Ah, spring -- green shoots in the garden, buds on the forsythia, ovens warming up at cooking schools. Local chefs and cooks have picked their brains all winter to come up with tempting classes to tickle your culinary fancy, such as making homemade mozzarella, spicy Italian sausage, plump ravioli or fabulous flat bread.
They're ready to whisk you away to Tuscany, Provence, China and Old Europe, with side trips to New Orleans, Florida, Mexico and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Whether it's souffles, lobster, sushi, berries, pasta, pies, salads, tarts, cakes, risotto, soups, tempeh, vegetables, tofu, hors d'oeuvres or Easter eggs, a Mother's Day brunch or a Father's Day cookout, a Passover feast or an Easter dinner, there is a class for you.
Some sessions are hands-on, some aren't, but all class sizes are limited.
Crate
1960 Greentree Rd., Scott, 412-341-5700 . Regular and hands-on classes. Lunch & Learn classes, $15, are every Wednesday at noon.
Celebrity chefs are: Susana Trilling, owner of Seasons of My Heart Cooking School, Oaxaca, Mexico; Carol Tabone, Jungle Jim's Cooking School, Cincinnati; and Loretta Paganini, director of Paganini's School of Cooking, Chesterland, Ohio.
Basic Techniques of Cooking 101, Joe Certo, 6:30 p.m., seven classes beginning March 8, $345.
Magical Miniature Desserts, Carol Tabone, Jungle Jim's Cooking School, Cincinnati, 11 a.m. March 10, $45.
Pairing Wine and Food, Alex Sebastian, 6:30 p.m. March 12, $45.
Cooking Under Pressure, Terry Howard, 6:30 p.m. March 15, $30.
Chicken Fabrication, chef Christopher Sotkovsky, 11 a.m., three classes beginning March 17 (pork, March 31; fish, April 7), $55 each or three for $150.
Fresh Mozzarella Workshop, Brad Walter and Tom Hambor, noon and 2:30 p.m. March 18, $45.
Pastry Bag 101, chef Andrea Schrenk, 6 p.m. March 19, $45.
Simply Irresistible Desserts, Andrea Schrenk, 11 a.m. March 24, $40.
Pasta and Co., Loretta Paganini, director of Paganini's School of Cooking, Chesterland, Ohio, 6 p.m. March 26, $50.
Try Brunch, Cindy Scott, 6:30 p.m. March 29, $35.
West Point Market, bus trip to Akron with Crate owner Linda Wernikoff, leaves 8:30 a.m. March 31, $50.
Knife Sharpening, 10 a.m. March 31, 50 cents per knife, limit 3.
Pork Fabrication, Christopher Sotkovsky, 11 a.m. March 31, $55.
Knife Skills, Jeanne Lewis, noon and 2:30 p.m. April 1, $30.
Susana Trilling, owner of Seasons of My Heart Cooking School, Oaxaca, Mexico, 6 p.m. April 2, $65.
Wine Tasting with Reidel Glasses, Alex Sebastian, 7 p.m. April 5, $90.
Fish Fabrication, Christopher Sotkovsky, 11 a.m. April 7, $55.
Sushi, Tony Yeh, 1 p.m. April 8, May 20 and June 10, $45.
Joe's Traditional Family Easter, Joe Certo, 6:30 p.m. April 9, $30.
Spring Dinner Party, Jeanne Lewis, 6:30 p.m. April 12, $40.
Homemade Ravioli, chef James Belch, 11 a.m. April 14, $45.
Baum Vivant, chef Toni Pais, 6:30 p.m. April 16, $40.
A Taste of Florida, Paul Teal, 6 p.m. April 19, $50.
Main Course Salads, Paul Teal, 11 a.m. April 20, $40.
Pierohi is Correct, mother-daughter team Sophia Kurylo and Janet Laszewski, 11:30 a.m. April 21, $40.
Cooking with a Partner, Brad Walter and Tom Hambor, 1 p.m. April 22, $100 a couple.
Vegetables, Christopher Sotkovsky, 6 p.m. April 23, $45.
Homemade Pasta, Joe Certo, 6:30 p.m. April 26, $35.
Tenderloin of Beef, Cindy Scott, 6:30 p.m. April 26, $55.
Risotto, chef James Belch, 11 a.m. April 28, $45.
Extraordinary Chinese Dinner, Brad Walter and Tom Hambor, 1 p.m. April 29, $50.
What's Old Is New Again, Terry Howard, 6:30 p.m. April 30, $30.
Puff Pastry, Andrea Schrenk, 6 p.m. May 3 and 4, $100 for both.
Cinco De Mayo, Christopher Sotkovsky, 11 a.m. May 5, $35.
Sausage Making, Rosemary Barker, 6 p.m. $45.
Herbal Dinner, herbal cookbook author Steve Lee, 6 p.m. May 7, $40.
Great Wines Outside of California, Alex Sebastian, 6:30 p.m. May 10, $40.
The Modern Saucier, Christopher Sotkovsky, 6 p.m., three classes beginning May 10, $125.
Singled "In," Jeanne Lewis, 6:30 p.m. May 14 for singles 25 to 39, and May 21, 40 to 59, $40 each.
Spring Hors D'Oeuvres, Carol Tabone, Jungle Jim's Cooking School, Cincinnati, 11 a.m. May 19, $45.
Cooking with Wine, Toni Pais, 6:30 p.m. May 21, $60.
Basics 101, Joe Certo, 6:30 p.m., 6 classes beginning June 4, $345.
Hearth Baked Flat Breads and Dips, Christopher Sotkovsky, 6:30 p.m. June 7, $45.
Pie Doughs, Andrea Shrenk, 11 a.m. June 9, $45.
Friday Night "Supper Club," 7 p.m. June 15, $50
Rania's To Go
Mt. Lebanon; 412-531-2222. Classes cost $40 each (three for $115) and are taught by Rania Harris at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Holy Cow!, March 7
My Best Recipes, March 12
Beer Tasting Goes USA, Joe Och, March 14
New York Diners Are the Best, March 15
Baum Vivant, chef Toni Pais, March 19
Barbato Does the Ocean, chef Michael Barbato, March 20
Australian Wine Tasting, Jerry Bauer, March 27
A Taste of Old Europe, chef Nick Jordanoff, March 29
Walking Down Bourbon Street, chef Stuart Marks, April 2
Food from Provence, April 5
Cafe Allegro, chef Joe Nolan, April 9
Soba Strikes Again, chef Jamie Achmoody, April 10
A Special Celebration, April 11
For Kids Only: the Great Bunny Cake, chef Stuart Marks, April 14
Appeteasers, April 18
No Time To Cook? April 23
Small Plates with Barbato, April 24
The Important Dinner Party, May 1
The Biggest Burrito, chef Bill Fuller, May 2
Pasta, Risotto and Other Starches, May 7
Spring Dinner Fling, Penny Lawrence, May 9
Caffe Giovanni, chef John Vennare, May 15
Tuscany, May 17
Bravo Franco, chef Peter Lauterbach, May 21
Wok with me, Baby, May 23
June Garden Party, May 31
Versatile Gourmet
Route 8 Butler, 6:30 p.m., 724-586-5023. Classes are at 6:30 p.m. and cost $35 unless otherwise noted.
Brunch Lunch, Barbara Knezovich, March 1.
Three Great Winter Dinner Soups, Penny Lawrence, 11 a.m., March 3.
Down by the Bay Dinner Party, chef Sharon Baskin, March 5
Akron Bus Tour, March 10, 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., $66.
A Perfect Winter Sunday Supper, Penny Lawrence, 11 a.m. March 17.
Kids in the Kitchen: Spring Cookies, Terri Helfer, March 20, $15.
A Cozy Winter Dinner Party, Penny Lawrence, March 31, 11 a.m..
North Star Market
Richland, 724-443-7240. All classes are hands-on. Most start at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
As Easy as Pie, Darla Varrenti, 10 a.m. March 3, $35.
Sweet and Savory Souffles, chef Jason Culp, March 7, $38.
A Wine Dinner You Can Do at Home, chef Jason Culp, March 14, $42.
A Contemporary Passover Gathering, chef Judy Bierman, March 21, $37.
Cake Baking and Decorating, chef Nello Dreon, 10 a.m. March 24, $36.
Easter Egg Panorama, Eileen Gilson, March 28, $35.
Pierogi Workshop, chef Steve McDonald, 10 a.m. March 31, $37.
Cooking with Wine, chef Deborah Goydich, April 4, $37.
Traditional Chocolate Easter Egg Workshop, Eileen Gilson, 10 a.m. April 7, $38.
Pasta Workshop III, chef Steve McDonald, 10 a.m. April 21, $37.
A Spring Tuscan Dinner, chef Michael Novak, April 25, $45.
Cooking Lobster at Home, chefs Jason Culp and Michael Novak, 10:30 a.m. May 5, $75.
Mother's Day Brunch Buffet, Eileen Gilson, May 9, $40.
Come for Cocktails, chef Darla Varrenti, 10 a.m. May 12, $38.
Sweet and Savory Tarts, chef Darla Varrenti, May 16, $35.
Father's Day Cookout, Michael Novak and Steve McDonald, May 23, $40.
Sweetwater Center for the Arts
Sewickley, 412-741-4405. . Classes are at 6:30 p.m. and have a materials fee. Family Meal Planning, April 10, $15.
Easy Vegetarian Cooking, April 18, $10.
Cooking from the Kitchen Garden, May 1, $15.
Michael's Arts and Crafts
Ross, 412-369-0307. Wilton classes are taught by Eileen Kruszewski at 7 p.m. Materials are extra.
Wilton Cake Decorating II, Mar. 6, $12.50
Wilton Cake Decorating III, Mar. 13, $12.50
Wilton Cake Decorating I, Mar. 14, $12.50
Cooking with Barbara
McKeesport, 412 896-4442. Classes are in Barbara Knezovich's kitchen at 7 p.m.
Homemade Chocolates, Sharon Thir, March 6, $20.
Healthy Gourmet Delights, March 20, $30.
McGinnis Sisters
Northern Pike, Monroeville, 412-858-7000, Ext. 7. Classes are at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Pierogi Workshop, Barbara Knezovich, 10 a.m. March 3, $30.
Ready-Set-Grow, Judith Howard, March 7, $25.
Cook for Alkaline Blood, Cathy Bednar, March 12, $25.
Terrific Tofu, Karen Novak, March 15, $15.
Vegetarian Cooking, Laurie Jacobson, March 21, $25.
Fresh Mozzarella Workshop, Brad Walter, 10 a.m. March 24, $25.
Dean Ornish Workshop, Jennifer Grana, March 26, $10.
The Cookie Table, Arlene Williams, 10 a.m. March 31, $25.
Cooking Classy with Sassy, Sandy Delaney, April 9, $30.
Basic Chinese Cooking, Barbara Knezovich, April 18, $25.
Wonderful World of Tofu, Karen Novak, 10 a.m. April 20, $14.99.
Make Time for Tea, Kathryn Madej, 10 a.m. April 21, $25.
It's the Berries, Susan Lynn, Sand Hill Berries, April 23, $25.
Give a Dog a Bone, Sandy Delaney, 10 a.m. April 28, $25.
Quick and Easy Appetizers, Arlene Williams, April 30, $30.
A Taste of Tempeh, Susan Halberg, Shadyside Natural Foods, May 9, $25.
Salads with a Vegetarian Flair, Cathy Bednar, May 17, $25.
An Easy Vegetarian Lunch, Karen Novak, 10 a.m. May 18, $14.99.
Memorable Picnic, John Novak, 10 a.m. May 19, $30.
Eating Into Shape, Leslie Bonci, May 22, $30.
Wines and Cheese of Spain, Karen Novak, May 23, $30.
Queen of Hearts, Made Some Tarts, Andrea Shrenk, 10 a.m. June 2, $30.
Colleges
Community College of Allegheny County. Classes are taught at various locations in the county. For course availability in your area, call the following: East 724-325-6643; North 412-369-3737; South 412-469-6358; West 412-788-6464.
Pitt Informal Program, University of Pittsburgh, Oakland; 412-648-2560. Classes are at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
