Planning a visit to the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area soon? Consider stepping outside your comfort zone to learn something new during your stay. Faulkner State’s Gulf Coast Culinary Institute offers a series of individual cooking classes to whet your appetite and sharpen your skills. You don’t need previous experience, just an open mind and a willing spirit. For more information and to register, call 251-990-0445 or 800-231-3752.

October Classes

October 8, 3:00 – 6:00 PM $30

Healthy Cooking – This class will look at ways to create healthy and delicious meals at home. The instructor will discuss foods, tools and techniques that are used in creating a better for you diet. The class will then move to the kitchen to create a variety of dishes, including soups, appetizers, entrees and desserts the are lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber and vitamins that can become part of your every day diet.

October 14, 6 – 8:30 PM $40

Taste of Italy – Turn your home into a warm and inviting Italian village kitchen for you and your guests. Chef Marsha will teach you all the fundamentals of classic Italian cuisine, from making fresh pasta to cooking the perfect risotto and polenta. This hands-on class will give you skills that you’ll use over and over again in new ways. Your menu will include:

Roasted Garlic & Mascarpone Fettuccine Alfredo
Butternut Squash Risotto with Shaved Pecorino and Granny Smith Apple “Caviar”
Creamy Polenta with Italian Sausage, Peppers, Onions, and Homemade Marinara
Tiramisu Parfaits
October 21, 6:00 – 8:30 PM $45

Tapas and Paella – Learn how to create your own Spanish bodega as one of our expert private chefs introduces you to Spain’s small-plate tapas in this memorably themed class. Along with classic Spanish dishes and Chef Marsha’s recommendations for Spanish wines, port, and sherry, this evening will leave you buzzing with excitement. This menu will include:

Classic Chilled Tomato Gazpacho
Tortilla Española with Potatoes, Onions, and Lemon-Herb Crème Fraiche
“Queso Frito”-Baked Manchego Cheese with Spicy Spanish Marinara
Traditional Paella Valenciana with Saffron Rice, Chicken, and Chorizo
October 22, 3:00 – 6:00 PM $45

BBQ Sauces – This class will explore the creation of BBQ sauces. After a discussion of the history of BBQ in America and regional differences in cooking and sauce techniques the class will move to the kitchen to prepare a variety of sauces to enjoy with a selection of meats prepared by the class.

October 29, 3:00 – 6:00 PM $40

Poultry – Roasting, Baking, Frying, stewing, join our chef as we explore ways to prepare this most versatile of foods. We will look at the different types of poultry, how to select them for best quality, how to prepare for cooking and the best cooking techniques. After a brief lecture the class will join the Chef in the kitchen to practice what they just learned.

November Classes

November 4, 6:00 – 9:00 PM $45

Barefoot in Provence – This menu encompasses the simple, rustic cuisine of the French countryside for you and your guests. Chef Marsha will teach you all the fundamentals of French country cooking, from the perfect rustic appetizer and entrée to a simple but elegant dessert. This hands-on class will give you skills that you’ll use over and over again in new ways. Your menu will include:

Spinach & Gruyère in Puff Pastry
Chicken Breast with Forty Cloves of Garlic in White Wine Sauce
Moroccan Couscous with Butternut Squash, Zucchini, & Saffron
Sautéed Broccoli Rabe
Endive, Pear, Toasted Walnuts and Roquefort Salade
Peaches in Sauternes – Summer peaches soaked in sauternes and Grand Marnier served with madeleine cookies
November 5, 3:00 – 7:00 PM $45

Taste of Greece – We will be “visiting” Greece in this class. Known for its healthy and delicious cuisine and becoming known for its wines, Greece provides a wonderful alternative to the foods that we normally have. After a short lecture and demonstration you will help our staff prepare a four-course dinner that we will enjoy together.

November 12, 3:00 -7:00 PM $45

Holiday Cajun Style – Add a little spice to the holidays. This class will explore the use of Cajun foods and cooking techniques in preparing a Holiday meal for Thanksgiving, Christmas or anytime. The instructor will discuss that history, foods and cooking techniques of the Cajun cuisine and then the class will move to the kitchen to prepare a meal for the class to share.

November 19, 3:00 – 5:30 PM $45

Sushi – Roll your own for less. Learn how to create your own sushi at home. After a discussion of the history, foods, and techniques of making sushi the class will move to the kitchen to prepare a variety of different rolls for the class to enjoy together. You will learn how to select ingredients, cook sushi rice, haw to make large and small rolls, inside out rolls and hand rolls.

December Classes

December 3, 3:00 – 7:00 PM $30

Cheesecake – Learn how to make a variety of cheesecakes, from sweet to savory. This class will look at ingredients, tools and techniques of making great cheesecakes. After a brief lecture we will prepare a variety of cheesecakes, looking at different crusts, different styles (New York, French, California) and different garnishes and sauces.