Promenades Gourmandes

Cooking classes  at the Culinary Loft in New York

My good friend Corinne Colen, founder/owner of the Loft, invited me to give a cooking class, and I asked my good friend Rosa Jackson, based in Nice, to join forces. In mid-December, Christmas was an obvious theme, and an opportunity to showcase the contrast between Provence's "light" traditions and Paris' "rich" celebrations.

Attendance, limited to 25 per class, filled up in no time, with long past students, recent students, some coming from as far as Florida and Chicago, plus local foodies. Star authors Dorie Greenspan, Marlena Spieler,  and  bloggers Tory Hoen (Hipparis.com) and Jessica Levine, honored us with their presence.

Fresh truffles from www.plantin.com, artisanal olive oil from www.ppprovence.com, delicate sea salt from the french Atlantic, www.salines-de-millac.com, rosé wine from Provence, and rich red wine from Cahors, gave an authentic french touch to our menu (not to mention perfect foie gras from www.dartagnan.com).

Cooking for 25 each time was a new challenge. The Culinary Loft's amazing space, equipment and staff, plus lovely Anna Watson, from www.franceguide.com and Sara Rhanama from Washington DC as volunteer assistants, made it possible. Everybody came on time, and after donning aprons, and listening to our presentation of the menus,  ingredients, and goal, everyone was chopping, stirring, stuffing, layering, baking, in a common effort to turn out the meals. 

Nobody was in a hurry to get up when finished eating, au contraire, conversations fused, brought together people who were sharing their love of good food, and of France ! Judging from their happy faces, it was a success.

Thank you all, it was not only about sharing food and wine, it was about friendship. We shall return ....