Cooking class with Cal DeMercurio -a few photos

Chef Cal DeMercurio of The Old School Restaurant on Pine Street is a local celebrity. On Saturday, he held a cooking class at his restaurant in Redding in preparation for Thanksgiving cooks looking to add a few recipes and skills.

And what an appropriate setting; the Old School Restaurant is located in what used to be the gym for Redding’s Pine Street School. We were able to see the preparation, and taste the results. This sourdough/cheese/balsamic appetizer was sublime. And Cal’s salmon spread, oooh.
Cal Whipped up a winter squash soup, and showed us how to make a ravioli for the centerpiece.

Wine pairings allowed for thoughtful contemplation of an array of flavor notes.

Cal brings the hammer down on a butterflied turkey, and then wraps it around his stuffing mix.

And we eat the results. Yum.

Then it’s time for desert. An eggnog Crème brûlée, a Crème de menthe slice with what seems like Oreo crust. My favorite dish.

We had a great time and met some terrific people in the casual and convivial setting. Cal is a gifted teacher, and we were hungry pupils. Cooking classes like this one are a fantastic opportunity to expand your culinary knowledge. Moreover, thanks to websites like CocuSocial finding cookery classes in your area has never been easier. No matter what you would like to learn about, there is sure to be a cookery class that covers what you need to know. Anyway, I’ve posted about Cal’s cooking skills at this blog before. We heard about this event from Cal and his e-mail newsletter. You should be on his list. Highly recommended. The Old School Restaurant serves up the Culinary Arts. It’s Really Redding.