I hate to admit it, but while I can measure out flour, butter, and sugar all day, my savory cooking schools are much more lackadaisical. When I do cook savory, I tend to opt for baked dishes like last week’s quiche, where I am still in familiar territory. But of course, there is so much more to cook, and that’s where San Francisco Cooking School comes in.
SFCS is a full cooking school that offers certifications in a variety of cooking fields while also hosting night classes and intensive themed sessions like the one I attended last night – Weeknight Vegetarian. Last year, I took one of their classes on how to make a Mondrian cake, so it was a great opportunity to revisit the school in a new context and learn how to make EIGHT vegetarian entrees from start to finish.
The first thing anyone will notice about SFCS is that the kitchens are GORGEOUS. Stainless steel counters, sheet pans, quart containers, and so many knives that I spent my half my time ogling over the utensils and obsessively cleaning everything, just as I did when I used to work closing pastry shifts at the restaurant. Our lovely instructor, CC Sofronas, jumped right in with explaining what each of the dishes was and how she suggested we go about cooking. Many of her tips were familiar to me, but they are useful to repeat for those who don’t cook regularly. Advice like doing your mise en place and cleaning as you go are iron-clad commandments in the kitchen world.
Three hours, a lot of chopping, tasting, and simmering later, our group of 16 had prepared the following:
Shakshuka
Tallegio-Stuffed Portabello Mushroooms
Carrot and Coriander Fritters with Halloumi Cheese
Pasta with Broccolini Pesto
Swiss Chard Pie
Spanakopitas
Fingerling Potatoes with Gribiche
Stuffed Aubergine
It was a feast fit for Thanksgiving with wine and great company to match. Chef CC made it appoint to discuss each of the dishes as we ate to see what we liked and disliked, if we would make substitutions, and what would we most want to make (Having just made shakshuka earlier this week, I’m eyeing the fritters with halloumi cheese).
Whether you are a cooking novice or expert, SFCS has something for everyone, and each class results in something delicious. Plus, there’s never a bad time to be able to cook in a beautiful, professional-grade kitchen!
San Francisco Cooking School
690 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
List of classes here
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
i am more into cooking so i’d be more interested in baking! this was a neat opportunity 🙂
Shikha says
The best part about the SF Cooking School is that they have SO many classes, you’ll definitely find something you like! I want to take some more pastry classes here.
yummychunklet says
Tasty looking photos!
Shikha says
Thank you, and thanks for stopping by!
erika says
I’M DROOLING. I want to visit so bad!!!!!!!!
Shikha says
Can you come visit and tell me so we can cook and hang out? I keep drooling all over your blogposts!!
Jessica says
Wow you MADE all of that!!!! I would totally take this class — checking out the list as we speak!
Everything looks so delicious. What fun!
xo
Shikha says
Our class made SO much food and it was all delicious. I already made one of the recipes at home with success!