park District classes begin on Wednesday, December 3. Starting at 10:00 a.m., you’ll find direct registration links for every spring cooking class on my website: www.cooking-with-paul.com/upd-2026-spring.html

This spring, we’re thrilled to welcome two guest chefs who will bring their cultural traditions—and treasured family recipes—into our kitchen.

• Guest Chef Maxim Krupskiy (Russia): Maxim, a visiting scholar at the UI College of Law, will share three classic Russian home dishes, including the star of the menu: Ukha (Fisherman’s Soup). Traditionally cooked over an open fire with just-caught fish, this rustic, deeply flavorful broth embodies true Russian outdoor cooking.
• Guest Chef Thu Nguyen (Vietnam): Thu returns with her personal recipe for Phở, the iconic Vietnamese beef noodle soup beloved around the world. As a first-generation immigrant and “boat person,” she’ll also guide us through a special Vietnamese Lunar New Year menu inspired by her family’s traditions.
• Indian Goat Stew (India/Nepal): I’ll be teaching a rich and aromatic goat stew inspired by a dish I first tasted in Gangtok, on the foothills of the Himalayas. Recreated from memory, this Nepalese-influenced curry is layered with bold spices and slow-cooked warmth.

Some classes sell out quickly, so claim your seats for any of our spring offerings as soon as you can Here's our spring lineup:

• February 12: Vietnamese Lunar New Year Celebration
• March 5: Indian Delights
• April 2: Russian Home Cooking

These courses are part of our long-running PRINCIPLES OF ETHNIC COOKING series, where we explore global cuisines through authentic, hands-on "cooking parties." Full menus and details are available here: www.cooking-with-paul.com/upd-2026-spring.html

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!