Conference turris::cooks

    Terry,
       I haven't ever given cooking lessons, but I have taken a few courses
    via the evening adult ed. program in various towns. I know the programs
    in Mass. are always looking for new courses to offer so you might check
    into something like that where you live. They could probably tell you
    more about the liability/legal issues as well (I can't think what they
    might be).
    
    As for the cooking classes I've taken, its been a bread course, a
    gourmet course and an Italian course. The gourmet course was taught by
    the chef from a local restaurant and I thought it was great. We did a
    complete meal each night and then ate it there. Obviously none of the
    dishes could take more than about 2 hours to prepare, so that was one
    limitation. Bawed on that course, I'd say the only drawback was the
    varying levels of cooking expertise in the class. We had people with a
    high level of experience (me and a couple others) all the way down to
    some who had never even boiled an egg. So the teacher could tell the
    experienced people, "make a white sauce, here are the ingredients" but
    then he'd have to sit with the inexperienced people and explain how to
    chop onions. So things didn't move along very fast. For something like
    this, to get the most out of it I'd say look for (or teach) a course
    that has "prerequisites" if possible so you get a more even level of
    experience with the pupils.
    
    The bread class was taught by a couple who operate a bakery business
    out of their home. I'd never had much luck with bread in the past but
    after 6 evenings, I feel confident enough to try any bread recipe. It
    was definitely worth it since we made a different type of bread each
    night and the instructor was there every step of the way. Then we could
    try it at home and if it didn't work, bring it in the next week for a
    critique and suggestions. There were a lot of little tricks that I
    didn't know to making successful bread.
    
    The Italian course I didn't even finish. I'm Italian myself and I
    already knew all the dishes she was teaching. Not to mention that I
    preferred MY recipes over hers. So it was more of an ego problem rather
    than a technical problem with the class. So I'd suggest not taking a
    course where you already know more than the instructor.
    
    Giving the classes, especially something like a class on quick meals,
    could become a very lucrative adventure. With most families having both
    parents work, or even for singles, most people don't have a couple of
    hours to plan and prepare meals anymore. And its a good way to meet
    people (if you're single) with at least two things in common with
    yourself....cooking and eating!
    
    Good luck.
    Debbie
     

    I have taken a lot of cooking classes and this year I am teaching some.
    Right now I am involved with a little gourmet shop in my town that has
    a teaching kitchen on there lower level.  I will be teaching a
    Christmas cookie class and a menu planning and entertaining class. I
    also did a demo on making haunted houses, one of graham crackers and
    one of gingerbread. Around Christmas I will be doing a demo on
    gingerbread houses.
    
    I get paid $25 an hour + the cost of ingredients. I love shareing what
    I enjoy most. 
    
    +pat+ 

    Thanks for the info, Debbie!
    
    As fas as liability, I have a nightmarish vision of having 5 people in
    my house to bake bread and one of them discovers, say, an allergy to
    molasses, goes into anaphalaxis, have to call 911, etc.... Or goes
    home, gets sick, says they got food poisoning at my house and tries to
    sue me for everything I own!  Am I being paranoid?  When you took
    classes, did you sign a release or something similar?
    
    I like the idea of the quick meals; something similar might be low-fat
    cooking and how to modify/substitute ingredients - we could show before
    and after pictures as proof (-110 pounds so far between the 2 of us)!
    
    The adult ed programs around here seem to offer only cake-decorating
    classes, which is something else that would be fun and potentially
    lucrative, but not really where my interest is.
    
    Terry
    

    
    Have you tried calling the adult ed division and telling them that you
    are interested in teaching a course in "XYZ".  Many I have approached
    for various things over the years have been very open and receptive.
    They often are looking to add variety to their course schedules.  Good
    Luck!!
    
    

    Terry,
       I don't recall ever having to sign a release of any sort, but then
    the classes were always held in a local high school's Home Ec. rooms. I
    don't know what would happen if you had the classes at your house. The
    low-fat class sounds like a good idea too. Like .4 said, I'd call the
    local adult ed people and offer to teacha course. I bet they'd jump at
    the chance to offer new topics.
    
    Debbie
    

    
    I used to offer one on one and small group classes in "Bachelor
    Cooking".  It was a bunch of basics that single people or newly
    single people needed to learn.  It was all men and involved 
    everything from menu planning to grocery shopping to cooking without
    the use of a back yard grill.
    
    I'm about to teach my first class co-ed class.  To four newlywed 
    couples, the focus is on quick and easy meals.  Should be fun.
    I do this in THEIR kitchens (bring your own knives if you're going
    to attempt this.. I've learned the hard way!) on a rotating basis.
    
    If you want to do it, make it happen!  
    
    dm

     Monty Tech in Fitchburg, Mass has night cooking classes. The fall
     classes started last week.

     The courses offered are:

     Cake Decorating - Monday or Wednesday
     6:30 - 10:00

     Company Fare: Special Meals For Special Occasions
     Wednesday 6:30 - 10:00

     Continental Baking Tuesday 6:00 - 9:00

     You've missed only one class, so if your interested give the school
     a call at: 508-345-9200 

    Jim

    Just a thanks for all the replies - given me a lot to think about.
    
    RE: the low-fat, I have asthma, and a good friend is the head
    respiratory therapist at a local hospital.  They periodically put on
    workshops to show people how to help themselves, how to take control of
    their lives, etc., and since I've gotten my asthma under control, she's
    invited me to speak at the next one.  I figure weightloss/diet/new
    cooking techniques will fit right in with these - I'll get experience
    and be helping people, too!
    
    Terry
    

    
    Hi there,
    
    I'm interested in taking a cooking class of some kind this summer...
    anyone know of any local (to sudbury) class being given soon?
    I'd like THAI or Northern Italian actually.
    
    
    Also, I called Rosalie's in Sudbury (just opened, on rt 27 where
    Ephram's used to be).  They are they same Rosalie's as the one
    in Marblehead, which evidently has cooking classes.  The man I
    spoke with said they are just concentrating on getting the
    restaurant going now, but is definitely considering getting
    some classes together.  He took my name and phone number
    and is compiling a list of interested people.  So... if anyone
    is interested, give them a call and leave your name, maybe
    they will get something going soon!  Rosalie's : 443-4300
    

    RE: -.1
    
    Best of luck most of the good Adult Ed courses are in Boston.  I am
    experiencing your problem, but in a different location - Northern Mass/
    Southern NH.  All the best courses are in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge,
    and I think Newton also has some.  I just bite the bullet once or twice
    a year and head into town.  Brookline and Cambridge offers Thai cooking.
    I took it in Brookline and would recomend it.  All three offer Italian
    but Brookline offers Northern Italian about every other term.
    
    				-David