To modify a line from Wicked: “Are people born hosts? Or is hosting thrust upon them?” Whichever of these camps you may fall into, the fact of the matter is that your family is coming for the holidays and they’re going to be hungry. Don’t panic and call a caterer just yet. Every great chef has to start somewhere. And wouldn’t informing your mother-in-law that you made everything from scratch be just the perfect little Christmas present for yourself?
Charcuterie Workshop
Chateau Elan
100 Tour de France | Braselton, GA 30517
ChateauElan.com
It all starts with the apps! Learn everything you need to know to create your own jaw-dropping charcuterie board at the Chateau Elan winery. This 90-minute tutorial will have you confidently pairing the perfect meats, cheeses, fruits and seasonal delicacies to kick the holiday off perfectly. The $140 fee includes a take-home charcuterie board and cutlery, ingredients and liquid creativity (a.k.a., wine) while you learn. Vegetarian board options are also available. Classes are on Sundays from 2-4 p.m. throughout the holiday season.
Wine Pairing Class
Sip Happens
3890 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road | Suwanee, GA 30024
siphappens.wine
Obviously, we’re serving turkey for Thanksgiving, which is poultry, so that goes with white wine. But the side dishes are savory, so that’s red wine… but Nana only drinks white wine because red wine gives her indigestion. Is rosé a compromise..?.. Oh, sip! If this is your inner monologue, the experts at Sip Happens can help.
“This meal can cause a plethora of conflicting flavors,” said Sip Happens co-founder Laurie Collins. “The good news is that you can choose a variety of wines to enjoy with this mash-up of cuisine.”
Laurie can help you choose the perfect wines to compliment those epic holiday meals at Sip Happens’ wine pairing class on Saturday, November 23 at 3:00 p.m. The class is $50/person; reservations are required.
Make the Kids Do It!
Edible Education
3939 Atlanta Hwy. | Loganville GA 30052
edibleeduga.com/camps
Why should all the work fall to the grown-ups? Edible Education hosts Thanksgiving Break camps (two sessions daily: 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) geared toward kids ages 5-16 years. Campers learn how to actively participate in meal planning and preparation (maybe this is actually a Christmas gift for parents?). Menu items include holiday sprouts, orange cranberry scones and the perfect option for Friday leftovers: sweet potato turkey tacos. We’re not saying you should open a bottle of wine and let your kids cook Christmas dinner – but we’re not saying you shouldn’t either.
North Georgia Cooking Classes
Chateau Elan Culinary Studio
100 Tour de France | Braselton, GA 30517
ChateauElan.com
If you dream about beating Bobby Flay, this one’s for you. A professional chef guides students through the creation of three-course meals like creamy Tuscan shrimp with polenta, dijon-tarragon chicken with black truffles, flaxseed-crusted Atlantic salmon with grape and walnut salsa, prime beef tenderloin with fettuccine in mushroom gorgonzola sauce…*drool*…
Ahem. Excuse me. Where was I?
The three-hour class begins with proper knife skills and cutting techniques and moves on to preparation using top-tier Viking Range appliances. Students get to enjoy the fruits of their labor along with a glass of wine specially chosen by a sommelier to compliment the dish, and leave with newfound confidence and skills, not to mention a Chateau Elan chef hat for perfecting your Swedish Chef impersonation.