Thursday, 09 April 2009

• The Results of My Cake-Baking Class

  Today was my very first culinary class.  It was baking classic cakes in particular. 

  

  The moment we stepped foot into the kitchen for culinary class I was in a state of awe.  So, this is what it feels like to be in a real professional well-equipped kitchen.  3 ovens.  A big gas range.  Capaccino machine.  Water filter.  Etc etc.  Goose-bumps!  ALL over me. 

  The instructor wore a chef jacket.  I just ordered my very own chef jacket. 

  

  Pretty, ain't it?  I loved that.  The chef jacket was a small little detail that really made it all feel so much more legit. 

  VERY well-organized.  On the table were 5 clipboards each with an assembled packet of a store coupon, class calendar, set of recipes used for the class, a course evaluation, and a ballpoint pen.  An apron on each seat.  There were also cameras aimed at the gas range and chopping block with two tv sets overhead.

  I really appreciate the prepatory work put into the class, considering the attendance was so low.  Five people signed up.  Only my friend and I showed up.  Oh well, those poor suckas lost $177 total.  Their loss.  OUR gain.  Throughout the entire time, we've picked up so many different tips and techniques only an experienced baker can dish out.  People thought the course was overpriced. It pays for the experience.  Through our internet search, no cooking class was cheaper than $59.

  On the agenda,

  • Lemon Chiffon Layer Cake (with Lemon curd)
  • Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ganache Glaze
  • Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Gingerbread Loaf Cake

  Arriving 10 minutes before start of the class, we saw all the ingredients set up in an orderly manner.  A tray neatly holding little cups of ingredients for each cake recipe.  My friend and I worked together to make the lemon chiffon layer cake.  The most complicated one.  We also helped put together the others.  Because we were missing other participants, we would only have enough time to make 3 cakes.  Of the  four cakes, we opted out of the carrot cake.  Never a fan.

  We had people passing by the store, intrigued and stopped to watch.  I felt like a goldfish or a zoo exhibit on display.

  Class: $59

  Miles Roundtrip: 111

  Hours of instruction: 3.5

  Number of students: 2  ( I LIKED IT!)

  Number of Cakes Baked: 3

  Individual Attention & Experience: Priceless

  Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ganache

  

  It looked gorgeous.  Didn't it?  PERFECTLY prepared.  See the shiny glaze?  Oozzing...gooey...a bit too chocolatey for my taste.
  

  
  Lemon Chiffon Layer Cake

  

  Before all the buttercream frosting, the cake looked rather crappy.  We had to slather on an inch-thick frosting to even out the texture of our crumbly confection.  The frosting was so thick that it didn't come out of the piping bag easily.  Perhaps there was WAY too much butter added.  I dunno.  3 lbs?  Inside...between the layers was a lemon curd that was pretty yummy.  The cake was light and moist.  DELISH!  After scraping off the frosting.

  The cakes were our lunch.  We had one slice of each cake shown above and small piece of the gingerbread loaf cake.  The latter has raisins in it.  Not fond of it at all. 

  Overall, GREAT amazing experience.  So fun.  We sifted dry ingredients, used a stand mixer for the first time, guided by a seasoned professional....what's not to like?

  Have you ever taken a cooking class? Which one? If you haven't, would you want to?

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