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Mediterranean Meze: Small Plates from Greece to the Middle East Cooking Class

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Greek and Middle Eastern food since my very first day of college when I met a Lebanese classmate, Pamela. Later, in 1994, when I was researching my first cookbook, “From Tapas to Meze,” I reinforced that love by visiting this part of the world. You all know about Spanish tapas but you may not be as familiar with “meze”, the word used in Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt to describe their huge array of small plates. I would bet that you know the dishes… Think hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, tabbouleh, tzatziki. Think garlic, lemon, tahini and spices! This is the kind of food that makes my taste buds go crazy.

During this hands-on weekend workshop, we'll cook our way through some of my favorite dishes from this incredible part of the world like Preserved Lemon and Caper Hummus, Smoky Baba Ganoush, Greek Phyllo Pizza with Feta, Mint and Tomatoes and savory filled pastries called "börek". We’ll light up the wood-fired grill and roast Halibut Wrapped in Fig Leaves? It will be fun to make Pizza with Spiced Lamb and Tomatoes and an all-time favorite of everyone, Fattoush Salad?  We'll make a food-proof bread topped with sweet tomatoes and smoked cheese and dusted with za'atar, the quintessential Eastern Mediterranean spice blend. And a moussaka and/or pastitso are also a must!

Small plates are perfect fare for parties and I'll share tips on preparing a stress-free make-ahead meze menu. If you're ready to add some new flavors and lots of new recipes and techniques to your repertoire, join me in San Francisco for this special weekend cooking extravaganza.

About this Mediterranean Cooking Class

In this 2-day hands-on weekend cooking class, we'll be cooking in my kitchen studio (the same one that you see on my TV show!) in San Francisco. Each hands-on cooking class will feature recipes learned during my travels around the Mediterranean and the menus are designed to highlight seasonal ingredients and lots of different cooking techniques. We'll begin by reviewing the recipes, then students will divide into teams and start cooking. I'll work right along with you and show you how to fine-tune your skills and taste buds. When we're finished, we'll sit down in  the  dining room and enjoy the fruits of our labor!

Wine Pairings

You probably know that I love wine just about as much as food so wine is a big cpmponent to the meal ! With  the  meal that we’ve prepared, we'll taste a variety of wines whose flavors  have been selected to match  each dish, and we'll learn about the grape varietals and origin of each wine.

Mediterranean Cooking Class Details

Your class will take place in the centrally located Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.  After cooking during the day, you will still have plenty of time to enjoy San Francisco and all of its wonderful sights. We are happy to provide a list of nearby hotels and bed & breakfasts to choose from for your stay, just note that it's quite easy to get around in San Francisco on foot, or by taxi, Uber, or public transportation, so where you choose to stay depends on what you might want to see and do after class each day.

Classes begin at 10:00 AM and finish at approximately 3:00 PM. Classes are limited to 10 students to ensure that everyone gets personal attention. We recommend wearing closed-toe, rubber-soled shoes and comfortable clothes for the cooking classes.

This weekend course costs $900.00 per person. The cost includes hands-on cooking instruction, copies of all recipes, an apron, and a multi-course lunch each class day complete with a cocktail and wine pairings. Full payment for the course must be included with your completed reservation form to secure your reservation. Due to limited availability we cannot provide refunds for cancellations.

*Note: Course fee does not include accommodations or transportation to the cooking school location.

Questions? Contact us!