Just returned from Vermont and a stay at The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort. The Essex offers a host of cooking classes with each class covering appetizers through dessert. After reviewing the various class offerings, “Cooking with Vermont Beer”, “Culture of New Orleans”, “Primo Pasta”, “Bistro Favorites” and “A Taste of Austria”, I couldn’t resist the “A Taste of Austria” menu!
The “A Taste of Austria” menu included:
– Fritatten Soupe
– Weiner Schnitzel with Red Peppercorn Demi-glacé
– Herbed Spatzle
– Sautéed Brocollini with Shaved Garlic and Chilli Flakes
– Linzer Torte
Throughout the preparation of the menu you are enjoying white or red wine pairings. Austria is primarily known for dry white wines which are produced in Niederosterreich, Burgenland, Steiermark and Wien. The most popular white wines being Riesling and Gruner Veltliner.
Due to the cooking times associated with each course, the order of preparation was:
– Linzer Torte
– Fritatten Soupe
– Weiner Schnitzel with Red Peppercorn and Demi-glacé
– Herbed Spatzle
– Sautéed Brocollini with Shaved Garlic and Chilli Flakes
In addition to preparing each course, you have the opportunity to receive various tips/techniques from the chefs who teach the class. Instruction included knife skills, preparing veal stock (a twelve hour process), chopping and dicing techniques, salting technique and other tips. Each suggestion reinforced both the “art” and “science” of cooking!
At the conclusion of the class (two hours) you feast on the incredible meal you prepared. The Essex is located in Northern Vermont (Essex Junction), just outside of Burlington. In addition to seeing the Fall foliage on the drive through Vermont, you can take a car ferry across Lake Champlain from New York to Vermont. Like Lake George, Lake Champlain is another gem in Upstate New York.
Good food, good wine in a picturesque setting!
