Wanted: cooking classes!!

[JILLVET]

I live in Charles Town, WV (about an hour out of DC) and want to take some cooking classes - besides the ones offered at Sur La Table and W-S, is anyone aware of cooking classes in this general vicinity - something teaching knife skills, etc...... :)

[Robyn1007]

I'm not aware of anything specific but have you looked to see if you have a culinary school in the area? Often, they offer classes such as those to home cooks.

[Dfen911]

Not sure if this is near you --

http://www.chefva.com/index.cfm You could call them as ask if they do weekend classes along with the full creditials.

You might also check some of the major restaurants. I know that a couple of mine out here sometimes do a weekend cooking class before they open for lunch.

Are you looking more for a weekend here and there or a full culinary course?

[funniegrrl]

Lots of junior colleges and technical schools offer cooking classes, as semester-long for-credit classes, semester-long extension classes, and shorter extension classes.

Sometimes independent restaurants will offer classes, as do some hotels with in-house kitchens.

Viking -- the company that makes the high-end stoves, grills, etc. -- have really good classes in their culinary centers, but it doesn't look like there's a location near you. http://www.vikinghomechef.com/hc-cgi-bin/hc_promos?templ=CookingSchool/vcac_class_calendar_auto.html

[Luv to Cook]

L'academie de cuisine is in Gaithersburg and Bethesda, MD. Not sure how far that is from you...

http://www.lacademie.com/intro.html

I have taken both recreational and professional classes and they are really good.

[JILLVET]

Thank you - Bethesda is about an hour from me here in Charles Town - i am online checking out classes at L'Academie de Cuisine!

[MISSINDI]

I don't know how far she is from you, but another CLBBer jphilig (hi Jen!) teaches classes. You can see her website here (http://loveandonions.com/courses/).

[jphilg]

Thanks for the plug, Missindi! Actually, I'm taking a morning-sickness-induced-hiatus for the time being (updating the website is on my list for this week) but Jill, you might want to hold off another couple of weeks. In mid-September, the Post puts out a huge guide to cooking classes in the food section. It should be out next week on Wednesday. The guide lists classes in restaurants, in private homes, in stores, and in cooking schools; it is really comprehensive, and you should be able to find something a little closer. FWIW, though, L'acadamie has great classes. They also have a Gaithersburg, MD campus that might be closer to you.

Good luck! I wish I could take you on as a student, but it's just not the right moment in my life to be working with food professionally.

[MISSINDI]

Thanks for the plug, Missindi! Actually, I'm taking a morning-sickness-induced-hiatus for the time being (updating the website is on my list for this week) ...

There's another baby coming? Congrats!! :D

[jphilg]

Jill, the listing came out today: Post cooking class listing (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/05/AR2006090500260.html)