Thursday night, I attended Chef Alyssa’s hands-on cooking class at the Atherton Market in South End. I’ve been to several cooking classes before, but never like this one. I walked out with so much more knowledge and with the inspiration to cook more local fresh dinners. I love how unique, fresh, simple, and healthy her recipes were. I’m used to slicing up a tomato and adding it to my food, I’ll never look at a tomato the same.
We attended the class “Ripe Tomatoes”.
To be honest, I’m not even a tomato eater and I loved every single recipe. I don’t think it’s fair to say you don’t like a food until you try it in different ways.
I was also lucky to have my friend Emilee join me!
Chef Alyssa has all kinds of classes to choose from. You can look over their schedule online and sign up for class from home. You even get to bring your own wine to drink while you cook.
After being spoiled with cucumber water and brucshetta appetizers, we were given our recipe books that had the nights menu with recipes.
Ripe Tomatoes Class Menu: (click for recipe)
*Crispy Potato Salad With Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette
*Heirloom Tomato Pomodoro Sauce over Zucchini & Squash Noodles w/ Asiago Cheese
*Seared Market Fish With Blistered Grape Tomatoes & Herbs
*Tomato Tarte-Tatin
The class set up was my favorite part. Chef Alyssa had her kitchen station up front with a large projector screen so we could see exactly what she was doing. She had a microphone so that none of us had a problem hearing. There were chefs walking around to help you with anything, clean up after you, and hand you ingredients. All you had to do was cook! There was no dirty work, or hard labor involved. That’s my kind of class!
The atmosphere was really fun. The market was empty, but you felt as if you were outside. Call me silly, but I felt like I was in another country at a cooking school. All of the ingredients used in our meals came from the local market.
Talk about the perfect date night. I wish I would have taken my mom here when she was in town. This is the ideal way to spend a night with friends. I love doing different things, learning, and meeting new people. We were across from a mother and daughter who were incredibly friendly! Going out and meeting new people is what life is all about.
The cool thing about the set up is that everyone at the station worked as a team. Communication was key and sometimes when something went wrong, it was hilarious. This was definitely a memory I won’t forget!
After we all made our dishes, we brought our plates over to a sitting area set for dinner, and enjoyed our meals. There was no clean up after which was great! If you couldn’t finish the meal, they offered eco-friendly to go boxes.
I learned so much from this class and recommend it to everyone. Cooks and non cooks. Chef Alyssa explains food and techniques on a level you can understand. I’ve taken classes where I had to hurry and google techniques. She was very down to earth and I can’t wait to bring my friends there for a night of cooking!
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Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy says
I should attend a cooking workshop or two! 🙂
Natasha says
Wow, it looks like you and Emilee had an amazing time. The US has so many fantastic things to do. Not that the UK doesn’t but it is always on that little bit smaller scale and never seems quite as fun. Or maybe that is you, you make everything seem fun. Charlotte, NC was never one of the places on my list to visit if I come to the US again but now if I can, I will. You will be like my personal travel guide for the area if I ever get there. Keep on blogging 🙂 xo
Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out says
Cooking classes are the MOST fun! It’s the one date my boyfriend and I really splurge on! We’ve been twice now and we love ti!
Cambria says
That looks like so much fun! I’ll definitely have to look into finding a class like this! I love learning how to cook healthy meals and this seems like a great way to do it!
Alison says
You should check out the Chef’s Choice cooking classes at Johnson & Whales University in Charlotte. The culinary professors offer some weekend classes for non-students with a ton of different topics. I think the schedule is on their website.
Alexis says
Appreciate the recommendation. Let me try it out.
Aully says
You are famous in Charlotte! People were talking about you at Whole Foods yesterday and I had to chime in. I told them I also follow your blog and shared my favorite recipe of yours with them. Just thought you’d like to know!
Alisia says
that looks so good
Lorena says
you live in charlotte?!
Taralynn McNitt says
yup!