I love to cook, but every time I’m faced with having to attack an onion, I freeze.
How the hell do you do it without collapsing into a blubbering pile of red-faced sneezy goo?
(Appetizing, I know…)
Not to mention the delicious yet messy mango, the prickly pineapple, or the wily chicken.
So, armed with a gift certificate to L’Academie de Cuisine, I set out to conquer the mysteries of kitchen knives Saturday afternoon.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
Tucked away in a little yellow building on Wilson Lane, it’s a completely non-threatening environment with no-nonsense classes taught by professionals. There were about twenty of us, mixed gender and ages, nervously assembled in front of cutting boards, knives, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables. Facing us was a chef brandishing a very sharp knife.
In the course of three hours, the very entertaining Brian Patterson taught us “Basic Knife Skills,” vanquishing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and a whole chicken with ease. He also demystified how to choose and care for the most essential kitchen knives. Half the class was demonstration, followed by time to practice your newly acquired skills on any number of previously intimidating foods.
It was such a fun experience, I’m inspired to return for a pasta class later this week.
Definitely check LAC out if you are interested in learning more about the culinary arts, right here in DC.
(Well, Bethesda, anyway!)
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
As one of the founding editors of We Love DC, Jenn’s passions are theater and cocktails. After two decades in the city, she’s loved every quirky, mundane, elegant, rude minute of her DC life. A proud advocate for DC’s talented drinks scene, she’s judged the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s ARTINI contest, the DC Rickey Month contest, the Jefferson Hotel’s Quill Cocktail competition, and is a founding member of LUPEC DC. A graduate of Catholic University’s drama program, she toured the country as a member of National Players, and has been both an actor and a costume designer before jumping the aisle to theater criticism. Writing for We Love DC restored her happiness after a life-threatening illness, and she’s grateful to you, dear readers. Send your suggestions to jenn (at) welovedc (dot) com and follow her on Twitter.
