Help Me Choose a Cooking Class at A Southern Season

[fci5767]

My mom sent me a gift certificate to A Southern Season. I think I'm going to use it to take one of their wonderful classes. I'm having a hard time trying to narrow down my choices. I know I need to take a knife skills class but I may want to take a class with a famous chef instead.

Anyone want to take a look at the Nov/Dec/Jan options and help me decide?


Cooking Classes (http://www.southernseason.com/class/classwebschedule.pdf)

[mbrogier]

It isn't technically a class, but I'd do the luncheon with Patricia Wells hands down. I love her!

[wintersummer]

Beth - Have you ever taken a Southern Season class? I never have and get overwhelmed when I see one of their course listings. I'm like you...I feel like I should take a "hands-on" class, specifically, the knife basics, but then get intrigued by the other more "exciting" classes (which probably are just more entertainment than really helping our cooking skills).

I can't believe you and I have never taken one these classes! It's like they say, you never take advantage of what's right in front of you. Maybe we should sign up for the same class and meet one another, since we seem to live so close to one another (oh, I caught your other post about living in Philadelphia...I lived on corner of 17th and Locust, right in Center City!)

[GingerPow]

I second the Patricia Wells date 11/25. What a fabulous resource you have there in Chapel Hill! I am so impressed. I noticed an ad in the corner of the last page for the "Carolina Inn." **Is that a hotel?

So, you are former Philly residents! Great city, isn't it? We love to visit, used to live in the 'burbs nearby, our oldest daughter goes to Temple University in the city and loves it. She wants to live there full time after graduation. A tidbit I always found interesting about Philadelphia is that Ben Franklin loved Paris as much as his hometown. Much of the city is modeled after aspects of Paris that Franklin admired.

**Just found the Carolina Inn website - wow! Is that as gorgeous in person as their photo gallery shows? I may book that when we visit Chapel Hill.

[Laura B]

Personally, I would jump at the chance to attend the Peter Reinhart session because I love to bake bread and he is an amazing expert in his field. Of course, I would not turn down the Patricia Wells one either.

[Laura B]

**Just found the Carolina Inn website - wow! Is that as gorgeous in person as their photo gallery shows? I may book that when we visit Chapel Hill.

Yes, it is! We're staying there when we visit Chapel Hill at the end of this month. We're actually splurging on one night out at the Fearrington House (http://www.fearringtonhouse.com/) with dinner there at their restaurant, and then coming back into Chapel Hill to stay two nights at the Carolina Inn. I can't wait!

[wintersummer]

Gingerpow - The Carolina Inn and Fearrington are two very special places. On occasion (maybe every 3-4 years) my husband and I will go to Fearrington to stay for an evening and have dinner. We take a long ride out into the country and always attempt to approach Fearrington a different way, attempting to trick ourselves into believing we've gone far, far away...and in reality, it's only about 10 minutes from here. We've stayed at the Carolina Inn several times...under less optimal situations. Here in Chapel Hill, snow and ice make for a mess. We both work on campus and absolutely HAVE to be at work, under any weather conditions. The Carolina Inn offers "distress" rates during these times, so we just book a room and stay on campus until the bad weather ends. But, it's not bad at all because rooms are very nice, restaurant is great, so we work during the day and walk back through snow and ice to our temporary home. Also, campus departments have a lot of holiday parties there, as well as retirement/going away functions, so I'd say we're there about 5 times a year.

[GingerPow]

I have to tell you that the more I learn about the Chapel Hill area, the more excited I get to visit there! Your area sounds like there is plenty of culture, fun, music, good food and nice people!
~ V. C.

[wintersummer]

Ginger - this is a very cool place to live, with lots and lots going on. To be such a small community, it's quite "food" oriented. We've got the Southern Season store, subject of this thread. When friends visit us from NYC or Philadelphia, they say they've never seen anything like it. I used to visit NYC quite a bit, and I tell you, I have never, ever seen a cooking store like this one! It is simply amazing. We've got great grocery stores, so you can find any ingredient you might ever need. Fearrington House, one of the places we mentioned to stay, is a Mobil and AAA 5 star hotel, one of about only 25 in the entire USA. Did you see my other post about all the famous cookbook authors who live here in town, along with all the food/chef celebrities who come to town frequently? The FoodTV network has been in town 3 times this last year, filming RR $40 Day, Bobby Flay BBQ, and a bakery in Durham (close by). Martha Stewart shows up about once a year, to visit her old friend Sara Foster. I'm still going to put together a list of restaurants for you for your visit (and remember, I still have to pack for our quick trip!)...but we will stay in touch!

[GingerPow]

Ginger - this is a very cool place to live, with lots and lots going on. To be such a small community, it's quite "food" oriented. We've got the Southern Season store, subject of this thread. When friends visit us from NYC or Philadelphia, they say they've never seen anything like it. I used to visit NYC quite a bit, and I tell you, I have never, ever seen a cooking store like this one! It is simply amazing. We've got great grocery stores, so you can find any ingredient you might ever need.

I'm still going to put together a list of restaurants for you for your visit (and remember, I still have to pack for our quick trip!)...but we will stay in touch!

Wintersummer,
Oh, I can see that I'm going to be in biiiiig trouble... ;) The kind of trouble that my family loves, and makes me add three miles to my walking!

I'm way behind on my 'get-outta-town' job list too. Can't seem to stay away from this computer! :rolleyes: Looking forward to your info WHENEVER you can - lots to do, I so understand! Have a fun trip! ~V. C.

[Laura B]

Fearrington House, one of the places we mentioned to stay, is a Mobil and AAA 5 star hotel, one of about only 25 in the entire USA.

Not to mention that it is Relais & Chateaux.

Gingerpow, I think you will enjoy the Triangle. If DH and I ever decide to leave NYC, we would move back to Chapel Hill or possibly Raleigh.

[GingerPow]

Not to mention that it is Relais & Chateaux.

Gingerpow, I think you will enjoy the Triangle. If DH and I ever decide to leave NYC, we would move back to Chapel Hill or possibly Raleigh.

Wow - that is impressive! And to say that you would go from NYC back to the Triangle area speaks volumes!

Good to know! ~V. C.

[wintersummer]

Laura - You in a great place (NYC) to make a good comparison...

Have you seen a store in NYC that surpasses Southern Season here in Chapel Hill? (especially, since it moved to the new store...have you been in the new store?). I've been to lots of great stores in Manhattan, but none the size of Southern Season. I have had friends visit and I'll take them there for a "quick" visit, and we will be there 4 hours later! The place just goes on and on. And, if you love food products, cookware, gadgets, china, candy, coffee/tea, baked goods, etc. you just can't leave!

[dreamer]

fci5767 - about your question- as someone who too often does what I feel I "should" do rather than what I want to do, I'd say, skip the knife skills, and just go for what looks like the most fun to you! You'll probably learn more that way, anyway.

And re: the other comments about the Chapel Hill area, I just wanted to pipe up and say that I lived in that area for about 10 years, and it was fantastic. But alas, like so many other places, it seems so much different than when I lived there in the 80s: so many more people, so much more built up, so much more TRAFFIC! (For those of you who know it, you'll appreciate this: for the first five years or so that I lived there, the distance between Chapel Hill and Durham seemed long, as it was only WOODS! There was nothing between them on 15-501.) But traffic notwithstanding, I'm sure it's still a fantastic place to live. I loved it!

[Laura B]

Laura - You in a great place (NYC) to make a good comparison...

Have you seen a store in NYC that surpasses Southern Season here in Chapel Hill? (especially, since it moved to the new store...have you been in the new store?). I've been to lots of great stores in Manhattan, but none the size of Southern Season. I have had friends visit and I'll take them there for a "quick" visit, and we will be there 4 hours later! The place just goes on and on. And, if you love food products, cookware, gadgets, china, candy, coffee/tea, baked goods, etc. you just can't leave!

Well, no I can't say that there is a store quite like it in NYC. We have places like Dean & Deluca which have a similar gourmet grocery store/kitchen store/cafe arrangement. I would say for variety of things offered, D&D is the closest type of store, but it is tiny compared to A Southern Season. And we certainly have some amazing kitchen supply stores and gourmet grocery stores that surpass what A Southern Season has to offer in their own areas of expertise, but on the whole, A Southern Season is very special. Yes, I have been to the new location - I only moved to NYC in August 04. I love love love the new store, but I have to say that I think they ruined the Weathervane restaurant in the move. There is no coziness anymore. It felt like a cafeteria to me. And the menu changed as well and left off my favorite things!

While on the subject of kitchen stores, though, I must add that I also love Kitchen Works in the same mall as A Southern Season. Their selection always impressed me. I hope they are still around and not driven out of business by A Southern Season moving into the 'hood.

[wintersummer]

Laura - I agree with you 100% about the Weathervane. We loved the patio area in the old restaurant, as well as the inside. In addition to general ambience, they did change the menu significantly. I was impressed for a while, then the food got worse, then better, then worse, and last time I went it was again, not so good. You don't know whether to go back or not. Service also went way downhill. We went there one evening, escorting a group of people, one who was interviewing for a job here at UNC, and it took about 2 hours for our meal to come. It was an embarassment. I know they changed some of the upper management of the restaurant with the move and that must have had something to do with it. The good news is that Sam Poley, the chef from the old restaurant, opened a new restaurant in Durham (Starlu) and it is just wonderful. So we lose some, gain some.

Kitchenworks is still here. I love that store too. They've always been so helpful with so many things and have a good selection of things.

Have you been to Bridge Kitchenware on 45th? I love that place, just because it was just so darn packed with so many odds and ends. Some of my favorite bowls came from Broadway Panhandler.

Do you have other favorite places to shop in the city? I don't have any trips planned in the future, but love to keep a list. I love the big ABC store! (but, I've never bought anything there) Oh, have you been to the "Morning Market Meetings" at Union Square Cafe? I've been to two of them and had such a great time. If you don't know about them, you start off in the restaurant, they usually feature one type of food item, have a farmer or other food producer in to talk about the food, Michael Romano the chef generally prepares several recipes with the item, and one time we took a tour of the Union Square greenmarket, then came back to restaurant. Oh, I forgot an important part...you're eating the whole time. It's a great city!

Boy, have we gotten off topic. Sorry.

[Laura B]

Yes, sorry for the hijack, Beth!

Yes, I have been to Bridge - amazing store. They recently moved locations and I have not been to the new one yet. I also like Broadway Panhandler, Sur la Table, and Dean & Deluca. Probably my very favorite kitchen shop is New York Cake & Baking Supply on 22nd street. I love to bake so am drawn to that shop. I actually don't do a whole lot of shopping though. I've always been a big internet shopper and that really didn't change after I moved here unless I am in need of something immediately.

I haven't been to Morning Market Meetings. That sounds really fun! I recently ate at Union Square Cafe for the first time and really loved it.

[fci5767]

No problem Laura, I had totally forgotten that I had started this thread so I'm glad it's got some life. I do remember that we were supposed to get together before you moved and that never happened, so I guess I owe you a hijack :D.

Wintersummer, I'd love to meet you for a class. A co-worker used to do prep there just to earn free classes and watch the ones that she was working. Not a bad deal. If only my prep skills were good (especially the knife part, I'm going to lose a finger sometime.)

BTW wintersummer, I lived at 20th and Locust, 16th and Spruce, 17th and Pine and 26th and Brown in Phila. Gingerpow, I graduated from Temple. Very small BB world.

Ginger, if you move here, be prepared for the world to stop with the "bad" weather. My school sort of follows the public school closings so it's kind of fun to stay home warm and dry. But if you move here from colder regions, it's pretty funny. A half inch of snow sort of melts and refreezes at night starting a cycle that can close schools for up to five days. My school won't stay closed that long though. But it's really a fun thing to watch :D.

Guess I hijacked my own thread enough here. Have a good night.


Beth

[GingerPow]

No problem Laura, I had totally forgotten that I had started this thread so I'm glad it's got some life. I do remember that we were supposed to get together before you moved and that never happened, so I guess I owe you a hijack :D.

Wintersummer, I'd love to meet you for a class. A co-worker used to do prep there just to earn free classes and watch the ones that she was working. Not a bad deal. If only my prep skills were good (especially the knife part, I'm going to lose a finger sometime.)

BTW wintersummer, I lived at 20th and Locust, 16th and Spruce, 17th and Pine and 26th and Brown in Phila. Gingerpow, I graduated from Temple. Very small BB world.

Ginger, if you move here, be prepared for the world to stop with the "bad" weather. My school sort of follows the public school closings so it's kind of fun to stay home warm and dry. But if you move here from colder regions, it's pretty funny. A half inch of snow sort of melts and refreezes at night starting a cycle that can close schools for up to five days. My school won't stay closed that long though. But it's really a fun thing to watch :D.

Guess I hijacked my own thread enough here. Have a good night.


Beth

Hi Beth! Go Owls! I have to laugh at your reference to everything stopping because of the weather. We get the same thing 'down the shore.' The weatherman warns of possible snow and the Acme shelves are CLEARED of bread and toilet paper by 9 p.m. (Just what do people think they'll be doing during the upcoming storm of the century?? :confused: )
So, the dusting will commence, and everything STOPS! Schools close, people cancel appointments and it gets quiet. Having moved here from PA where there really is significant snow, it's amusing.
When we actually get a heavy snow fall, it beautiful but the snow doesn't stay for long since we're right on the ocean - too warm. The ice from melting and refreezing as you mentioned is an entirely different story, that really is dangerous.
We also get some school closings for island flooding - whether it is due to heavy rain, or a full moon making the high tide flood the streets.
Gee, I wish I could horn in and meet you ladies for a class. Sounds like fun!