Dishing Out Lessons

At The Big Ben in Sector 35,gourmet cooking workshops are now a regular feature. “Twice a month,we host the talented Chef Anubhav,who steers Made@home to conduct live multi-cuisine sessions at our restaurant,” explains its owner,Vipul Dua. Made@home is an exclusive

gourmand service specialising in live cooking sessions,menu consultations and personal chef service. Spearheading the last couple of workshops that packed in 25 guests at a time,Chef Anubhav dished out lessons in Thai,Lebanese,Italian,Mexican and Indian dishes,along with two desserts,which were later served exclusively to all those in attendance.

Besides,lucky draws were conducted at the end of the three-hour-long culinary class at the restaurant and the winners got a chance to attend some free cooking sessions. “It’s a great way to interact with guests and also make use of our space. The classes are a lot of fun,” says Dua,adding that he is overwhelmed with the response generated by the cooking sessions. “Enquiries have increased and some guests have also requested certain dishes to be taught,” he adds. Going by the feedback,a soups and sandwiches class,costing Rs 1,200,is on the cards and is scheduled for the last week of January.

While Kids’ Own,the spacious indoor play zone in Sector 17,has been a hit with children,The Daily Bread Cafe,housed on Level 2 of the building,is encouraging parents and foodies to hone their culinary skills. Owner Nalini Sibal,a passionate foodie herself,has hosted pastry chef Vibha Pahwa quite a few times. “The endeavour is to think out-of-the-box and create events that encourage not just children,but also grown-ups to be creative and indulge in something they enjoy. The pastry classes have been well-received and we will continue to explore them further,” says Sibal.

The Cupcake Diva workshop held at Kids’ Own,which was followed by a pie-making class,ran to a full house with ladies queuing up to learn designer cupcakes and pies. “The interactive teaching style was fun and the informal setting made it equally enjoyable. We are always looking to impress friends and family with our culinary skills and it’s even better when we get to learn from professionals,” says homemaker Nidhi Sharma,who is now looking forward to the soup classes at The Big Ben.

Encouraging children to get a feel of a restaurant kitchen and the effort that goes into creating a winning meal is Page 3 in Panchkula. Celebrating their first anniversary a few weeks ago,Executive Chef Swatantra Gautam hosted a pizza-making class for children at Cafe Amor,which is part of the Page 3 complex of restaurants. “The children wanted to learn the entire pizza-making process. They were also curious to know about herbs and healthier toppings,” says Gautam,who is also looking forward to host more such interactions.

Elsewhere,the Chandigarh Baking Company,the bakery at JW Marriott Chandigarh,is also preparing to conduct classes for guests on desserts and starters. “These days,guests are very proactive and are always asking for recipes and tips on how to dish out quick gourmet meals at home. We have decided to take it further by rolling out culinary classes,” says Executive Chef Pallav Singhal,who will soon announce the dates and cost of the cooking sessions.