Cooking Classes at Nella Cucina And Dish

Fortunately, I love to cook. Although I am the youngest in my family, I have been in charge of the big family meals since I was 14 -- and, yes, that includes Christmas dinner.

I regard cooking as a necessary skill, but I think I'm a bit old-fashioned in that regard. I have been insistent about teaching my kids to cook, though the likelihood might be, as with their peers, that when they grow up many of their meals will be order-in or eat out. Still, I'd like them to have the option to cook.

My inspiration to teach my kids sprang from two things: watching fresh, young University students, newly released to live on their own, standing in terror at the local Metro as they eye the food lining the aisles, wondering how to make the items in cans, boxes and plastic wrap resemble a meal.

The second has been observing some of the younger generation of my extended family at family functions and realizing that they have no idea how to put a meal together. I mean not... the... first... clue.

I have the luxury of teaching my kids how to cook and bake. For the most part, I work from home and I am underemployed.
It's much more common these days to have two busy parents who spend any spare time shuttling children from one activity to the next, or keeping up with house work and social commitments. Finding the time to teach the kids to cook might be a challenge, if not impossible. Also, of course, some parents themselves don't know how to cook.

The solution? Cooking classes and there at least two local options.

First, cooking classes at Nella Cucina on Bathurst, north of Bloor. Second, cooking classes for parents at Dish Cooking Studio on Dupont. Non-cooking parents could bring their newfound cooking skills home and share them.

In addition to being educational, both sets of cooking classes look like fun, too! Themes include Indian Vegetarian Cooking Adventure and Boot Camp 1 Baking Basics at Dish and at Nella, Winterlicous for Kids, which features Indian cuisine. At Nella, some of the classes are for children only, but most are for parents and kids.
Sounds like a fun way to spend a day together.

Happy cooking,

Vanessa