Wine, Beer & Spirits

VIETNAMESE STREET FOOD

Ploy Khunisorn | Ploy’s Kitchen, ployskitchen.com Embrace the light and delicate flavors of Vietnamese cuisine known for fresh herbs, vegetables, and dipping sauces. Vietnamese dishes share common ingredients but come out differently because of different cooking techniques. In this online interactive class, we’ll make rainbow fresh rolls with delicious sauce, Vietnamese beef noodle soup (pho), and coconut dessert.

COURSE CODE: VIET Sec. 01: Saturday, 11am-1pm. Oct. 29 | $60

WARMING WINTER SOUPS

Dagmar Smith | Chef, Graduate of Cambridge School of Culinary Art Knowing the fundamentals of excellent soup is essential for your winter meal rotations. In this class you’ll learn how to make a flavorful vegetable broth which will be used in the soups we make, along with some recommendations for store bought alternatives. We’ll make a creamy roasted veggie soup, a Mediterranean fish soup, a split pea and ham soup, plus more. We’ll also make cornbread muffins to accompany our soups.

COURSE CODE: WSOU Sec. 01: Thursday, 6-9pm. Nov. 10 | $90

HISTORICAL TOUR AND PIZZA IN NORTH END

Elliot Savitzky | Culinary Instructor, Chinatown Expert This historical tour is as much about history as it is about pizza. We’ll learn about the history of the North End and wind up sampling pizza from three of the best pizza restaurants. We’ll talk about history from the 17th century by visiting many sites within the one square mile of the neighborhood. The tuition includes the cost of pizza, taxes, tip, and admission fee to the Old North Church (depending on Covid restrictions at that time.) The instructor will send a welcome information package via email one day prior to the class.

COURSE CODE: NRTH Sec. 01: Saturday, 10:30am-2:30pm. Oct. 8 | $95 Meeting point: Cross Street between Hanover and Salem Streets.

HISTORICAL TOUR AND DINNER IN CHINATOWN

Elliot Savitzky | Culinary Instructor, Chinatown Expert Let’s spend the afternoon strolling through the best of Boston’s Chinatown. We will be visiting many different locations and retail establishments during the tour such as dim sum, BBQ, Pho, hot pot, noodle shops, as well as restaurants of various cuisines. We will also stop by bakeries, bubble tea shops, herbal medicine shops, live poultry markets, grocery stores, and a ginseng coop, all while discussing the history and architecture of Boston’s Chinatown. This will not be a “tasting tour”, rather, during the last stop, we’ll enjoy a delicious meal together. Tuition includes the cost of dinner, soft drinks, taxes, and tip. The instructor will send a welcome information package via email one day prior to the class. Students are asked to follow Massachusetts State COVID Guidelines.

COURSE CODE: CHTN Sec. 01: Sunday, 11am-3pm. Oct. 16 | $95 Meeting point: The class will convene at the Chinatown Gate located at the intersection of Beach St and John F Fitzgerald Surface Rd, Boston, MA 02111 (Google Map 42°21’04.6”N 71°03’35.2”W) and then walk to the restaurants together.

HOME BREWING COFFEE WORKSHOP

Joe Capatosto | Sales & Account Manager, Counter Culture Coffee Making the perfect cup of coffee is no accident. Join Joe Capatosto from Counter Culture Coffee in an immersive home brewing class. You’ll learn about what factors most affect the brewing process, why they matter, and will then apply this knowledge with hands-on practice across multiple brewing methods. Attendees will leave with helpful tips on how to thoughtfully taste and store coffee, tried-and-true brewing recipes, and solid advice for troubleshooting while brewing at home.

COURSE CODE: COFF Sec. 01: Saturday, 10am-12pm. Oct. 15 | $55 Meeting point: Counter Culture training facility in Union Square: 374 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143.

WINE, BEER & SPIRITS

OKTOBERFEST: CHEESE AND BEER PAIRING

Anthony Liberti | Cheesemonger & Wine Buyer, Formaggio Kitchen There are few things that go together better than beer and cheese. Flavorful, fermented foods that can compliment and contrast, and equal more than the sum of their parts. Learn some classic pairings, with a focus on European beer styles. A little context goes a long way, so we will delve into the history and geography of some of the world’s best combos!

COURSE CODE: OKTB Sec. 01: Wednesday, 6-8pm. Sep. 28 | $90

BEER AND ART HISTORY:

A TALK AND TASTING

Kris Butler | Exam-Certified Beer Judge Beer and art have a long history together, from Hogarth, Picasso and Renoir to Leyster, Manet and Dr. Seuss. We invite you to taste and discuss several beer styles from local breweries as we examine the artistic imagery of beer in paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, and comics. You’ll see art from the 1600s to the present time, from museums and private collections all over the world, and even on the beer bottles themselves. Raise a glass to your favorite artist!

COURSE CODE: BART Sec. 01: Sunday, 2-4pm. Oct. 2 | $75

NON-ALCOHOLIC CANNABIS LIBATIONS

Melissa Smith | Cannabis Enthusiast, Attorney Discover a different way to unwind on Saturday nights and learn about the benefits of cannabis infused beverages in a safe, educational, hands-on environment. You’ll learn techniques for making cannabis tinctures which we’ll use to mix creative beverages. If you choose to make your own infusions to take home you must bring your own cannabis. Small vials will be provided to take the tinctures made in class home. You must be 21+ to take this class. The class and venue are in compliance with MA cannabis laws; no cannabis may be bought or sold with the venue or on the property.

COURSE CODE: CANB Sec. 01: Saturday, 1-4pm. Sep. 24 | $80

HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

John Doyle | Whiskey and History Enthusiast With the holidays approaching, a great way to spice up your party is to serve up delicious expertly crafted cocktails! Students will learn how best to stock a home cocktail bar and mixing secrets and tips to make stand-out drinks. We’ll make three cocktails that highlight seasonal ingredients: a Cranberry Smash (whiskey based), Aviation (gin based), and a Salted Caramel Apple Martini (vodka based).

COURSE CODE: HMIX Sec. 01: Friday, 6-8pm. Nov. 18 | $85

CRAFT COCKTAILS 101

Drexel Axeloons | Bartender & Cocktail Educator In this hands-on craft cocktails crash course we will learn how to build, stir, and shake up craft cocktails using straightforward techniques. We’ll be making cocktails with tequila, vodka, and American whiskey that you can tailor to suit your prefered palate. You’ll come away from the class confident in mixing up some cocktails at home and how to appropriately stock your bar at home.

COURSE CODE: MIXO Sec. 01: Friday, 6-8pm. Oct. 7 | $85

WINETASTING: A BEGINNER’S SAMPLER

John Fiola | Diploma WSET, Certified Wine Educator Uncertain as to the difference between Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, Chianti and Cabernet, Burgundy and Barossa? Join us to learn how to distinguish between wine styles, grape varieties, and regions. We’ll discuss how to buy wine at all price points, how to taste wine to get the most out of every glass, what makes a New World wine different from the same type of wine produced in France or Italy, and the best food pairings for different wine styles.

COURSE CODE: WSAM Sec. 01: 2 Fridays, 6-8pm. Begins Oct. 14 | $155

ITALIAN WINE TASTING

John Fiola | Diploma WSET, Certified Wine Educator Since the end of World War II, the demand for Italian wine has skyrocketed—so much so that the U.S. imports more wine from Italy than from any other country in the world. Italy produces many styles and varietals of wine, some of which are grown there exclusively. Many of the wines are well-known such as Chianti, and Soave, but there are also the lesser known but delicious wines that deserve our attention. In this course we will explore the range and depth of styles of Italian wines that are both of excellent quality and of great value.

COURSE CODE: ITWN Sec. 01: Friday, 6-8pm. Nov. 18 | $85

ORANGE WINE TASTING

Marie-Louise Friedland | Sommelier What is it?! Is it made from oranges? Will this fad ever pass? In this class we will discuss the complex and long history behind the style of wine known as “Orange Wine.” (Spoiler alert, this style of wine has been around as long as the grape-fermented beverage has been around.) We will sample orange wine from all over the world in order to taste and understand several different styles of fermentation. Everyone will leave this class with a grasp of this prominent wine type and a new favorite.

PET NAT TASTING

Marie-Louise Friedland | Sommelier What is Pet Nat?! Pet Nat, or Petillant Naturel, is a style of sparkling wine that predates Champagne. In this class we will explore how Pet Nat is made, why it seems to be so prevalent, and what it means for the world of sparkling wine production. Comel find your favorite affordable sipper to wow your friends with this summer.

COURSE CODE: PETN Sec. 01: Thursday, 6-8pm. Nov. 3 | $85

RETSINA TASTING

Marie-Louise Friedland | Sommelier In this class we will go beyond the common misconceptions of this regional Greek style of wine. Retsina is actually one of the oldest styles of wine in the world! Now crafted in almost every Greek winemaking region, Retsina originated in the Attica region where the Aleppo pine trees are abundant. It is the sap from those pine trees that contribute to this wine’s unique flavor and history. We will talk about how modern producers are bringing back this perfect summer wine as homage to their Greek winemaking roots!

COURSE CODE: RETS Sec. 01: Friday, 6-8pm. Oct. 7 | $85

WINES OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

John Fiola | Diploma WSET, Certified Wine Educator In recent years, wines from southern hemisphere countries such as Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand have evolved into high quality wines that are relatively inexpensive. Join us as we explore the wines from the southern hemisphere. We’ll taste and explore what makes them unique.

COURSE CODE: WSHE Sec. 01: Thursday, 6-8pm. Dec. 8 | $85