The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Variety of cooking classes will carry us tastefully into spring
Candice Berthold and her The Olive and The Grape have been a fixture in Lake County for more than a dozen years, although the store and its related classes have moved several times. I’ve purchased the fine oils and vinegars she carries many times for use in my kitchen, especially for salad dressings.
The store, now operated under the Synergy Wellness umbrella, is in Suite B at 7533 Tyler Blvd. in Mentor.
Once you discover how tasty dressings are when made from scratch and how easy they are to prepare with just a few well-chosen ingredients, you’ll never buy bottled dressings again.
The dressings are an important focus for the Salads for Lent class at 6:30 p.m. March 21.
She and Mentor-based food instructor Barbara Snow are collaborating on this class, which will be framed around four meatless entree-sized salads and their dressings. Sample tastes will be part of the sessions so those on hand can taste the differences for themselves. Berthold also will demonstrate and offer tastes of homemade flatbread crackers.
Those attending will receive at least eight salad recipes. The class costs $31 and must be paid for in advance.
No walk-ins will be accepted. Find a secure payment link at bit.ly/ saladclasspay.
Oils of Ancient Scripture is the no-fee class at 6:30 p.m. March 22.
“It’s something I offer every year during Lent,” Berthold said. “Oils were the pharmacy of ancient times, and I tell about how they were used.”
The 12 oils will be passed around so everyone can better understand their functions.
Although there’s no charge for the class, reservations are being accepted via text at 440-527-4440. Walk-ins will be accepted as long as there’s space available but only for the first few minutes of the class.
Check out other offerings from The Olive and the Grape at synergywellness-ohio.com/page/my-page.
Judi Strauss, who conducts cooking classes on Tuesday evenings in the kitchen at Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor, has a couple of noteworthy classes remaining in March. Registration at 440974-5720 is required and is $15 for Mentor residents and $18 for others. A food fee, payable to Strauss on class night, is associated with each class.
Coffeehouse Treats, from bear claws to biscotti and coffee cakes, will be featured from 7 to 9 p.m. March 22. There will be plenty of tastes and food to take home, so bring containers. Food fee is $9.
Sunday Brunch is the subject on March 29. Those on hand will learn Brunch Enchiladas, Easy Danish and Stuffed French Toast among the many recipes detailed and demonstrated in class. The food fee is $9.
Meanwhile, in Chester Township, the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking has a full lineup of consumer classes in addition to its professional offerings.
For its Sicilian Farm House class on March 22, Paganini’s demonstration menu includes Caponata Eggplant Salad; Busiate Pasta with Meat Sugo Sauce; Herb Pork Roast with Wine Sauce; OvenRoasted Potatoes; Zucchini with Mint; and a Cassata Ricotta Torte. The 2.5-hour class is $75 and the required registration may be made at 440-729-1110 or lpscinc.com.
On March 23, Kate Cspegi’s Glorious German Grub class has a menu of German Potato Salad; Soft Pretzels with Beer-Cheddar Dipping Sauce; Pork Roast with Potato Pancakes with Mustard Cream Sauce; German Chocolate Cupcake; and Classic Cream Puffs. It’s also $75, and registration is detailed above.
“Oils were the pharmacy of ancient times, and I tell about how they were used.” — Candice Berthold