Skip dinner out and impress that special someone—or maybe that certain, hard-to-please client—with your finely honed culinary skills, courtesy of an in-home private cooking lesson:
There’s nothing more romantic in the kitchen than cooking with wine and fresh herbs. Just ask Chef Carol Ritchie, who offers a range of international cuisines. We just remembered something more romantic: her show-stopping Grand Marnier soufflé that will seal any deal. ($200-$300 per hour for up to four people. [email protected], 817-465-2536.)
For heartier fare with equal flare, Chef Johannes Pot can make you a gourmand no matter what your skill level. His most popular items include delectable Italian wrapped shrimp, steak Oscar, beef Wellington, chocolate molten soufflé, and crème brûlée. No leader looks soft preparing a dessert that requires a blowtorch. ($100 per two-hour lesson. [email protected], 214-505-6104.)
Neal Caldwell’s Traveling Chefs boasts around half a dozen chefs, each with his or her own specialty, from Pacific Rim and Italian to New American. They can make it an in-home lesson or an interactive party. ($60 per hour, minimum four hours. 972-248-0402.)
The same Aims Academy students who work at Abacus and The Mansion can teach you everything you need to know about classic European and French cuisine—the “hardcore culinary skills,” as vice president John Roberts puts it. (Prices negotiable. [email protected], 972-323-6333.)
