Schenectady County’s first-ever culinary “Boot Camp” will take place January 4-6, 2010. It’s a three-day, two-night culinary workshop, offering food lovers and novices the opportunity to learn classic cooking techniques, taste ingredients, and share experiences with fellow foodies. The Boot Camp workshops will be taught by Culinary instructor Christopher Tanner — a Certified Boot Camp LOGOExecutive Chef, a Certified Hospitality Educator with the American Hotel & Lodging Association and an ACF Approved Culinary Judge — will be the instructor.

In this  “A Taste of Tuscany” boot camp, you’ll learn about traditional Italian cuisine, including classic ingredients, antipasti, primi (pasta, polenta & risotto), pairing wine and preparing desserts. Brief seminars blended with extensive hands-on cooking will offer an interactive culinary experience (which even includes a professional chef’s coat)!

In addition:

•  The first night, the chef from Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia will prepare a 4-course meal, paired with Tuscan wines while the sommelier offers a brief seminar on the pairings.
•  The second evening, dining is on your own at Schenectady restaurants, with a $20 restaurant gift certificate for the participating restaurants.
The fee is $690 per person, including the instruction, Glen Sanders Mansion dinner, a two-night stay at an area hotel and transportation between hotel and Schenectady County Community College.  If you need knives, an optional professional set is available for $40, which includes a chef’s knife, paring knife, and sharpening steel.
The Schenectady Culinary Boot Camp offers cooking enthusiasts the opportunity to experience first-class instruction at a highly praised culinary schools, at a fraction of the cost of similar courses at other schools. To register go to www.cookinginschenectady.com.