Has anyone taken cooking classes as you visited different areas of the country? I have a disability that hinders me from doing a lot of outdoor activities so I thought this would be a great way to experience local culture. If you have done this how do you find the classes?
ChefMom said
08:17 AM Apr 18, 2016
Just a suggestion, but I would look at trade schools and/or community college in the area in which you wish to learn about the local cuisine. I know in the area of the country that I live in (New England) that these are the places where you could pick up a cooking class or two. Good luck and enjoy.
Second Chance said
04:25 PM Apr 18, 2016
I don't know how common this type of experience is, but here's one we recently had...
My wife is an excellent cook and has lived in Latin America and Spain most of her life (parents were missionaries). Her grandparents were Italian, so she grew up with Italian and South and Central American food and lived the Mediterranean life during her 10 years in Spain. She had not, however, been exposed to Southwestern cooking (specifically the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico - my "home turf") until we married in 2008.
This past winter we spent from just before Thanksgiving to early January in Las Cruces, NM, to be with my family for the holidays. While checking the local paper for interesting things to do, she found that classes on making tamales (New Mexico style - not Central American like she was used to) were being offered at a small state park in La Mesilla, NM (right next to Las Cruces). She drove over to the park for the afternoon and came back so excited, we had to go to our favorite local tortillaria to buy supplies that evening. The next day, she made two dozen tamales in the RV! We taught her brothers how to make them when we visited in California in January and enjoy making and eating them whenever we can.
In southern Louisiana, what we learned about Louisiana and Cajun cooking came from other RVers in the "cultural experience" park where we were staying. The park was owned and operated by a local lady and many of her customers have been returning - mostly for the winter - year after year. Groups of them would head out at 8:00 in the morning to buy shrimp fresh off the boats at the dock. They would then set up under the arbor in front of the office and peel shrimp as a group. Betty, the owner, was a font of information on recipes, preparation, and "tricks-of-the-trade."
So - whenever you're in a particular locale, in addition to the good suggestion already made, check local sources of information and see what you can find.
Rob
Cindy T said
06:11 PM Apr 20, 2016
You might also check at community rec centers, or adult education centers. We have an adult education center that teaches classes on a really vast array of subjects. There are also businesses where you can go in & prepare a meal to take home using their recipes & ingredients. I've heard of Super Suppers, Simply Supper, Dream Dinners, etc.
jrzygrl64 said
08:00 PM Apr 20, 2016
What a great idea! I've never heard of it - but LOVE it! Will be looking for it in the future!
Talensnana said
08:55 PM Apr 20, 2016
Second Chance wrote:
I don't know how common this type of experience is, but here's one we recently had...
My wife is an excellent cook and has lived in Latin America and Spain most of her life (parents were missionaries). Her grandparents were Italian, so she grew up with Italian and South and Central American food and lived the Mediterranean life during her 10 years in Spain. She had not, however, been exposed to Southwestern cooking (specifically the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico - my "home turf") until we married in 2008.
This past winter we spent from just before Thanksgiving to early January in Las Cruces, NM, to be with my family for the holidays. While checking the local paper for interesting things to do, she found that classes on making tamales (New Mexico style - not Central American like she was used to) were being offered at a small state park in La Mesilla, NM (right next to Las Cruces). She drove over to the park for the afternoon and came back so excited, we had to go to our favorite local tortillaria to buy supplies that evening. The next day, she made two dozen tamales in the RV! We taught her brothers how to make them when we visited in California in January and enjoy making and eating them whenever we can.
In southern Louisiana, what we learned about Louisiana and Cajun cooking came from other RVers in the "cultural experience" park where we were staying. The park was owned and operated by a local lady and many of her customers have been returning - mostly for the winter - year after year. Groups of them would head out at 8:00 in the morning to buy shrimp fresh off the boats at the dock. They would then set up under the arbor in front of the office and peel shrimp as a group. Betty, the owner, was a font of information on recipes, preparation, and "tricks-of-the-trade."
So - whenever you're in a particular locale, in addition to the good suggestion already made, check local sources of information and see what you can find.
Rob
Rob where did you stay in Louisiana? We are looking for a winter place and was considering that area.
Second Chance said
09:03 PM Apr 20, 2016
Talensnana wrote:
Rob where did you stay in Louisiana? We are looking for a winter place and was considering that area.
We stayed a couple of weeks at Alligator lake on FT Polk (South) and then at Betty's RV Park in Abbeville, LA. The sites are small and tight at Betty's, but the atmosphere is very friendly.
Rob
jrzygrl64 said
09:30 PM Apr 20, 2016
If you are staying in Abbeville, I've heard Palmetto Island SP is very nice
Second Chance said
05:03 AM Apr 21, 2016
jrzygrl64 wrote:
If you are staying in Abbeville, I've heard Palmetto Island SP is very nice
It is very nice - but they don't have sewer hookups. We took the bikes out there one day and rode the whole park.
Rob
Honeydeaux said
07:58 PM Apr 21, 2016
Hello Patti and Ed
We are from Lafayette Louisiana. We have stayed at Palmetto Island quite a bit. They have a monthly Dutch oven cooking session that is real tasty.
Also there is a grocery store chain in south called Rousses. Most of their stores have a kitchen where they do weekly cooking demonstrations using ingredients selected from store on that day. They put on a pretty good show with a Cajun flare.
Talensnana said
08:02 PM Apr 21, 2016
Second Chance wrote:
Talensnana wrote:
Rob where did you stay in Louisiana? We are looking for a winter place and was considering that area.
We stayed a couple of weeks at Alligator lake on FT Polk (South) and then at Betty's RV Park in Abbeville, LA. The sites are small and tight at Betty's, but the atmosphere is very friendly.
Rob
Unfortunately we can not do small and tight. I will definitely check out other parts in the area.
Has anyone taken cooking classes as you visited different areas of the country? I have a disability that hinders me from doing a lot of outdoor activities so I thought this would be a great way to experience local culture. If you have done this how do you find the classes?
Just a suggestion, but I would look at trade schools and/or community college in the area in which you wish to learn about the local cuisine. I know in the area of the country that I live in (New England) that these are the places where you could pick up a cooking class or two. Good luck and enjoy.
I don't know how common this type of experience is, but here's one we recently had...
My wife is an excellent cook and has lived in Latin America and Spain most of her life (parents were missionaries). Her grandparents were Italian, so she grew up with Italian and South and Central American food and lived the Mediterranean life during her 10 years in Spain. She had not, however, been exposed to Southwestern cooking (specifically the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico - my "home turf") until we married in 2008.
This past winter we spent from just before Thanksgiving to early January in Las Cruces, NM, to be with my family for the holidays. While checking the local paper for interesting things to do, she found that classes on making tamales (New Mexico style - not Central American like she was used to) were being offered at a small state park in La Mesilla, NM (right next to Las Cruces). She drove over to the park for the afternoon and came back so excited, we had to go to our favorite local tortillaria to buy supplies that evening. The next day, she made two dozen tamales in the RV! We taught her brothers how to make them when we visited in California in January and enjoy making and eating them whenever we can.
In southern Louisiana, what we learned about Louisiana and Cajun cooking came from other RVers in the "cultural experience" park where we were staying. The park was owned and operated by a local lady and many of her customers have been returning - mostly for the winter - year after year. Groups of them would head out at 8:00 in the morning to buy shrimp fresh off the boats at the dock. They would then set up under the arbor in front of the office and peel shrimp as a group. Betty, the owner, was a font of information on recipes, preparation, and "tricks-of-the-trade."
So - whenever you're in a particular locale, in addition to the good suggestion already made, check local sources of information and see what you can find.
Rob
You might also check at community rec centers, or adult education centers. We have an adult education center that teaches classes on a really vast array of subjects. There are also businesses where you can go in & prepare a meal to take home using their recipes & ingredients. I've heard of Super Suppers, Simply Supper, Dream Dinners, etc.
Rob where did you stay in Louisiana? We are looking for a winter place and was considering that area.
We stayed a couple of weeks at Alligator lake on FT Polk (South) and then at Betty's RV Park in Abbeville, LA. The sites are small and tight at Betty's, but the atmosphere is very friendly.
Rob
It is very nice - but they don't have sewer hookups. We took the bikes out there one day and rode the whole park.
Rob
We are from Lafayette Louisiana. We have stayed at Palmetto Island quite a bit. They have a monthly Dutch oven cooking session that is real tasty.
Also there is a grocery store chain in south called Rousses. Most of their stores have a kitchen where they do weekly cooking demonstrations using ingredients selected from store on that day. They put on a pretty good show with a Cajun flare.
Unfortunately we can not do small and tight. I will definitely check out other parts in the area.