Join Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People) on September 14, in anticipation of the Autumn Equinox, to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the gifts of the fall harvest.
This fun, hands-on workshop explores several traditional Syrian dips, typical of the spread of "mezze" appetizers that make up the start of many Middle Eastern meals. Combining the convenience of readily available supermarket products with traditional Syrian ingredients like pomegranate molasses, Aleppo pepper, nigella seeds, za’atar and biber salçası, Rahaf will show you how to create authentic Syrian flavours quickly and easily in your own kitchen. These flavourful and healthy, plant-forward recipes can be assembled quickly and are sure to wow any crowd.
The Middle East has a rich and varied tradition of cheese making reaching back as far as 5000 BC in Mesopotamia. In this fun, hands-on workshop, Rahaf Alakbani will be sharing some of her favourite family cheese recipes. This class will cover the basics of preparing 3 kinds of cheese popular in Syria: yogurt-based Labneh, ricotta-like Kareshi, and a fresh curd cheese known as Jibneh Arabieh. The class will explore recipe ideas, as well a taste of Syrian culture, history and music.
Babka is a sweet, twisted, yeast-dough bread with Eastern European roots. Typically served as a dessert and the perfect accompaniment to coffee, babka has transcended its humble roots and become a trendy staple in gourmet bakeries around the world. Classic babka is either chocolate or cinnamon-filled but can be made using any filling you can imagine, savoury or sweet.
In this class, participants will learn to make the yeasted dough essential to babka recipe, and then the shaping, folding and glazing techniques that give the babka its signature marbled swirls and gleaming finish. Working from a basic chocolate base, we will explore several ingredients to customize your perfect babka. There will be fresh-baked chocolate babka to share in class, and each participant goes home with their own whole unbaked babka to bake at home.
Join artisanal baker Leo Baduria for this fun, hands-on workshop. Participants will learn the recipes and techniques for making traditional yeast-risen flatbreads found in Italy and France, such as Focaccia, Fougasse aux Olives, Pizza Margherita and Tarte Flambée. You will learn how to make dough from scratch, how to handle it from kneading and resting to stretching and shaping, as well as tips on timing and temperature for baking. You'll get to snack on the delicious breads made in class and take home any extras.
Granola bars and energy balls may seem like modern, health-conscious inventions, but for thousands of years, delicious sweets made from honey, dates, nuts and seeds have been a healthy part of the cuisine of the Middle East. Past meets present in this fun, hands-on class by Rahaf Al Akbani as she shows you how to make a selection of quick and easy traditional Syrian treats based on old family recipes, perfect for sharing over the holidays. She will share stories and songs as you prepare sweets to share in class with a small cup of traditional Turkish coffee or mint tea. You’ll leave with detailed recipes and a few extra treats to take home.
Join artisanal baker Leo Baduria for a full-day, in-depth exploration of the fundamentals of great bread. You’ll learn how to make your own sourdough starter, and how to prepare different types of dough, using various grains and flours. There will be hands-on practice of the techniques to folding, kneading and shaping dough to make focaccia/fougasse, baguettes, boules, batards and brioches, including challah braids.
In this fun, hand-on class Heather Kilner will introduce you to the fundamentals of home fermentation. You’ll be cutting, mashing, salting and stirring your way to a healthy and tangy naturally fermented cabbage sauerkraut as you learn about the many benefits of fermented foods. Everyone will leave the class with a basic understanding of safe canning practices and the important do’s and don’ts of fermenting, along with copies of the recipe and a jar of any the goodies made in class. You will take home an understanding of the chemistry, ingredients and techniques to make a killer kraut every time.
Discover a unique Dinner Party experience curated by Len Senater of The Dep. An inviting grazing table and well-stocked bar greets you on arrival to ease you into this fun, hands-on workshop. Working in small groups and following detailed recipes, you and your fellow guests will prepare and then indulge in a spectacular 8-course vegetarian […]
Join artisanal baker Leo Baduria to discover the secrets of one of French pastry's most magical delights - the flaky, delicate butter croissant. You will learn the whole process of creating your own croissants, from the base yeasted brioche dough, to the techniques of butter lamination that creates the croissant's signature delicate layered texture. This versatile dough can be used to make a variety of pastries like pain au chocolat, cinnamon swirls, palmiers and more. There will be delicious fresh croissants to enjoy in class, and participants will be able to take additional dough to bake at home.
