Hi there,
I would like to find a one-day or even a 1/2 day cooking class for
making pizza or perhaps an italian dish of some sort (maybe chicken
parmesian).  My wife has become interested in cooking and would like
to try to learn some professional tips/techniques.
Ideally, the course would be within 10-30 miles of Springfield, Massachusetts.
I'm not sure how much a course like this would cost, but I think I
would be willing to pay up to $100 for the course.

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 21 Mar 2006 21:58 PST

Hello geoff1231-ga,

I?m surprised at how difficult it is to find cooking classes in
Western Massachusetts. I expected that there would be some offered by
various municipal leisure services or adult education programs but I
didn?t come up with anything.

Surprisingly, I found that several Massachusetts bed and breakfast
inns offer packages that include cooking classes. Some of these look
quite appealing but I don?t know how this would fit with you and your
wife?s interests. Most of these packages include the cooking class as
part of an overnight or weekend experience. I also can?t tell if the
prices are in your range because the rates are not posted on the
websites. The distances might also be farther than you want to travel.
Most of them are in the Berkshires. I would love to take these classes
and have fun with the bed and breakfast outing but I don?t know if
these cooking with B&Bs would meet your needs. What do you think?

I look forward to your clarification.

~ czh ~

---

Clarification of Question by geoff1231-ga on 24 Mar 2006 17:33 PST

Hi czh,
I had seem some responses to similar questions in google answers but
it seems this sort of thing is more prevelant in other areas of the
country (California).  My searches were somewhat fruitless as well.  I
don't think the bed and breakfast would work for us now.

I wonder if it would be easier to find a chef for hire to cook
dinner/train for one night?  I might be open to that option.

Geoff

Hello again geoff1231-ga,

I?m from California and I?m used to an abundance of cooking classes
offered by schools, recreation centers, extension and adult education
programs and restaurants so I?ve been extremely frustrated at the
dearth of similar resources in your area.

After extensive searching I?ve discovered that most of the cooking
classes aimed at the general public are in the Boston area. I?ve also
discovered that cooking classes are offered by many B & Bs as a
package. In addition, I?ve found a few cooking schools and cooking
instructors who will teach you and a group of friends in your own
home.

I?ve spent many more hours on this search than I thought would be
necessary because I simply couldn?t believe that there weren?t an
abundance of reasonably priced cooking classes for the avocational
cook. I?m afraid all my dogged digging didn?t come up with much. I
trust that the information I?ve collected will help you find a
suitable source for cooking classes for your wife.

Bon Appetit!

~ czh ~


=======================================
COOKING CLASSES THAT MEET YOUR CRITERIA
=======================================

This program looks like the best bet for a reasonably priced cooking
class within easy distance of Springfield.

http://www.hcc.edu/documents/Noncredit_sp06.pdf
Hospitality & Culinary Arts ? Spring 2006
Food Experience Series ? page 71


========================================================
COOKING SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALITY / CULINARY ARTS PROGRAMS
========================================================

Researching cooking schools I found some academic institutions that
offer degrees or certificates in Hospitality Management and Culinary
Arts. I?ve also identified a couple of Career Education schools in
your area. I suggest that you contact these schools and ask them for
help. They may be able to refer you to appropriate classes that they
offer that are not effectively publicized on the web. They may also be
able to connect you with cooking instructors who would be willing to
offer a custom in-home cooking class for your wife.


http://www.visualrecipes.com/Massachusetts/cooking-schools-culinary-arts-programs-cooking-classes/
Massachusetts Cooking Schools - Culinary Arts Programs

==

http://www.hcc.edu/
http://www.hcc.edu/programs/academic.html
Hospitality Management ? Culinary Arts
Holyoke Community College 
303 Homestead Ave. 
Holyoke, MA 
(413) 538-7000

==

http://www.branfordhall.edu/main/spfld.html
Branford Hall Career Institute -- Culinary Arts
112 Industry Avenue
Springfield, MA 01104
Tel: 413-781-2276
Fax: 413-781-2829

==

http://www.salterschool.com/worcester.htm
Salter School for Culinary Arts 
155 Ararat Street
Worcester, MA 01606
(508) 853-1074


===============================================
CREATE YOUR OWN COOKING CLASS ? IN HOME CLASSES
===============================================

In the course of my search I found some cooking instructors/schools
who advertise that they conduct in-home cooking classes. They?re not
in your geographic area but it might be worthwhile to call them to see
if they can suggest someone who is local to you.


http://www.terencejanericcocookingclasses.com/
Terence Janericco
42 Fayette Street 
Boston, MA 02116
phone: 617.426.7458 
fax: 617.426.7458 
eMail: terencej@bellatlantic.net 

==

http://www.coursejunction.com/course_detail.cfm/id/8616
TERENCE JANERICCO COOKING CLASSES

CREATE YOUR OWN CLASS
Course Cost:  $80 per person 

One of the unique features of TERENCE JANERICCO COOKING CLASSES is
that we can arrange special classes for you and your friends for a
special occasion, such as a birthday, anniversary or other gift,
celebrate a promotion or just a job well done.  You may have a desire
to learn how to prepare a particular dish, or cuisine not listed in
the brochure.  We will try to meet your needs for a couple of friends
or up to 20 people.  Depending on the number of students and
conditions we may offer this service at your location in downtown
Boston. Please feel free to call for further information.

==

http://www.rubychard.com/index.html
Customized Cooking Instruction for Individuals, Groups, 
Private Parties, Corporate Team-Building, 
Children?s Programs, Etc.
Available at Your Home, Office or Special Event.

We look forward to hearing from you and helping to customize a class
in cooking that fits your needs and desires. You can contact us in the
following ways:
Phone: 617-325-6060 
E-mail: joan@rubychard.com 

==

http://www.coursejunction.com/course_detail.cfm/id/11931
Ruby Chard Cooking and Baking Classes -- Boston

Private In-Home Cooking Classes
Course Cost: $300.00 

Ruby Chard Cooking and Baking Classes offers private in-home cooking
classes to groups and individuals in the Greater Boston area. We will
come to your home, office or special event and design a cooking class
that works for you. Based on your needs and interests, we can
customize our instruction to meet any requirements. The classes are 2
1/2 hours long and can be demonstration or participation. Class
offerings depend on available work space and the number of
participants.

==

http://www.elliedeaner.com/
Ellie Deaner
Framingham, MA /
Tel./fax (508) 620-1009 | 
Ellie@EllieDeaner.com

==

http://www.elliedeaner.com/HomeClasses.html
Group Cooking Classes in Your Home
Invite a group of friends, family, neighbors or associates to your home for a 
fun and informative cooking class. Great idea for a birthday, shower
or bachelorette party. Classes focus on quick and delicious recipes,
which are designed to motivate cooks of all levels.



===============================
BED & BREAKFAST COOKING CLASSES
===============================

I know you said you?re not interested in the B & B cooking schools but
since I?ve already collected these links you might as well have them
in case you want to explore this option.


http://www.bbonline.com/ma/index.html
http://www.bbonline.com/ma/cooking.html
Massachusetts - Cooking Schools/Workshops
Click on inn name for more information about the inn.

==

http://www.bbonline.com/ma/brewsterbysea/
http://www.brewsterbythesea.com/calendar.asp
Brewster By The Sea B&B
716 Main Street
Brewster, Massachusetts   02631
(508) 896-3910
Toll Free (800) 892-3910

Calendar of Events -- 2006 
Nov 17 & 18 -- Italian Cooking School

==

http://www.bbonline.com/ma/redmaple/
http://www.bbonline.com/ma/redmaple/specials.html
http://www.theredmapleinn.com/special_events.htm
The Red Maple Inn
217 Main Street
Spencer, Massachusetts   01562
(508) 885-9205
The Red Maple Inn Cooking School
Each class includes demonstrations of International cuisines and
entertaining stories and experiences with the chef followed by a
sit-down dinner. Please call for upcoming classes and dates. Class
size limited, please reserve early.

==

http://www.bbonline.com/ma/coraneedham/specials.html
http://www.coraneedhamhouse.com/html/workshops.htm
The Cora Needham House
48 Main Street
Wales, Massachusetts   01081
(413) 245-7166
Maggie Ullery, Hostess
COOKING CLASSES

==

http://www.bbonline.com/ma/pleasantstreet/specials.html
http://www.pleasantstreetbandb.com/
Pleasant Street B & B
19 Pleasant Street
P.O. Box 1126
West Brookfield, Massachusetts   01585
(508) 867-2672

==

http://www.bbonline.com/ny/greenriver/specials.html
http://www.innatgreenriver.com/
The Inn at Green River Bed & Breakfast
9 Nobletown Road
Hillsdale, NY 12529
518-325-7248
e-mail: info@iagr.com

Cooking School (2/20/2006 thru 6/15/2006)
Aubergine, our favorite French-inspired country restaurant in the
center of Hillsdale has been featured in Gourmet Magazine. On
Thursdays, from March through June, Chef-owner David Lawson offers
cooking classes on a variety of topics, from modern dessert classics,
to sexy starches and vivacious vegetables to pasta tutorials. Come
spend Wednesday night at the Inn, enjoy a continental breakfast (you
will be eating a hearty lunch that you prepare), then off to class
(just 10 minutes down the road) at 10:30 am. Bring a friend. Class and
overnight stay at the Inn - $145 per person. Call us for a complete
list of classes.

==

http://www.williamsvilleinn.com/cooking_school.html
The Williamsville Inn
Route 41
West Stockbridge, MA 01266
413-274-6118
Williamsville Inn
2006 Culinary School Calendar 
Each hands-on cooking class starts at 11.00 AM, & ends around 3.00 PM 
The fee of $125 per person also includes a full breakfast buffet
Registrations per class are limited to 8 participants.
Gift Certificates are also available for cooking classes


===============
SEARCH STRATEGY
===============
massachusetts cooking classes
berkshires cooking class
cooking schools OR classes MA
cooking instructors MA

Geoff,
When I discovered that there seem to be only three cooking schools in
the area, all professional, I also thought of your last suggestion, or
the alternative:  finding a chef that would let your wife spend a day
in his kitchen.  This would be easier for him, since he wouldn't have
to worry about having all the ingredients, etc.  If one agreed to come
to your house, maybe your wife has a girlfriend or two that would like
to join in (maybe at a price):  more fun and enough people to eat the
meal.

Here is a list of Italian restaurants in your area, though I expect
that you already have a few favorites:
http://www.magicyellow.com/category/Italian_Restaurants/Springfield_MA.html

Good luck, Myoarin

PS:  the professional schools might get similar queries and have a suggestion.
    This site lists them, as well as a couple of Italian cooking schools down in 
    Connecticutt, further than you wanted to travel.
 http://www.switchboard.com/Schools_Cooking/Springfield/MA/1966-/yellowpages.htm