What's Cooking?

Looking to expand your culinary skills? Take a class or two at King Arthur Baking Company and The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa.

A photograph I treasure captures my sister, two brothers, and me ensconced in our kitchen making a birthday cake to surprise my mother. My little brother proudly held up two eggs, my sister was preparing the pan, my older brother was measuring ingredients, and I was deep in the batter bowl. For me, that white-bordered, square snapshot, circa 1972, captures the joyful essence of baking: loved ones gathered together preparing something delicious to share with others.

I felt a similar sensation when I recently took several cooking classes—Lemon mousse tartlets, poppy seed cookies, and tea cakes at King Arthur Baking School, and, a week later, lobster-filled fresh ravioli and pan-seared ribeye with mushroom cream sauce followed by profiteroles at The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa. Okay, I’ll admit, writing about food does come with some fringe bennies….

In both locations, the classes inspired me to embrace new techniques and to step up my culinary game. Prior to these sessions, I had assiduously avoided any recipe that involved mousse (too fancy! too time-consuming!) and had never attempted handmade fresh pasta or cream puffs. But these classes, and their engaging instructors, emboldened me to leapfrog my hesitation. Now I’m ready to embrace yeast doughs, and who knows, buttery croissants may be on my 2022 bucket list!