Cooking Class: Gourmet Italian Cooking Techniques
The authentic tastes and textures of Italy come to life in the kitchen with this insightful hands-on cooking class from Chef Mary Jane. She'll guide you through culinary methods used for generations to create a mouthwatering meal filled with classic dishes. Your lesson begins with an eggplant caponata, featuring a robust blend of zesty tomatoes and aromatic onions. Then, learn the secrets of sizzling up your own balsamic-marinated steak and assemble traditional bruschetta. Prepare a savory polenta flavored with porcini mushrooms and chicken stock, and for dessert, discover the charm of making fresh espresso granita served with homemade butter cookies for a light yet satisfying dessert.
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Eggplant Caponata
With onions, tomatoes, olive oil and garlic
Steak Tagliata and Fresh Bruschetta
With beef, tomatoes, balsamic, lemon, garlic and fresh basil
Parmesan and Porcini Mushroom Polenta
With cornmeal, chicken stock and olive oil
Espresso Granita and Italian Butter Cookies
With mascarpone cream, butter sugar and flour
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if noted prior to the event. Please mention this in the message field when you submit your booking request as adjustments to recipes cannot be made during class.
- Minimum Guests 2
- Maximum Guests 8
- Event Duration 2.5 hours
- Activity Level
Activity Level
- LabelsCouples, Group, Gourmet, Date Night, Italian
Outside Reviews for Chef Mary Jane
Mira I.
07 Aug 2023
Chef Mary Jane’s expertise in pasta-making shone through, as she patiently guided us through each step of the process. From mixing and kneading the dough to rolling it out and creating beautiful pasta shapes. I not only learned the art of making fettuccini, ravioli, and tortellini but also discover the magic of the roasted butternut squash filling. After the class I feel more confident in my pasta making skills.
Chef Mary Jane's journey into the culinary realm has been nothing short of distinctive. She's traversed various avenues within the food industry – from wielding her pen as a culinary writer and weaving her artistic touch as a food stylist to innovating as a product developer and contributing her expertise to the Iowa Egg Council. Notably, she has even graced the kitchens of James Beard award-winning chefs with her culinary prowess. Through her roles as a food consultant and specialized chef, she has nurtured a truly unparalleled sense of creativity. With a treasure trove of experiences to draw from, Chef Mary Jane finds great joy in mentoring aspiring culinary talents, aiding them in mastering their craft.
