CUISINE
Loyola University ’ s Retreat & Ecology Campus chef instructor John Schnupp teaches a hands-on pasta class .
A fish class demonstration at the Inns at St . Albans ’ International Choux Company Cooking School
Dierbergs School of Cooking : Back in the day - 1978 , to be exact - Dierbergs began its School of Cooking . The concept was simple : Teach classes where students could immediately find the best and freshest ingredients needed to make a dish . It has proven to be a winning recipe for consumers for the past 40 years , with students still flocking to learn the latest secrets from guest chefs , cookbook authors and St . Louis ’ culinary professionals .
“ Our classes remain popular because we continue to empower people , while proving cooking is a fun experience . No matter the skill set of the student , our goal is to make cooking fun ,” said Jennifer Kassel , manager of Dierbergs School of Cooking , Southroads . dierbergs . com / Recipes-Classes
The International Choux Company Cooking School , recently established at The Inns at St . Albans , is named in honor of Irene Johnson , the wife of International Shoe Company ’ s co-founder , Oscar Johnson . Irene helped establish St . Albans in the early 1900s as a destination where one could relax and enjoy good food at its Old Barn Inn . The historic Old Barn Inn and the Studio Inn are the locations of the ICC Culinary Camps , built as two-day immersive learning experiences , which thoroughly explore a culinary theme . Sweeter off the Vine and Unleash Your Pie Superpower are examples of camps planned for the rest of the year , and are priced with or without on-site accommodations . innsatstalbans . com / cooking-school
Planning a foodie getaway , but don ’ t have the cash to travel far ? No worries . Consider a half-tank driving trip to Silver Dollar City ’ s Midwest Living ’ s Culinary & Craft School in Branson , Missouri , or to Loyola University ’ s Retreat & Ecology Campus in Woodstock , Illinois .
Midwest Living ’ s Culinary & Craft School culinary arts master , Debbie Dance Uhrig , has overseen its daily classes since the school
opened in 2008 . Demonstration classes are built around what ’ s in season . During Silver Dollar City ’ s Fall National Crafts & Cowboy Festival , wannabe cookies ( that ’ s what cowboys called trail cooks ) will have the opportunity to hit the trail by signing up for An Evening On The Trail with legendary cowboys Buck Taylor and Kent Rollins , who is remembered for his Food Network appearances and expertise of chuck wagon and cast-iron cooking . Rollins will demonstrate and cook up a cowhand ’ s favorite meal : beef steak with all the fixins during a two-hour dinner class . The cowboy chuck wagon experience is slotted for Oct . 6 , 13 , 20 and 26 . silverdollarcity . com / theme-park / attractions / classes
Loyola ’ s Retreat & Ecology Campus offers farm-to-table classes developed by chef instructor John Schnupp . Before class , students have an opportunity to walk the farm fields and harvest part of their supper for Loyola ’ s culinary team , who then includes it in the class menu . Schedules for fall include hands-on classes such as Vegetarian Cookery 101 , Holiday Pie Workshop and Regional American Favorites . Don ’ t overlook the demonstration food and wine pairing classes , which include a five-course theme dinner . When asked what ’ s the most important element to his cooking classes , chef Schnupp said , “ Fun . Cooking should be fun . And that ’ s what we try to do - make it fun . I try to jam-pack a lot into the class time we have . All the students love it because they go home with a full stomach and food to take home to share .” luc . edu / retreatcampus / cookingclassesevents
Corbett is the author of “ The Gilded Table ,” “ Pushcarts & Stalls : The Soulard Market History Cookbooks ” and “ Unique Eats and Eateries of St . Louis .” She can be contacted at suzannecorbett @ me . com .
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