Kitchen Conservatory

🍝 Handmade ravioli is where patience, precision, and creativity come together.

Pillow Talk: The Art of Ravioli • July 22 with Jeff Friesen

Students spent the evening learning the techniques behind beautifully crafted filled pasta as Jeff Friesen demonstrated how to roll silky pasta sheets, create delicate fillings, and pair each ravioli with an elegant sauce. Every fold and seal built confidence while transforming simple ingredients into unforgettable Italian dishes.

On the menu:
🦞 Lobster ravioli with saffron sauce
🥚 Uovo raviolo with pancetta wine sauce
🌿 Spinach-mascarpone tortelli with brown butter & ricotta salata
🥖 Whipped ricotta on grilled sourdough with herbs & Aleppo chile
🍋 Limoncello spritz

Learning handmade pasta is one of those kitchen skills that brings joy long after class is over.

✨ This class is offered again!

Pillow Talk: The Art of Ravioli • October 20

Learn more:
https://kitchenconservatory.com/Cooking-Classes.aspx?title=pillow%20talk

🎉 Birthdays are even more memorable when everyone gathers around the kitchen.

Birthday Party • July 22 with Matt Sassman

This birthday celebration was filled with great food, new techniques, and plenty of laughter as guests cooked alongside Matt Sassman. From handcrafted pasta to bold bourbon flavors, the menu encouraged everyone to work together while creating a meal that was as fun to prepare as it was to enjoy.

On the menu:
🥓 BLT crostinis with maple bourbon glazed bacon
🥗 Whiskey greens salad with candied pecans
🍖 Spice-rubbed pork loin roast with bourbon reduction
🌽 Succotash with bacon & maple bourbon brown butter
🥟 Butternut squash-roasted garlic agnolotti with browned butter sauce
🍫 Flourless chocolate bourbon brownies with vanilla ice cream & bourbon caramel sauce

The best celebrations leave everyone with new skills, wonderful memories, and a meal to remember.

Whether you're planning a birthday, anniversary, corporate team-building event, dinner club, family gathering, office party, shower, or another special occasion, Kitchen Conservatory is the perfect place to celebrate together.

Learn more:
https://www.kitchenconservatory.com/KC_CustomClasses.aspx

🥖 Every loaf has a story, and it begins with great technique.

Breads from France • July 22 with Susan Westfall

Students spent the day immersed in the traditions of French bread baking as Susan Westfall shared the methods she refined through her Le Cordon Bleu training in Paris. From weighing ingredients with precision to mastering the slap-and-fold kneading technique, every step built confidence and a deeper understanding of artisan bread.

On the menu:
🥖 Baguette
🌿 Fougasse
🥐 Brioche
🧅 Savory pissaladière

The best bread comes from patience, practice, and a love of the craft.

✨ This class is offered again!

🥖 Breads from France — August 19

Learn more:
https://kitchenconservatory.com/Cooking-Classes.aspx?title=Breads%20from%20France

🍗 Comfort food always tastes better when it's made from scratch.

The Best of Barefoot — Down Home • July 21 with Jan Reid

This hands-on class sold out as Jan Reid guided students through another favorite collection of Ina Garten recipes, blending classic comfort food with fresh summer flavors. Along the way, everyone practiced techniques for crispy fried chicken, homemade sides, and beautiful desserts that make everyday meals feel special.

On the menu:
🍗 Fried chicken sandwiches with herb mayo
🥔 Old-fashioned potato salad
🥬 Veggie-napa cabbage coleslaw with summer squash, kale & zesty vinaigrette
🍫 Mini chocolate pudding cream tarts
🍋 Pink lemonade mimosas

There's something timeless about gathering around a table filled with homemade favorites.

Upcoming classes in this series with Jan Reid:
🫖 The Best of Barefoot — Tea in the Hamptons — August 19
🍽️ The Best of Barefoot — How Easy Is That — September 2
🎄 The Best of Barefoot — Visions of Holidays — October 21

Learn more:
https://kitchenconservatory.com/Cooking-Classes.aspx?title=The%20Best%20of%20Barefoot

🍅 Summer's freshest ingredients deserve a place at the table.

Suppers with Sassman — Respect for Robert • July 21 with Matt Sassman

Matt Sassman shared another evening of thoughtful cooking inspired by one of his favorite cookbook authors, proving that simple techniques and peak-season ingredients can create an unforgettable meal. Students picked up ideas for balancing bold flavors, preparing restaurant-worthy crab cakes, and making the most of summer produce in this demonstration class.

On the menu:
🍅 Fresh summer tomato soup with fresh herbs, garlic & crème fraîche
🦀 Pan-fried lump crab cakes with jalapeño & fresh herbs
🥗 Watermelon-cherry tomato salad with cucumbers, red onion & cilantro-lime vinaigrette
🥩 Spicy high-heat flank steak
🍚 Chilled vanilla rice pudding with golden raisins

Every monthly gathering is another reminder that great cooking begins with curiosity and fresh ingredients.

Upcoming classes in this series with Matt Sassman:
📚 Suppers with Sassman — Lauding Let's Eat — August 18
🏡 Suppers with Sassman — Tribute to Taste of Home — September 22
🇮🇹 Suppers with Sassman — Gaga for Giada — October 27

Learn more:
https://kitchenconservatory.com/Cooking-Classes.aspx?title=Suppers%20with%20Sassman

🥔 Soft, pillowy gnocchi begins with a few simple ingredients—and the right technique.

Yes, Maybe, Gnocchi • July 21 with Jeff Friesen

In this hands-on vegetarian class, students learned the techniques behind tender homemade gnocchi while exploring three distinctly different styles. From classic Italian potato gnocchi to airy French choux gnocchi and delicate ricotta gnudi, every recipe built confidence and showcased how small details create exceptional results.

On the menu:
🍄 Traditional Italian potato gnocchi with roasted oyster mushrooms and browned butter with currants
🍅 Basil parisienne choux gnocchi with French tomato cream and roasted tomatoes with breadcrumbs
🍠 Ricotta gnudi with orange, sage and sweet potatoes

Every handmade dumpling was proof that technique makes all the difference.

Our next gnocchi class:
🍽️ I Did It All for the Gnocchi — September 14

Learn more:
https://kitchenconservatory.com/Cooking-Classes.aspx?title=I%20Did%20It%20All%20for%20the%20Gnocchi

🍷 The most memorable celebrations begin with everyone gathering in the kitchen.

Napa Nights Private Event • July 21 with Jan Reid

This private cooking event brought guests together for an evening of hands-on learning, laughter, and an elegant Napa-inspired menu. Guided by Jan Reid, everyone worked side by side while building new cooking skills and creating a meal that was every bit as enjoyable to prepare as it was to share.

On the menu:
🧀 Goat cheese-artichoke spring rolls
🌽 Corn bisque with avocado garnish
🥗 Arugula salad with balsamic roasted fruit
🦞 Butter-poached lobster on macaroni-and-cheese
🍋 Lemon-pine nut tart

Some of the best celebrations happen when everyone has a role in creating the meal.

Planning a corporate event, team-building activity, birthday, anniversary, dinner club, family gathering, office party, shower, or children's organization event? We'd love to help you create a memorable hands-on cooking experience.

Learn more:
https://www.kitchenconservatory.com/KC_CustomClasses.aspx

🔥 The best summer gatherings happen when everyone has a turn at the grill.

Grilling Party • July 21 with Jeff Friesen and Lydia Gwin

This hands-on private event brought friends and colleagues together to sharpen their grilling skills while preparing a feast from scratch. Jeff Friesen and Lydia Gwin shared techniques for grilling meats and vegetables, building bold flavors, and creating a meal that was every bit as fun to make as it was to enjoy.

On the menu:
🥓 Crostini with maple bourbon glazed bacon
🌽 Smoked corn-black bean-avocado dip with fresh fried chips
🥩 Seared rib-eye steak with rosemary and roasted garlic
🍠 Grilled sweet potatoes with lime cream
🥦 Grilled vegetables with mustard-parmesan dressing
🍫 Bourbon brownies with vanilla bean ice cream and bourbon caramel sauce

Cooking together is one of the best ways to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories.

Planning a team-building event, birthday celebration, anniversary, family gathering, or dinner club? A private cooking party is a memorable way to bring everyone together.

Learn more:
https://www.kitchenconservatory.com/KC_CustomClasses.aspx

🍷 The right wine can transform a meal into an unforgettable experience.

We Heard It Through the Grapevine: Sauvignons • July 20 with Aaron Sherman & Beth Hoeltke

This sold-out demonstration class explored the art of pairing cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc with thoughtfully prepared dishes. Aaron Sherman shared practical wine-pairing guidance while Beth Hoeltke demonstrated recipes that highlighted the unique character of each wine, giving guests fresh ideas for entertaining with confidence.

On the menu:
🧀 Creamy goat cheese crostini with roasted grapes
🍗 Rosemary-balsamic grilled chicken breast with herbed grilled vegetables
🍄 Spinach-goat cheese stuffed portobello mushrooms with sun-dried tomatoes
🥩 Grilled skirt steak with chimichurri
🍫 Gooey warm dark chocolate pudding cake

Great entertaining begins with understanding how food and wine bring out the best in one another.

Upcoming classes:
🍷 We Heard It Through the Grapevine: Wines of Greece — October 5

Learn more:
https://kitchenconservatory.com/Cooking-Classes.aspx?title=we%20heard%20it%20through%20the%20grapev

⛵ Every memorable journey leaves behind a recipe worth bringing home.

Travels with Tutko — Lunch on the Adriatic • July 21 with Sharon Tutko

In this demonstration class, Sharon Tutko transported guests to Croatia's Adriatic coast through the flavors, traditions, and stories she discovered while traveling. Along the way, she demonstrated how fresh Mediterranean ingredients and simple techniques create meals that capture the spirit of a place as beautifully as any photograph.

On the menu:
🥐 Spinach-cheese spiral pastries with puff pastry
🐙 Charred octopus and potato salad with tomatoes, olives & shaved purple onions
🍨 Pistachio gelato with a chocolate drizzle
🍸 Adriatic gin and tonic with rosemary and juniper

Travel has a remarkable way of inspiring what we cook long after we return home.

Upcoming Travels with Tutko classes:
🌉 San Francisco North Beach — August 18
🇫🇷 Rennes, France — September 22
🌊 Taverna by the Sea — October 20

Learn more:
https://kitchenconservatory.com/Cooking-Classes.aspx?title=travels%20with%20tutko