The Culinary Classroom
Sunday, October 29, 2006 - Marti Bercaw, Socal.com Writer/Vid Journalist; Julia Parker, Socal.com On-camera Host

 
Windows Media Video  Modem  Broadband
Requires Windows Media Player 9 to view.

 

Quicktime Video  Modem  Broadband
Requires QuickTime Version 6 to view.


Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom
is a labor of love for Chef Eric and his wife Jennie. In concert, they have created a vast world of culinary experiences for professionals and seasoned chefs wishing to hone their skills and for novice cooks who just want to explore and enjoy.

The Culinary Classroom is tucked away on a west side street near Pico and Overland in a charming, ivy covered storefront reminiscent of shops you might see on the east coast. The interior is a series of  inviting rooms painted a glowing warm yellow that serve, as needed, as the office, display area, classroom, dining area/demonstration area, etc. The kitchen, itself, is a vision of stainless steel, chrome, butcher block tops and rising steam. It is fully professional and inviting to anyone drawn to cooking or just wanting to hang out in everyone's favorite room.

Chef Eric is a born teacher and would be very good at imparting any subject material he chose. But, here we have a natural gift for teaching wrapped in a devout love and respect for cuisine and cooking. Learning doesn’t come any better.

Students are given a printed agenda before every class and are encouraged to take notes during Chef Eric’s lecture or demonstration about the subject du jour. There is so much to know about cooking that will throw you off-guard at a showdown in the kitchen if you haven’t the memory, notes or experience to lead you along in a pinch. In Chef Eric’s kitchen classroom you will get help when you most need it but a good teacher knows when it is better to let a student glean important knowledge from his or her own successes and mistakes. The students generally work in pairs which generates much communication. Chef Eric strikes a balance. He keeps constant watch over the students and their creations, sipping, tasting, stirring and sniffing and giving encouragement or a suggestion here and there.

During preparation, the kitchen is literally swirling with students in white aprons, utensils moving through the air, pots and pans appearing, disappearing and, of course, the air is filled with glorious aromas. At the conclusion, everyone settles in to savor their efforts, share experiences and compare notes. As Chef Erics says, "It’s a wonderful thing."

The Culinary Classroom is very special. In their curriculum of over 40 recreational classes, there is a class for just about anything a cook might want to know. There is a cooking basics course for those just starting out and comprehensive certification programs for students on the professional track. There are innovative programs for corporate team building experiences, couples cooking encounters, private party cooking events and more. Students have access to a job board and receive career guidance when they are ready to go out into world.

Be sure to visit their extensive website to see the amazing array of cooking classes available and get more details about each class or program. The Culinary Classroom offers customized gift certificates to fit any giving plan you can dream up. If you think of something and don’t see it offered, just ask about it. Chef Eric and Jennie Crowley are always open to new ideas.
And that’s a wonderful thing, too.

http://www.culinaryclassroom.com/

CHEF ERIC'S CULINARY CLASSROOM

2366 Pelham Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90064

Phone: 310-470-2640

Fax: 310-470-2642

Email: cheferic@culinaryclassroom.com

 


Socal / WCCP
http://www.socal.com/