Passion for Spices Cooking School™ Wishes You a Happy New Year 2024

 
 

Passion for Spices™ would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year. We hope you have a great start to the New Year! We are very grateful for a very productive and fun filled 2023, while introducing more chefs, new clients, and more community project involvement. We are ever so grateful for the platform we have to share the knowledge of good food and breaking bread with our community. We are looking forward to a fabulous 2024!

Here are some of the curated culinary events at Passion for Spices™ Culinary School.

Our Annual Passion For Spices™ Around the World Summer Cooking Camp Highlights

We had a houseful of enthusiastic young chefs for our Around the World Summer Cooking Camp 2023. We had seasonal after school classes where young kids came and prepared different seasonal food and enjoyed the food they prepared.

Our fifth week of our camp was our culinary teen competition. In this program, The young teens build their culinary skillset, and was able to prepare a full course menu from a given mystery basket. The food was served to the families and they appreciated and were thrilled to see the gourmet food they prepared.

Passion For Spices™ Adult Cooking Classes

Our Adult Cooking Classes showcase, Mediterranean, Latin, and Asian cuisines. Based on season and popularity, we curate different classes with different themes. Some of the popular Adult Cooking Classes included Taste of Morocco, Beer and Gourmet Bites, Taste of Thai, and Classic Indian Made Easy. Above are some highlights from our Taste of Morocco class which happened before the pandemic hit.

We are also thankful for our new classes taught by expert culinary educators, Shelley Wiseman and Kathleeen Sanderson. We are pleased to announce that our Cooking Classes are available for the new year.

Passion for Spices™ Corporate Team Building

Passion for Spices™ Plans for 2024

We will be adding more curated classes and pop ups from around the world, where you can come and enjoy amazing culinary experiences. Also food and wine culinary adventures will be announced soon.

After School Program

Adult Cooking School

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Corporate/private cooking class

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We want to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, and Safe New Year and we hope that everyone can enjoy more cooking and quality time with their family.

We are also in the process of planning our annual five week summer camp, starting on July 8th to August 5th. Save the date!

 
 

Passion for Spices Cooking School™ Memories 2021

 
 

Hope everyone has a great start to 2022, even in the midst of these difficult pandemic times. 2021 was a great year where we connected with more clients and introduced more exclusive and curated events.

Here are the highlights of our 2021 events, including our Kids and Teens After School Program, Kids and Teens Summer Camp, Adult Cooking Classes, Private Events, and Corporate Teambuilding.

Summer Cooking Camp Highlights

We had a successful launch of our hybrid Summer Cooking Camp 2020, where we had a combination of kids cooking virtually at home, and in-person at the same time. We also had a Fall and Winter Virtual After School Program, where the kids cooked at home with food ingredients that Passion for Spices™ provided.

At Passion for Spices™ Cooking School our most popular program is the “Farm to Table” week. Especially during the pandemic, parents were interested in having an outdoor experience where kids can enjoy nature and gain culinary experience. This program was appreciated by our camp family members, since it was a great opportunity to mingle with fellow young chefs in an open space where we followed COVID-19 guidelines.

The final day of the Farm to Table week was a harvest feast, where all the families came and celebrated with the young chefs. Everyone was happy to have an outdoor farm to table experience. The kids loved the farm animals, and were sad to leave the new animal friends they made at the farm. Everyone said they can’t wait for next year’s cooking camp!

We are so thankful for all of our team members who helped in running our Annual Around the World Summer Camp. To see the highlights of last year’s Around the World Summer Camp, click here.

After School Cooking Program

We have had an industrious year for the After School program. Both the Fall and the Winter seasonal classes were busy hives of learning, with new and exciting dishes being taught to the students of each. Each class had a theme overall, from the delicious Gallate of the Pie Making Workshop, to the spooky Frightful Cookies of the Halloween Event.

We now are offering in person After School Classes for the Spring Season.

Adult Cooking Classes

Our Adult Cooking Classes are divided into three categories: Mediterranean, Latin, and Asian. Based on season and popularity, we curate different classes with different themes. Some of the popular In-Person Adult Cooking Classes included Taste of Morocco, Beer and Gourmet Bites, Taste of Thai, and Classic Indian Made Easy. Above are some highlights from our Taste of Morocco class which happened before the pandemic hit.

We are pleased to announce that our In-Person Cooking Classes are available again (subject to COVID-19 protocols). We have added a virtual option to each of these classes for those than want to cook from home. To sign up for our new In-Person classes, click here.

Master Classes

We had James Peterson, a renown chef, come teach our masterclass in French cooking in June last year. We also had a special guest from Galicia, Spain, who taught the Evening in Spain event last November

Private Events

In light of the pandemic, we opened our Virtual Cooking School which allowed for cooking classes to be conducted over Zoom.

The highlights and memories of our Virtual Cooking School during these pandemic times were noteworthy. For instance, we hosted a 60th birthday party with our Taste of Tuscany class, and there were four groups of family members cooking at different locations, including a couple in France. The full course Tuscan feast included chocolate mousse for dessert, and it was such a joyful experience for all!

Corporate Team Building

In early January 2020, before this pandemic hit us, we were hosting Corporate Culinary Team Building events where the teams enjoyed various culinary experiences. In the pictures above, Chef Thor showcased Healthy Weeknight Meals to the sales and marketing team of a major corporation.

Passion for Spices™ Plans for 2022

Culinary TeamBuilding

Private Events

In-Person Cooking School

We want to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, and Safe New Year and we hope that everyone can enjoy more cooking and quality time with their family.

Please enjoy a complimentary holiday menu curated by Passion for Spices Team™ which highlights five spices.

Best Wishes and Happy New Year from the Passion for Spices™ Team.

Passion for Spices Cooking School™ Wishes You a Happy New Year 2021

 
 

2020 started with a bang for Passion for Spices™ team with corporate teambuilding, cooking classes, and private events filling our schedules. In early March, as the pandemic hit, projects started to collapse and the wave of uncertainty was felt at Passion for Spices™ just like all other businesses.

We are very proud of our Passion for Spices™ team, who continued to work during this pandemic, and sustained our business. For 2023, we have a plan to expand our business into a nationwide and international cooking school. This is a silver lining in these pandemic times!

We were able to accomplish a lot in spite of the pandemic, but it was disappointing that we were not able to do some of our normal community projects like our Annual Christmas Cookie Baking Event. We hope to resume these projects as the pandemic comes to an end.

We handpicked classic breads from around the world, and organized recipes that families could cook at home. We showcased the techniques through illustrations to make it easier to go through the cooking process.

All the recipes are curated for ease of use, authentic taste, and fun ideas to cook at home.

To see our Classic Breads from Around the World blogs, click here.

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In another Virtual Kitchen series, our blogs showcased spices for families to cook with at home. We handpicked spices that are familiar to families, and emphasized the health benefits of the spices.

During this pandemic time, we wanted to focus on the importance of cooking fresh and wholesome ingredients while incorporating anti-inflammatory ingredients like spices.

To see our Spice Up Your Pantry blogs, click here.

Summer Cooking Camp Highlights

We had a successful launch of our hybrid Summer Cooking Camp 2020, where we had a combination of kids cooking virtually at home, and in-person at the same time. We also had a Fall and Winter Virtual After School Program, where the kids cooked at home with food ingredients that Passion for Spices™ provided.

At Passion for Spices™ Cooking School our most popular program is the “Farm to Table” week. Especially during the pandemic, parents were interested in having an outdoor experience where kids can enjoy nature and gain culinary experience. This program was appreciated by our camp family members, since it was a great opportunity to mingle with fellow young chefs in an open space where we followed COVID-19 guidelines.

The final day of the Farm to Table week was a harvest feast, where all the families came and celebrated with the young chefs. Everyone was happy to have an outdoor farm to table experience. The kids loved the farm animals, and were sad to leave the new animal friends they made at the farm. Everyone said they can’t wait for next year’s cooking camp!

We are so thankful for all of our team members who helped in running our Annual Around the World Summer Camp. To see the highlights of last year’s Around the World Summer Camp, click here.

In-Person Cooking Classes

Our Adult Cooking Classes are divided into three categories: Mediterranean, Latin, and Asian. Based on season and popularity, we curate different classes with different themes. Some of the popular In-Person Adult Cooking Classes included Taste of Morocco, Beer and Gourmet Bites, Taste of Thai, and Classic Indian Made Easy. Above are some highlights from our Taste of Morocco class which happened before the pandemic hit.

We are pleased to announce that our In-Person Cooking Classes are available again (subject to COVID-19 protocols). We have added a virtual option to each of these classes for those than want to cook from home. To sign up for our new In-Person classes, click here.

Virtual Cooking School

In light of the pandemic, we opened our Virtual Cooking School which allowed for cooking classes to be conducted over Zoom.

The highlights and memories of our Virtual Cooking School during these pandemic times were noteworthy. For instance, we hosted a 60th birthday party with our Taste of Tuscany class, and there were four groups of family members cooking at different locations, including a couple in France. The full course Tuscan feast included chocolate mousse for dessert, and it was such a joyful experience for all!

Corporate Team Building

In early January 2020, before this pandemic hit us, we were hosting Corporate Culinary Team Building events where the teams enjoyed various culinary experiences. In the pictures above, Chef Thor showcased Healthy Weeknight Meals to the sales and marketing team of a major corporation.

Passion for Spices™ Plans for 2021

Cook at Home Program

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Virtual Cooking School

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In-Person Cooking School

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We want to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, and Safe New Year and we hope that everyone can enjoy more cooking and quality time with their family.

Please enjoy a complimentary holiday menu curated by Passion for Spices Team™ which highlights five spices.

Best Wishes and Happy New Year from the Passion for Spices™ Team.

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Apple Brown Betty

 
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Ingredients:

4 slices of white bread, preferably slightly stale, cut int ½ inch cubes

2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½ inch cubes

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ cup raisins

1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons of apple cider or apple juice

5 tablespoons of butter, melted

Nonstick spray

Sweetened whipped cream for serving

Note: Cinnamon can be substituted with our Kashmiri Garam Masala

Procedure:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Combine the first 7 ingredients.

  3. Line a half sheet pan with aluminum foil. Spay with nonstick spray. Spread the bread mixture evenly in the pan.

  4. Bake for 1 hour or until the apples are cooked and the bread cube are lightly browned and starting to be a little bit crisp. Serve warm or at room temperature with the whipped cream.

What's New at Passion for Spices™ 2020

Passion for Spices™ Cooking School

Around the World™ Kids and Teens Summer Cooking Camp

Seasonal Fruit Crumble

Seasonal Fruit Crumble

Homemade Chocolate Pie

Homemade Chocolate Pie

Chef Klaus showing how to make Crema Catalana

Chef Klaus showing how to make Crema Catalana

Vanilla Ice Cream with Fresh Fruit

Vanilla Ice Cream with Fresh Fruit

The Passion for Spices™ Team is thrilled to showcase its newest programs which are available for the community. As always, we showcase great quality of service and products focusing on sustainability. Our chef teams are of the highest caliber, and they teach food literacy. Our programs enhance young chefs’ knowledge of food and culture. We always invite guest chefs as well to showcase their specialities, like Executive Pastry Chef John Sauchelli.

Our programs focus on Foods of the World, Art and Science, and Farm to Table concepts. We also have a Culinary Teen Competition where teens learn the basics of cooking in a progressive manner. Our very popular Families Cooking Together program is a platform for parents, grandparents, and family members to cook together and enjoy the meals they prepared.

At Passion for Spices™, the 2020 Annual Summer Cooking Camp registration is now open. Click below to register:

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Our Spring season of the Kids and Teens After School Cooking Program is scheduled to start on March 11th. We designed classic seasonal menus for this five-week program. Our young chef ages range from four years old to teenagers. The chefs divide the groups into appropriate age groups, and give them cooking tasks based on their skills. We are so thrilled that many children are interested and excited about our program. We have many repeat students that have been coming for years and enhancing their culinary skills, and we are happy to welcome them back. We are so thankful to build a community of healthy kids!

Check out our Spring Season Kids and Teens After School Cooking Program below:

From Taste of Morocco Class

From Taste of Morocco Class

Chicken Tagine

Chicken Tagine

From Taste of Morocco Class

From Taste of Morocco Class

Preserved Lemon

Preserved Lemon

We are thrilled to expand our adult cooking classes, organized into Mediterranean, Latin, and Asian themes. Our cooking classes are not just regular classes but a platform for food enthusiasts to come and enhance their knowledge and skills of food and culture. We have many popular classes, including Classic Moroccan Feast where we showcase the original recipes and techniques of the region. In this class we showcase cooking with tagine and making classic preserved lemon.

From Taste of Thai Class

From Taste of Thai Class

Chicken Massaman Curry

Chicken Massaman Curry

From Taste of Thai Class

From Taste of Thai Class

Chicken Galangal Soup

Chicken Galangal Soup

Another popular Adult Couples class has been the Taste of Thai , where we showcase classic Thai cuisine, including the herbs and spices related to this regional food. In a recent class, the menu included our Chicken Galangal Soup, Chicken Massman Curry, and Classic Pad Thai which everyone learned to make.

Check out our upcoming Adult/Couples Cooking Classes:

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Grating Grana Padano Cheese

Grating Grana Padano Cheese

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Topped with Grana Padano

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Topped with Grana Padano

Our Culinary Team Building events have been very popular among major corporations, and we are so thankful to have added new chefs to our team who specialize in Team Building. Our very popular themes include Classic Tuscan Feast, French Style Cooking, and Korean Style entertaining. As always, we are very particular about using quality products in all our classes. Above you can see the Sweet Potato Gnocchi being plated, which has been topped with Grana Padano cheese that has been imported from Italy.

Learn more about our Team Building Events:

Chicken Satay with Classic Dipping Sauce

Chicken Satay with Classic Dipping Sauce

Vegetarian Dumpling

Vegetarian Dumpling

This year, we hosted several private cooking events for birthday parties and anniversaries. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the culinary experience while cooking together with friends and family. Our culinary team is happy to curate any custom theme and menu for your special occasion. To learn more about our private events, click the button below.

Gift Cards

Give the gift of cooking that brings friends and family together for a memorable experience. Our gift cards are perfect for private groups, corporate holiday parties, and for family and friends. Passion for Spices™ Cooking School offers perfect gift ideas for friends and family. Our gift card can be used for our authentic cooking classes, organic spices perfect for everyday cooking, or May Fridel’s Cookbook.

cooking gift card

Our New Collaborator

Italian Culinary Journey: Primo Mercato

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We are thrilled to have Primo Mercato as our collaborator. For our Classic Italian Experience, we curate regional Italian cuisines paired with wines from various regions of Italy. Our clients have been thrilled with the Team Building events we have done at Primo Mercato.

We are offering exclusive Italian culinary experiences for corporate events and private events cooking parties at the Osteria Primo Mercato fine dining. Primo Mercato was featured by Fox 5. To view the video click here.