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Bored with cooking? Classes spark new ideas
Lynn Hess (right) and Alexis Brunet receive some cooking instruction from Christine Zimmer (center), the head chef at Tasteful Solutions in Mooresville. The catering business has expanded to include cooking classes.
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Published: February 19, 2009
Lake Norman residents who are looking to add a little variety to their meals can now come to Tasteful Solution in Mooresville to learn to create new recipes.
"Being able to be confident enough to follow a recipe that sounds complicated is important," said executive chef Christine Zimmer. "The ability to substitute ingredients is also really important, because sometimes you don't have basil, and you can step out of the box and use thyme. You can create your own vision and make it into a new recipe just by making the pears a recipe calls for into peaches."
Zimmer emphasized that anyone can cook and enjoy it.
"I want people to take away the attitude that says 'Yes, I can do it,' " she said. "You can read the cookbooks and not be afraid and there's no need for a magic wand. You can be successful and create your own cuisine."
The idea to add cooking classes to the catering business, which was created in 2002, was sparked by requests for someone to offer Mooresville-area cooking classes, said founder Erin Lamberti.
Currently, Lamberti and Zimmer are featuring an "Around the World" themed series.
Zimmer designed the menus for the class from her life experiences.
"I am French, and I've traveled all over Europe, so I wanted to draw from that and find dishes that would interest everyone," Zimmer said. "I want these classes to be inexpensive but have the recipes be easy to adjust and make with different seasonal ingredients."
However, Zimmer said she feels strongly that cooking not be intimidating.
"I also want (recipes) to be easy to reproduce. I don't want people to get that same feeling that they get at the hairdresser when they have the perfect style and get home and can't duplicate it."
The class on Feb. 12 featured items from the south of France such as tapenade, cornish hen, ratatouille and apple pine nut tart.
Davidson resident Lynn Hess was one participant who said she had never made ratatouille and was excited to learn how.
"I don't think I've ever even eaten it, so it'll be neat to try," she said. "I also love to bake, so the dessert tart is exciting."
Hess said she had used Tasteful Solution before as caterers and was contacted by e-mail to participate in the class.
"They have always made really good food, so hopefully I will learn to be a little more versatile and feel more comfortable making things as well as trying new meals," she added.
Her neighbor, Alexis Brunet, also decided to try the first class.
"Up until four years ago, I couldn't cook at all, but my husband is French and he loves food, so I want to learn," Brunet said. "I am the kind of girl that opens a cookbook and if it looks complicated, I leave it behind."
Brunet said she had never made ratatouille either, but since French cooking was her goal, she was eager to pick up tips.
"If this class goes well, I think I'll come back, especially for more French lessons," she said.
The next class, on Feb. 26, will focus on Spanish influences, including garlic prawns, hot chorizo and herbs and Spanish meatballs. For more information on future classes, contact Lamberti at (704) 707-1084.
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