October 24th, 2005

Fun is the operative word. Cooking school should be fun. At the South Bay School of Cooking, participants (instead of voyeurs) work around a communal island, making recipes, sharing tasks, privy to new skills. The ambiance is alive with laughter, vivid with the aromas of fresh herbs and spices, electric with the sizzling sounds of sautéing. No one gets banished to an outer work station to fumble away in solitude. Whether you arrive solo or with a friend, the happy sounds of collective cooking carve a lasting impression on your culinary psyche. Cooking school should build confidence. When you leave the class, you will be able to recreate recipes that once appeared daunting like leaf-wrapped prawns, Mediterranean red snapper with tomatoes and olives, and paella.