Off to cooking boot camp!

This week, I faced a steep learning curve. Before I set foot in the Cookshop classroom, I didn't know what consomme was, had never de-boned a chicken or fileted a fish, and didn't know how to "reduce" a sauce. To say that I learned a lot this week is a vast understatement. I have a completely new appreciation for the art of making food!

The Cookshop is located in City Square Mall, at 12th and Cambie. Each day, a local chef or culinary educator takes on a new topic (burgers, desserts, etc.) or type of cuisine (Tuscan, Thai, etc.).  I decided to embark on the week-long "Fundamentals of Cooking Level I" - essentially boot camp for cooking newbies. The prospect of learning the basics of cooking in one week was intimidating, but I felt I was up for the challenge. 

And a challenge it was! We covered what seemed to be an endless range of cooking topics, including knife skills, stocks and sauces, red meat, poultry, and seafood, with a few random extras mixed in. Chef Eric, who teaches at the Cookshop and at UBC, as well as online (www.911cheferic.com), mixes epicurean expertise with comedic anecdotes to create a comfortable atmosphere for his students. His courses and online tutorials come highly recommended to anyone who is new to cooking, as well as to those who hope to build on their existing skills.

The Cookshop offers an impressive variety of courses, and at the moment has a 2 for 1 deal - sign up with a friend and only pay the price of one person. Most of the three-hour classes range from $59-$139, so the cost is quite affordable.

The course has left me inspired and excited. Tonight I am going to recreate the stuffed chicken recipe we made. I'll let you know how it goes!

www.911cheferic.com
www.cookshop.ca

Traveling and eating in Gastown

It's always an adventure when you explore a menu you've never tried before. The other night, we wandered down to Water Street Cafe in Gastown for dinner before going to a movie. (The restaurant is within walking distance of Tinseltown movie theatre.)

The location is fabulous. An intimate space with beautiful windows and a great patio, Water Street Cafe affords lots of opportunity for people-watching and daydreaming. The Cafe is located in the heart of Gastown, amid historic brick buildings and tree-lined streets, right across from the neighbourhood's famous steam clock. Gastown always makes me feel like a traveler in my own city.

The service at the restaurant is friendly and accommodating, a perfect match for the cozy atmosphere. The romantic lighting and jazz classics played in the background add to the restaurant's relaxed, charming personality.

I ordered the special, which was halibut served with a red pepper cream sauce, roasted vegetables and rice. Though this may sound like a commonplace dish for a West Coast restaurant, I was really impressed by the presentation and flavour of the food. The ingredients were fresh and colourful. It was a truly enjoyable meal.

I will definitely be returning to this lovely restaurant and look forward to trying their other tasty creations!

300 Water Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1B6, Canada
(604) 689-2832

"Anyone can cook!"

While waiting around at Arbutus and 12th the other day, I made a fantastic discovery - a restaurant where you can make the food yourself! Indishpensable is the name of the place. Basically, you purchase a big bag containing all of the ingredients for a meal, already cut up and portioned, complete with detailed cooking instructions, to take home and make on your own. 

For $24, I bought a bag containing everything I needed to make 2 servings of "Stuffed red bell peppers with goat cheese and saffron orzo pasta, served with roasted Portobello mushrooms and tuscan bean salad in black currant dressing." Sounds pretty impressive, doesn't it?

The recipe was easy to follow, which is much appreciated when you are new to cooking, as I am. The ingredients came in the exact quantities needed, which means not having to go out and buy giant bags of things you will never use again. Who needs a 2 kilogram bag of saffron anyway? There's a hint at my cooking inexperience; I don't actually know if saffron comes in bags, or what saffron even is. 

Since I can't take credit for the preparation or ingredients, I can say without bragging that my cooking creation was amazing. For the low price of $24, I felt like a true chef! Indishpensable is perfect for anyone who is intimidated by unfamiliar ingredients or seemingly impossible preparation scenarios. 

At some point I will figure out what saffron is, I am sure. 

www.indish.ca

2779 Arbutus Street
Vancouver, BC V6J 3Y5, Canada
(604) 731-3474