Dishing Out Lessons

There was a time when small-time cookery classes run by housewives was the way to learn cooking if one could not get into a culinary school.

There was a time when small-time cookery classes run by housewives was the way to learn cooking if one could not get into a culinary school. Otherwise,settling for the stodgy comfort food of ones own simple culinary techniques was the leftover option. But now,the idea of cooking classes has become a business model for a variety of restaurants in the Capital,something which gives restaurants a new way to earn money and participants an opportunity to learn how to make restaurant- quality food at home.

Taj group is by far the most active when it comes to culinary tutelage. Both the Taj Palace and the Taj Mahal Hotel have sessions,in which they teach food and beverage enthusiasts how to make the perfect cocktail or rustle up a multi-course meal. In Taj Mahal there are classes held at three restaurants including Wasabi,Ricks,and Varq. Classes at Varq teach attendees to make a three- course contemporary Indian menu utilising the recipes of chef Hemant Oberoi and cost Rs 2,500 (plus taxes) per session.

In the neighbouring Wasabi,chefs Masamitsu Yamamoto and Vikramjit Roy demystify sushi for would-be kohais (Japanese students),teaching them how to roll the perfect Japanese treat. Ankur Chawla,restaurant manager at Wasabi says,The response since we started six months back,has been terrific. We do not like to exceed a class size of 10 people and weve always been overbooked. Meanwhile,celebrity mixologist Maxime Grivel is busy teaching his students,the art of mixing cocktails at Ricks bar. Priced at Rs 3,000 per head,the classes are held on a monthly basis.

Taj Palace also offers the option of a spice tour,wherein,Indian food devotees are escorted around the maze that is Khari Baoli (Chandni Chowks spice market) where they select fresh spices and ingredients that are later used in their culinary tutorial at Masala Art s (Taj Palaces restaurant) show kitchen. The class teaches one how to prepare a three-course Indian meal and costs Rs 3,500.

According to Michael McSorley,who teaches the art of mixing cocktails at Hyatt Regency,while there is a definite connoisseur culture in India when it comes to wines and single malts or Scotches,its the growing middle class market that is really driving cocktail sales and people are willing to learn how to make them. Meanwhile at La Piazza in Hyatt,Chef Alessandro Sandrolini is busy teaching the nuances of cooking fine Italian fare to the students. These classes dont follow a particular schedule but occur several times a year. Hyatt is also planning a food tutorial with Michelin starred chef Igor Macchia on February 16. The class will cost Rs 2,250 plus taxes and will include a buffet lunch at La Piazza after the lesson.

The culinary academy at The Claridges in Surajkund offers classes to help enhance ones cooking skills in dhaba-style North Indian,Japanese,Chinese,Italian cuisine,bakery and pastry and desserts. While they also provide tutorials in wine and cheese- pairing and cocktail-making,Olive,after their foray into organic food,has just begun slow food classes in association with the Damson Cookery School and are conducted by chefs Alice Helme and Florence Hilleary.

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