Do you love Trader Joe’s for their delightful gourmet products yet wonder how to use them? Cut your cooking time in half and spruce up tired meals with a variety of scratch and ready made products that make cooking simple yet impressive. You’ll be amazed how fast you can get a healthy good tasting meal on the table.We'll make several dishes from a variety of Trader Joe’s products in this very popular class. Class runs about 2 1/2 hours

16 years of age and older ok 

Writer Beth Kowitt says about TJ's: 

“It's an offbeat, fun discovery zone that elevates food shopping from a chore to a cultural experience.”

Will you be my Chocolate Valentine?

Chocolate the elixir of love, food of the gods, and the way to a woman's heart. In a salute to Valentines day we'll be making chocolate dipped handmade marshmallow hearts, dark chocolate truffles, molten lava cakes, and chocolate raspberry French macaroons. Yum! 

 Ages 15 and UP

Saute with your sweetheart in this romantic French cooking class with a delicate Flamische leek tart garnished with a salad of endive and radicchio with pomegranate vinaigrette, herbed roasted lamb chops with a medley of roasted winter vegetables,  and a warm chocolate orange souffle with creme Anglaise. Cest' la Vie!

Cost is per person--couples register for two. 

Adult class, you may bring wine to enjoy with your meal. 

Would you like to slice and dice like a chef? Rev up your 'veg-o-matic 'skills and get the cutting edge info on knives? Make your meal prep effortless with this skill.

This class focuses heavily on knife skills. Slice, dice, peel, julienne, and chop to make a meal of grilled vegetable quesadillas topped with pickled red onions, zippy salsa, and a luscious tropical fruit salad. You won't go home hungry! 

We will discuss types of knives to own and when to sharpen. Also find out what kitchen gadgets are necessary in today's kitchen.

 Age 16 and older ok

Our Kitchen-Aid Santoku knives available for $25 and our NSF cutting boards $15--cash/check only.

Half way through dinner my hustand said, this is so much better than any restaurant." --G Harris Do you feel a tug on your line to eat more fish? fish makes a perfect quick healthy meal in minutes with out too much fuss. Learn what to look for when purchasing adn how to cook to perfection. We'll make several fish dishes to add to your repertoire.

Fish used will be determined by market choices

16 years of age and older ok

Are you seduced by the aroma of bacon, the thought of that crisp, smoky, revered and delicious of all meats? This class focuses on bacon, bacon and more bacon. Learn to cure your own bacon, and homemade bacon cheddar biscuits, bacon wrapped sliders, and applewood bacon cider-caramelized onion pizzas. Oh and don’t forget the candied bacon!

 Ages 15 and Up

It's one thing to be told by health pros to eat the right things but it seems no one actually teaches you how to cook them. Learn to prepare meals that include fresh produce--think living cells, learn delicious ways to flavor vegetables, grains and legumes to make you and your family crave them without spending hours in the kitchen. 

Inspired by Vitality City and the Beach Cities Health District to bring you not only knowledge but hands-on class learning to make fortifying tasty meals at home.

Plant based recipes--Great for Vegetarians!

Each class will make 5 recipes of fresh produce, grains and legumes depending on whats available in the market locally.

14 years of age and older ok 

Phyllo can be intimidating but it's really is easier than you think. A wonderful addition to your culinary adventures whether for family meals or impressive dinner parties.

Chef Annette will teach you just how easy it is and lessen your phyllo fears with individual Greek spanikopita, savory mushroom cups, sweet cheese and berry bites, and the queen of desserts baklava! 

Roll up your sleeves and get buttery as we layer this micro thin pastry into delectable tasty wonders. 

Ages 14 and older ok.

Tired of the same dried out rubber chicken and salty supermarket rotisserie chicken? Spice up drab chicken meals with exciting tastes and textures the whole family will love. Learn techniques for juicier, tastier, and tender chicken dishes and when to saute, roast, and bake. We’ll make several seasonal chicken dishes to add to your repertoire.

16 years of age and older ok 

" I now know how to test for doneness and no longer dry out chicken!" --A Falstaff

Eating “tapas” style can spice up any occasion and add a taste of romance. These small dishes may be from land or sea and can be simple or complex. We'll be making the traditional tortilla espanola, roasted beet salad with Meyer lemon vinaigrette, baked goat cheese on grilled eggplant with breadcrumbs, chorizo on a baguette with quince paste and cheese and chicken pinxto con mandarina y olivas. 

Adult class you may bring wine to enjoy with your meal.

I enjoyed myself and had Lots of fun The entire group got to know each other, shared stories, drank wine and were dining together by the end of the class. What a fantastic night out! --E Duston

Learn how easy it can be to make fresh pasta at home. Did you know that handmade pasta is considered an artisan food? Get ready to play with your pasta as you make magic from the basic ingredients of semolina, flour and eggs. Let your sticky fingers and bursts of laughter create an impressive basil laminated pasta, luxurious linguine, spinach ricotta filled raviolis. We'll make a pasta  for our meal with a salad. Mangia!

“I can’t wait to go home and impress my friends!” --N Cremins

 Teens 13 and older ok

Make you own natural body and face products using food and natural ingredients. Chef Annette worked in the spa industry for many years and brings it all together with her culinary expertise. This hands-on mixology class will focus on face and body washes, scrubs, cleansers, toners, and masks. We’ll make a refreshing orange body scrub, kiwi facial cleanser, yogurt pumpkin facial mask, strawberry and grape seed oil exfoliant, and a cucumber honey toner and of course something chocolate!