I firmly believe that if you are passionate about something, you can learn to do anything.  For me, that calling was food.  I grew up in a food-is-love household, making cookies with my mom when I was little and helping with dinner when I was older.  I might not have been a great cook back then, but when I felt like cooking I did alright.  Something changed along the way and I decided to go to culinary school and pursue the insane career of professional cook.

Nearly a decade later, I find myself more interested in cooking for my family than for four hundred brunch lovers.  Feeding my family and friends is a family tradition, as it is for many others.  And I’ve spoken with many fellow food-lovers that are interested in improving their technique and learn new recipes.  So for those of you interested in stepping up your game, but without spending $40k to go a full term in the Culinary Institute of America, there are a few options here in Boulder that I’ll highlight over the next few months.

SLT Logo

First up is Sur La Table, a gourmet kitchen store located in the 29th Street Mall near Macy’s.  With a staff of highly trained chefs well-versed in a variety of techniques and a focus on cooking at home, they have a ton of class options.  On weekends they run classes on macaroons, croissants and chocolate, but also have options for date night as well as beginner skills.  As an added bonus, the SLT classroom offers private events that allow you to choose the menu.

The calendar is available online, updated with menus for the classes and how many seats are available.  Classes range in size from 4 to 16, to aspiring gourmands of all types.  Best of all, you get to eat your meal at the end.

Matt Maenpaa