Why don’t you and your honey cancel your resto reservation and give couples’ cooking class a try? By Stephanie Gray
Not a cuisine connoisseur? You’re not alone. According to a recent review done by the Dieticians of Canada, Canadians’ cooking skills are deteriorating due to the popularity of easy-to-prepare foods. Despite this, 83 percent of Canadians claim to enjoy making meals. Sound familiar?
Avoid this conundrum and get yourself acquainted with the basics of the kitchen by joining a class—with your mister, of course! I recently participated in a couples’ cooking class at the Calphalon Culinary Center in Toronto and loved it. Here are six reasons why you should give a couples’ cooking class a try.
Learn Knife Basics
From holding a knife to sharpening, your chef instructor gives you the lowdown. While I thought I was pretty handy with a blade, I learned a thing or two about how to chop properly and safely. Who knew practicing “talon” (a technique to prevent you from chopping your fingers) was so important?
Experience Fresh Flavours
Have you ever used daikon (white radish) or lemon grass? I hadn’t either, and I consider myself open to trying new foods. Learning how to prepare a new dish is a great way to become familiar with different foods.
Try New Cooking Techniques
Before the class I’d never Thai-fried a fish (basically dunking a fully-dressed fish into a hot wok of oil) or marinated my meat. While you may have a certain way of doing something at home, this is an opportunity to be adventurous in the kitchen and maybe even take the technique back home.
Play with Cookware
While this will depend on what you’ve signed up for, you’re guaranteed a chance to test out the tools no matter which class you choose. It’s one thing to see a product in the store, but you truly won’t get a feel for it unless you use it. I tried so many gadgets and utensils. Besides an amazing non-stick frying pan, I also fell for an awesome tool that juices lemons!
Taste Exotic Cuisine
Unsure of what French food exactly entails? Always wanted to try Spanish cuisine? At the Calphalon Culinary Center there are a variety of classes to choose from. The most popular class is the Surf & Turf, no doubt due to the menu of lobster and steak, but other themes like Asian, Mexican and Italian, make for a delicious evening. Break from the usual and have a meal that’s not in your regular rotation.
Create a Spark
If wedding planning has been getting to both of you, this is a fun way to reconnect. Cooking together at a station calls for teamwork. Plus you’ll get to enjoy the end result together.
Visit calphalonculinarycenter.com for information on their cooking classes. Not in the Toronto area? Many grocery stores or community centres offer similar courses.