I recently joined WCIA’s afternoon magazine show with host Tommy Bickham to demonstrate a vibrant Russian Vinaigrette salad — a great winter salad made with root vegetables like beets, potatoes, and onions, plus pickles and sauerkraut. It’s colorful, zesty, and refreshingly healthy thanks to its mayo-free dressing. This recipe was taught to me by guest chef Maxim Krupskiy, a visiting scholar at the UI College of Law, who will be co-teaching a new class with me this spring. In our upcoming RUSSIAN HOME COOKING class, Maxim will share three of his favorite traditional dishes, including the famous Ukha (Fisherman’s Soup) — a rustic, rich, aromatic fish stew beloved across Russia. Our spring season of hands-on cooking classes begins February 12, and registration is now open for the full series: February 12:  Vietnamese Lunar New Year Celebration March 5:  Indian Delights April 2:  Russian Home Cooking These courses are pa...

Turkey may be America’s default holiday centerpiece, but there’s a whole world of festive alternatives waiting to be discovered. One of my personal favorites is Beef Wellington — a show-stopping beef tenderloin wrapped snugly in golden puff pastry. Most people think of it as quintessentially British, yet its roots trace back to a classic French dish called Filet de Bœuf en Croûte. The two recipes are nearly identical, though the French version is traditionally served with (naturally!) a red wine sauce. For Thanksgiving this year, I cooked a version inspired by Paul Bocuse’s recipe. I streamlined the method so it’s very doable at home: sear the beef, brush it with Dijon mustard, then wrap it in prosciutto and a savory mushroom duxelles before rolling it all up in store-bought puff pastry. The hands-on prep took just 30 minutes (plus a short chill), and it baked to perfection in about 45 ( see the full recipe ). Serve the roast with ultra-cr...

Many of you know that I spent 20 years as a graphic design professor at Parkland College before retiring in 2019. What you may not  know is that I’m also a lifelong movie buff who believes that cinema is the greatest of all the visual arts. We watch films with our eyes, but we also hear  them with our ears and feel  them through the power of storytelling. At their best, movies fuse theater, photography, music, performance, and pure imagination—creating a kind of magic no other medium can match. Because the best movie experience is a shared one, I’m thrilled to announce a new community project: FILM FANATIC MOVIE NIGHTS at Gallery Art Bar in downtown Urbana. Our premiere event takes place December 18 , and we’ll be screening THE FALL, one of the most visually breathtaking films ever made. This is a movie that goes where only cinema can go—deep into the soul, where images, sound, and ideas intertwine into an unforgettable experience. I’m exci...

Looking for a gift that’s thoughtful, unique, and guaranteed to delight? Custom gift certificates for my cooking classes and private chef services are now available—beautifully printed on card stock and tucked into a ready-to-gift envelope. You can even add a personalized message to make your present truly meaningful. For the foodie who has everything: Give an adventurous eater the unforgettable treat of a private dinner party cooked right in their own home. Whether it’s an intimate celebration or a special surprise, I bring the experience to you—no trip to Chicago or flight to Paris required. My private chef services are just $50 per hour, backed by more than 200 kitchen-tested recipes and the option to design brand-new dishes to match any theme or fantasy. Learn more here: www.cooking-with-paul.com/private-chef.html For the curious home cook: A hands-on cooking class at Urbana Park District’s Phillips Recreation Center might be the perfect present. With only 12 students per sessio...