Relish Culinary Adventures
   
Top Chef in Healdsburg

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Anyone else a big Top Chef fan? I thoroughly enjoy watching the creative cooking process and was amazed each week by the resulting dishes. If you followed the season that last week, you know that the finale was held at the Two-Michelin-Star Cyrus Restaurant. You might have missed (since it wasn't even mentioned) that Cyrus is located in Chef Michael Voltaggio leading a Relish class in 2005our own Healdsburg in Sonoma County, not Napa where the other finale activities were held. But that's not the only Top Chef-Healdsburg connection. Midway thru the season, celebrity chef Charlie Palmer was the guest judge for an elimination challenge that was all about "Pigs and Pinot" (e.g., pairing pork dishes with pinot noir wine.) Chef Palmer's annual Pigs and Pinot Celebration is held right here in Healdsburg each March. In fact, the pork cooking seminar with Charlie is held here at the Relish Culinary Center. Connection number three is the winner himself—chef Michael Voltaggio was the chef de cuisine at Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg back in 2005. A baby-faced, less-tattooed Michael led a number of Relish classes during his tenure including the fun Holiday Appetizers and Cocktails class pictured here. Michael was a rising star—talented and determined—and he was a pleasure to work with (really!)

I like to think that all this attention reflects that Healdsburg is squarely on the national food map. With world-class wines and beers, nationally recognized restaurants, a regional legacy of sustainable farming, and a plethora of outstanding artisan food producers, it shouldn't be a surprise that Sonoma County is an extraordinary culinary destination.

Creative Holiday Gift Ideas

With the current economic challenges, we're big fans of practical and experiential gifts for the holidays. Relish Gift Certificates are a great option for friends and family who appreciate a unique and delicious cooking experience. Available in any amount, we can send the gift certificate directly to the recipient or to the giver via email or post. We'll be available to process gift certificates through Wednesday, December 23rd. Check out our special offer for gift certificates of $300 or more.

Relish also carries a variety of products for The Essential Pantry, including local olive oils (DaVero, Dry Creek and Deergnaw), Marcucci Farms Zinfandel Vinegar, Terra Sonoma Ver Jus and Saba, plus colorful Olive Oil Tapas Bowls and some of our favorite cookbooks. Drop by any weekday between 10 am and 4 pm to make your purchase a lovely bit of Sonoma County.

To register for events, please call 877.759.1004 or visit www.relishculinary.com.

Our Family Gingerbread House Decorating is now full but there is still room in the Kids Holiday Treats Workshop on Monday afternoon. We'll make a variety of tasty treats, some to eat in class and others to take home in hand-decorated boxes to share. Enjoy a few hours of holiday shopping in Healdsburg while the kids are having fun with Relish.

What's new:

  • The January Wild Mushroom Foray and Cooking Class class is now full so we've added another date on Saturday, February 20. with chef and forager Elissa Rubin-Mahon. This is the last class of the year. Please note that we can also arrange a private wild mushroom foray for small groups with or without a cooking class.
  • Tailgating Party with chef Christopher Greenwald that features festive and delicious dishes perfect for Sunday football entertaining or tailgating at the game.
  • Our annual Affordable and Sustainable Seafood class, offered in conjunction with the Healdsburg Wild Steelhead Festival, will once again feature creative and delicious recipes sure to expand your cooking repertoire.
  • Pork Butchering Workshop with chef Dino Bugica where each participant will break down an entire 70-pound pig under chef Dino's watchful eye and take home the delicious results.
  • And more are coming...

When I started Relish with my original business partner, we wondered why there wasn't a culinary school in Healdsburg taking advantage of this unique convergence of chef talent and quality raw ingredients. Six years later, the Relish adventure continues to challenge and reward.

This time of year provides time to reflect on time gone by and thank all who have supported us—THANK YOU!

Have a wonderful holiday season and an abundant new year.

See you in class,
Donna

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Other Events to Relish...

Healdsburg Wild Steelhead Festival
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Relish is organizing the seafood chef demonstrations and a related hands-on cooking class on Sunday, February 7

Charlie Palmer's Pigs and Pinot Celebration
Friday - Saturday, March 19-20, 2010

Charlie and special guest chef lead a cooking seminar featuring sumptuous pork dishes


View a chronological list of current classes or a monthly calendar.

We no longer print class catalogs, so please check the website for the most current class information.


Private Party Special Offer

Book a private party for 2010 by January 10th and we'll include two glasses of wine with the standard event price. A $20/person value.


December Classes
Healdsburg Holiday Dine-Around | Family Gingerbread House Decorating | Kids Holiday Treats Workshop

January Classes
Wild Mushroom Foray & Cooking | Great Soups and Classic Sauces | The Seduction of Rice | Pasta Making Workshop | Tailgating Party

February Classes
Affordable and Sustainable Seafood | Quivira Farm-To-Table Dinner | Pork Butchering Workshop