Creative Kitchens to offer cooking classes

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HUNTINGTON -- The kitchen used to be a scary place for Heather Galloway, an athletic trainer in Charleston.

A couple of years ago, she was prodded into taking a cooking class at Creative Kitchens in Charleston, and now, she cooks nearly every night.
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That first class was on cooking vegetables, and she describes it as a transition in her life. She's taken many classes since and learned that the kitchen can be a "creative place, rather than a fear-filled place."

"At the time, I did not know an artichoke from an asparagus," Galloway said of her first class. "The class was great. They were very informative. There was a lot of one-on-one instruction. ... Then you get to eat what you cook at the end of the class. It caught me, it really did."

After four successful years in Charleston, Creative Kitchens will begin offering its cooking classes at its Huntington store.

Professional chefs Bill Snoddy, Luisa Di Trapano and April Hamilton will introduce participants to the culinary arts in five independent sessions covering seafood, Italian cuisine, meals for time-pressed cooks, Thai food and desserts.

The classes begin at 6 p.m. at the store, located at 1242 5th Ave., and last between three and four hours. There is a limit of 10 participants per class.

When the courses began in Charleston four years ago, "We thought it would be a great thing to do for the area and to get people into the door so they can see our products and see how they're used," Creative Kitchens co-owner Nancy Rigney said.

Creative Kitchens offers cabinetry, counters, major appliances, flooring, lighting, wall tile and other items for the kitchen and bath, as well as cabinetry for entertainment centers.

All are invited to the classes, and based on their experience in Charleston, they should draw a mix of people -- both men and women of all ages, Rigney said. "Groups of friends come, and couples," she said.

In Charleston, there also have been pairs such as grandparents with grandchildren, and many people make new friends while there, said Di Trapano, who teaches classes on Italian and Thai cooking this season in Huntington. There's one couple who met in the class and eventually got married, she said.

The first class in Huntington is Tuesday, Feb. 6. It covers seafood and will be instructed by Snoddy, whose resume includes catering prestigious events, such as the Wendy's Big Three Golf Challenge, the Family Circle Tennis Tournament, the New York Salmagundi Art Club and the Dale Chihuly Art Opening.

On the menu for this class is Spicy Tuna Martini, Asparagus and Scallop Salad with Balsamic Syrup, Shrimp and Penne with Pink Vodka Sauce, Chocolate-Strawberry Triffles and beverages Kir Royale, white wine flight and coffee.

In subsequent weeks, participants can learn to make Italian dishes in less than an hour and learn some shortcuts, strategies and recipes for those time-pressed weeknights. The Thai class will include a lesson on making a full course meal, from appetizers to soup, Curry dishes and noodle entrees. The final course teaches the essentials of making fantastic desserts.

As the classes continue, some future possibilities are a course for men so they can impress ladies for Valentine's Day or other special occasions, couples courses or courses for parents and children, Rigney said.

All classes also are rich in just basic cooking tips, said Di Trapano, owner of Cucina Luisa in Charleston, which offers catering and consulting, along with the classes. In the beginning, students learn basic guidelines, such as keeping their work area clean and the importance of "mise en place," a French term for making sure all your ingredients are present and measured out before you begin combining them. There are tips specific to each type of cooking.

"Then everybody puts on their apron and starts cooking," she said. Participants make different parts of the meal, and at the end "everyone sits down and has a meal together, and a wine shop in Charleston picks a wine that mixes with the cuisine," she said.

Hamilton, a freelance chef who specializes in pastries and teaches adult and children's cooking classes, said she wants to help families rewind the clock a bit and let their kitchens draw people together.

"I focus on helping people make the kitchen the heart of their home -- trying to get back to that," she said.

By JEAN TARBETT
HARDIMAN
The Herald-Dispatch