Food News
Wednesday, Feb. 20, marks the start of the Savvy Gourmet's four-class Introduction to Cooking series. During the first class, students will learn knife skills and how to stock a pantry. The following weeks' sessions include instruction on braising, making stocks and fashioning desserts. Tuition for the series is $150; individual classes run $45. The cooking school, founded by psychologist and avid home cook Aaron Wolfson, also co-sponsors cooking demonstration classes in conjunction with the Jefferson Parish Parks Department. Beginning in March, these classes cost $20 each and include demonstrations by Andrea Apuzzo of Andrea's (3100 19th St., Metairie, 834-8583), Dominic Rizzo of La Boulangerie (4526 Magazine St., 269-3777) and Bruno Neveu of Hyde Park Grille (1525 St. Charles Ave., 586-1525). For more information on the Savvy Gourmet or to register for the Introduction to Cooking series, call 486-9286 or log on at www.savvy-gourmet.com. To sign up for the cooking demonstration classes, call Barbara Scherer at 736-6999, ext. 114.
Spice of Life
You have two more weeks to partake in Wolfe's of New Orleans' (7224 Pontchartrain Blvd., 284-6004) monthlong Tabasco extravaganza. During both lunch and dinner, Chef Tom Wolfe is concocting specials like grilled scallops with Tabasco barbecue glaze; pork chops injected with Tabasco's Garlic Pepper Sauce and served with wild rice and a goat cheese flan; and duck pastrami po-boys drizzled with Tabasco-spiked tomato gastrique. According to Wolfe (and I concur), the Tabasco-fest is in line with his everyday style of "bold flavors." Although Wolfe always uses Tabasco products in his cooking, he'll prepare these special dishes through Thursday, Feb. 7.
Market Watch
Catch Shirley Brown of Mrs. Brown's Seasonings at the Crescent City Farmer's Market at 11 a.m. on Jan. 22. Roland Parny, chef at Gamble's Red Bike (746 Tchoupitoulas St., 529-2453) will be there at 10 a.m. the following Saturday. The Tuesday market is at 200 Broadway St. and runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Saturday market is at 700 Magazine St. and runs from 8 a.m. to noon. The Thursday market is at 3700 Orleans Ave. and runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Call 861-5898 or visit www.loyola.edu/ccfm.
Command Performances
Off the Menu at Commander's Palace, the television program from Turner South that debuted throughout most of the Southeast last summer, is finally airing locally. Beginning Jan. 13, you can view the weekly show on WWL-TV at 10:35 p.m. Sundays. The first 16 episodes mostly feature the late Commander's Chef Jamie Shannon.
