Learn to Cook at Home: Cooking Basics Course

Whether you’re an amateur in the kitchen looking to progress beyond boiling water or an advanced home cook wanting to take your cooking to the next level, this online cooking course is just right for you.

In this cooking program, we go beyond merely teaching you recipes to explore the cooking techniques that are the foundations for all recipes. Understanding what’s “under the hood” of a recipe (what makes it work) helps you pull it off to perfection every time. You’ll learn the basic science and proper cooking methods that will make all cooking a breeze, from quick weeknight family meals to entertaining for a crowd!

During the class, you will cook along with a chef, who will demonstrate and support you step by step, learning the basics of cooking over the course of 12 weeks.

What you'll learn

• Week 1: Knife Skills: Introduction, Knife Skills, & Mise en place (Organization)
• Week 2: Stir-Fry & Sauté
• Week 3: Sear, Pan Fry, & Basic Eggs
• Week 4: Stewing, Braising, Poaching, & Steaming (steaming part of demo only)
• Week 5: Chicken Stock, Béchamel, Wine Sauce, & Mayonnaise
• Week 6: Soups
• Week 7: Roasting: Chicken Thighs & Vegetables
• Week 8: Yeast Dough & Bread (Pizza night!)
• Week 9: Quick Breads (Scones & Cornbread)
• Week 10: Grains: Mujadara (Lentils & Rice) and Risotto
• Week 11: Gnocchi with Mixed Greens Salad and Vinaigrette
• Week 12: Celebration Dinner - Whole Roast Chicken

All class dates are consecutive with the exception of major holidays.

A week before the class, you will receive a shopping and equipment list, prep instructions, and a link to the virtual classroom. Class price is per log-in, so multiple people in the same household can participate with one log-in if they are viewing from the same device. During the class, you will cook along with the chef, who will demonstrate and support you step by step on creating the menu. The lesson will cover knife skills, shopping tips, cooking techniques, and much more!

Chef Olive will be your instructor. Chef Olive has been part of the Berkeley culinary neighborhood for over 20 years, first as one of the original owners in Cesar Tapas Bar and then moving on to open the cooking school in 2005. The cooking school was a place to share his passions of good food, nutrition and community through teaching students of all ages and backgrounds in a warm and inviting environment.

If you're looking to learn easy and healthy recipes at home, want to treat a loved one to an exciting gift experience idea, or want to spice up your week with an engaging date night idea with your partner, this course will allow you to learn your way inn the kitchen and have fun!

All levels welcome!
  Simple kitchen set up and lap top needed.
 

This class series runs over 12 consecutive sessions, at the same time every week.