Kita H.
Yelp
I booked the Hot Havana Nights cooking class for the evening of Saturday, 11/19/17 for my boyfriend and I as part of a birthday surprise. This class is part of the Fusion of Flavors series that features an internationally inspired menu focusing on a cuisine from a different country each class.
There were three staff members present to help with the flow of the class -- one chef (Chef M.), and two assistants. Chef M. was phenomenal. She led the class with confidence as she gave demonstrations, useful tips, and instructions. If I could rate her separately, she would easily receive a 5-star rating from me.
The class was full the night we attended. I believe there are somewhere between 16-20 seats per class. About 80% of our class was made up of a large party celebrating a birthday. To say they were a rowdy, slightly annoying bunch would be an understatement. This is when I learned lesson #1: YOU ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE OTHER ATTENDEES.
After a slightly slower start, thanks to pausing for the large group to take selfies and group photos before we began, we went right into preparing the meal. The meal consisted of 3 courses -- salad, entree, and dessert. The group was slit into teams -- we paired up within the teams to tackle each menu item.
The recipes were easy to execute -- nothing too daunting. Plus, Chef M. and the two assistants were on hand whenever you had a question. Chef M. walked around and checked our progress regularly. Ohh I should mention, wine was available before during and after class :-)
When all was said and done, we sat down at the table to have our meal. This is when the wine pairing section of class began. We were given several wines to taste throughout the course of the meal.
Unfortunately, by the time I got to the table with our main dishes, NO chicken was left. Apparently, one of my classmates took two pieces, leaving me with only side dishes and salad. This is when I learned lesson #2: GET YOUR FOOD EARLY. If someone gets a double helping in your class, be sure to make a fuss. You spend $80 for a nice dinner, not two sides and some wine.
Overall, I enjoyed the way the class was structured, the kitchen/venue, and the staff. My only regret is that I went the same night as the large group that basically took over our class.