You all fired up on home canning and kombucha? I know I am. In case you have caught some DIY fever, CUESA (the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) is offering a ~SERIES OF DIY CLASSES~ as part of their Preservation Celebration. CUESA is offering classes on fermentation and cheesemaking, plus a day of demonstrations by experts in the food preservation field at the Saturday September 12th market. Check it all out below:
Sauerkraut Made Simple
When: Wednesday September 9th, 5:30pm–7:30 pm
Who: Kathryn Lukas, founder and kraut maker at Farmhouse Culture
What: Kathryn's two-hour fermentation class will include background on the history, science, and health benefits of kraut, as well as a hands-on opportunity to make your own "starter kraut" to take home.
Cost: $30
To register, click here.
Cheese, Please! Making Mozzarella and Ricotta
When: Thursday September 10th, 5:30pm–7:30pm
Who: Travis Flood, Chef at Piccolo Teatro
What: Urban Kitchen San Francisco will be co-hosting this cheese workshop. Travis Flood will lead the class in making mozzarella and ricotta using curd sourced from vendors at the Ferry Plaza. Participants will take home the cheese they make, as well as some curd to practice their new cheese-making skills at home.
Cost: $46 ($16 supply fee, plus $30 class fee)
To register, click here.
Market-to-Table Preservation Demonstrations
When: Saturday September 12th, 10am–11:45am
Who: Todd Champagne of Happy Girl Kitchen will demonstrate his tomato-canning techniques, using ingredients sourced from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Karen Solomon, author of Jam it, Pickle it, Cure it, will follow Todd with a demonstration focused on preservation, subject TBD.
Cost: Free to the public!
All events will be held in CUESA's Dacor teaching kitchen in the North Arcade of the Ferry Building.
So you wanna make bread to go with that mozzarella? How about levain? Cool. ~URBAN KITCHEN~ is putting on a class on Thursday September 17th with Cheryl Burr of Pinkie's Bakery, who will teach participants about pain au levain, a sourdough bread, and help them mix dough to take home, along with a starter for future use. She will also lead the class in kneading, shaping, and baking two loaves each (which you get to take home). 6:30pm–8:30pm. $51 ($21 supply fee, plus $30 class fee). Sign up here. Fork in the Road Test Kitchen, 300 DeHaro St., Suite 342 at 16th St.
I didn't manage to pick up New York Times ex-restaurant critic ~FRANK BRUNI'S~ new book, Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater, in time for my lake-side reading, but heck, here's the chance to not only pick up a signed copy of the book, but to meet the man himself over dinner. Chef Jennifer Biesty of Scala's Bistro is preparing a four-course Italian dinner (vegetarian option available) on Monday September 14th to honor Bruni's new book. Everyone gets a signed copy of the book, and there's no corkage, so feel free to bring your own tasty bottle of wine (yo, think about who you're dining with—no schlock). 6:30pm–9:30pm. Solo diners, $115; couples $199. Buy tickets and read more here. 432 Powell St. at Sutter.
I thought these Talk And Tasting Events looked unique, especially since they are taking place in the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park (in association with the Conservatory's current exhibition, Edible Expeditions, on view through November 1st). On Thursday September 17th, Seneca Klassen, founder and co-owner of Bittersweet, will host ~A CHOCOLATE EVENING~, and will share information about the botany and cultural history of chocolate. He will then take participants on a "behind-the-scenes" visit to the Conservatory's hidden treasure: a fruiting cacao tree in a greenhouse usually off limits to the public. While participants nibble on five varieties of Bittersweet's unique bean-to-bar Origin Line chocolates, Klassen will discuss the importance of the post-harvesting process and quality finishing. 6pm–7:30pm; $20 per person, register here. Conservatory of Flowers, 100 John F. Kennedy Dr., Golden Gate Park, 415-831-2039.
The second Talk And Tasting Event is ~A CUP OF PARADISE~ on Wednesday September 23rd. Here's more: "Be carried off to the islands as Pualani, Kaipo, and Maile Daniels, co-owners of Triangle J's 4 Coffee on the slopes of Hualalai in Kona, Hawaii, take you through the growing cycle of coffee and explain the various stages of preparing and roasting the beans. As you sample their lusciously rich and pure organic Kona coffee, the Daniels family will entertain you with traditional Hawaiian song and hula accompanied by ukulele and guitar." 6pm–7:30pm; $20 per person, register here. Conservatory of Flowers, 100 John F. Kennedy Dr., Golden Gate Park, 415-831-2039.
If you're noticing more Aussie wines and ingredients at the Lark Creek Restaurant Group's restaurants, it's because they are doing a month of ~SOUTH AUSTRALIA COMES TO AMERICA~, from September 1st–30th. The promotion will feature South Australian-inspired menus, wines, special events, and gourmet retail offerings at each Bay Area restaurant. (There's also a trip you'll want to enter to win.) For a full schedule of menus, click here.
There is additionally a Macy's Union Square cooking demonstration where you can say g'day on Wednesday September 2nd (6pm–7pm) with Lark Creek Restaurant Group Culinary Director Adrian Hoffman and chef-caterer Vikki Blumenstein demonstrating a few of their favorite dishes from Down Under. And the Commonwealth Club "Bay Gourmet" panel is hosting "Outback to Out West: Sip, Savor and Nibble the Flavors of South Australia with the Experts" on Wednesday, September 9th from 6pm–7pm. The panel will be followed by a food and wine reception. $8 members, $15 non-members. Commonwealth Club; 595 Market Street, 2nd floor.
