Events for the week of October 5, 2009: Demos and Visiting Chef's Classes

Wednesday, October 7:

• Baking 101 Series: Pies and Tarts with Gourmandise Desserts (Visiting Chef Class). 11am to 2pm in the Surfas Test Kitchen. $55 per person. To register, please email classes@gourmandisedesserts.com or call 310.382.4692.http://gourmandisedesserts.com/class.php?id=34 Students will receive 10% off their in-store purchase the day of class!
  
  
  
  Learn the secrets of an easy, flaky pie crust, buttery tart crust and irresistible fillings. Our chefs will visit the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market that morning and pick the finest, sweetest fruits for some most delicious desserts!
  
  
  
  Perfectly Flaky Pie Crust
  
  Buttery Tart Crust
  
  Apple Caramel Walnut Tart
  
  
  
  Spiced Pumpkin Pie
  
  Pear Frangipane Tart
  
  
  
  The Baking 101 Series is designed to teach basic techniques of baking and expand on them using market-fresh produce and the finest ingredients available. Take as many or as few of classes in the series as you wish.
  
  
  

Thursday, October 8:

• A Pot Full O’ Stories, ages 3-5 with parent or caregiver (Visiting Chef Class). 11am to 12pm in the Surfas Test Kitchen. Course fee: series of 3 $90, Single Classes Available. Call 310.295.4208 to register or online at http://www.piccolochef.com/.
  
  
  

  
  
  Piccolo Chef, winner of Los Angeles Magazine's "Best Of " award for Best Kids' Cooking Classes in Los Angeles, is bringing one of its most popular classes to Surfas! Curl up with a good book and some good eats! In this class we'll discover a new picture book like "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" or "Blueberries for Sal" and make a delicious and healthful recipe from the book! Each child will receive a cookbook with the class recipes as well as a Piccolo Chef Certificate of Completion at the end of the series.
  
  
  

Friday, October 9:

• 
  
  Bread Baking 101 with Gourmandise Desserts (Visiting Chef Class). 3pm to 6pm in the Surfas Test Kitchen. $55 per person. To register, please email classes@gourmandisedesserts.com or call 310.382.4692. http://gourmandisedesserts.com/class.php?id=12 Students will receive 10% off their in-store purchase the day of class!
  
  This class will teach you the basics of two very different doughs: a Yeast Dough and Quickbread Batter.
  

  
  

  Yeast breads are simple once you learn how to make a quick starter! We will make:
  Quick Yeast Bread Base, Apple Pecan Sticky Buns, Cinnamon Rolls
  

  
  

  The second half of the class will focus on Quickbreads and Tea Loaves as we make Apricot Zucchini Bread, Blueberry Muffins and Cranberry Orange Tea Cakes.
  
  
  

Saturday, October10:

• La Cucina Italiana, ages 6-9 (Visiting Chef Class). 9am to 10:30am in the Surfas Test Kitchen. Workshop Fee: $49. Call 310.295.4208 to register or online at http://www.piccolochef.com/.
  
  Piccolo Chef, winner of Los Angeles Magazine's "Best Of " award for Best Kids' Cooking Classes in Los Angeles, is bringing its popular classes to Surfas! From the tip of the boot to the peaks of the Alps, come enjoy the tastes of the Italian kitchen! In this class we will work together as a team to discover new ingredients and flavors from all over Italy and the Mediterranean regions, as well as create fresh and healthy meals to feed our minds and bodies. With recipes like Pumpkin Gnocchi with a Sage and Pecorino Butter Sauce and Gelato alla Fragola (Strawberry Gelato), you'll be eating your way through the Italian kitchen and culture!
  
• SerendipiTea Tea Tasting: 12pm - 4pm at the Front of the Store. FREE! Tea cleanses the body and restores our sense of well-being and balance. Come meet with Philip Alvidrez & lovely Rosemeri of SerendipiTea for an afternoon of Tea Tasting & Talks at the front of the store. Sample some our favorite brews, and learn the correct way to steep a perfect cup!
  
  
• Street Foods Demo: 12pm - 1pm in the Surfas Test Kitchen. FREE! Learn the secrets to creating fiery Korean BBQ tacos, fresh Vietnamese spring rolls, and fragrant lemongrass chicken Banh Mi sandwiches. It’s so easy you can do it at home, in a truck, or on the street.
  
  Minnie is a Private Chef, Food Writer, and Cooking Teacher who resides in the Santa Monica Canyon. She has cooked in professional kitchens, high profile private homes, and for large scale catering events. She is the author of a popular food blog called, www.MinnieEatWorld.Com. Her work has been published in The Boston Globe, Where to Eat Magazine, The Somerville News, Boston’s Weekly Dig, and Swindle Magazine.
  
  Samples and recipes will be available!
  
  
• Fall Pies and Tarts with Gourmandise Desserts (Visiting Chef Class). 3pm to 6pm in the Surfas Test Kitchen. $55 per person. To register, please email classes@gourmandisedesserts.com or call 310.382.4692. http://gourmandisedesserts.com/class.php?id=13 Students will receive 10% off their in-store purchase the day of class!
  
  Learn the secrets of an easy, flaky pie crust, buttery tart crust and irresistible fillings. Our chefs will visit the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market that morning and pick the finest, sweetest fruits for some most delicious desserts!
  
  Perfect Pie Crust
  Buttery Tart Crust
  Apple and Caramelized Walnut Pie
  Peach and Blackberry Pie
  Chocolate and Salted Caramel Tart
  Poached Pear Tart
  

Alert: LA Weekly's Foodie "Squid Ink" Blog Mentions Surfas

Nice mention of our popular FREE demos and new Visiting Chef's Classes. Have you checked out a class yet? Click on over to our Facebook page for the list of upcoming classes this month, or check back here later today for this week's demos and classes.

Click here for the Squid Ink Blog Post!

Upcoming Weekend Events for October 2nd, 3rd and 4th!

Friday, October 2nd:

• Paella on the Patio, 12:30pm to 2pm. Welcome Fall with a hearty serving of Paella on the Cafe Surfas Patio, for FREE. Chef Lavendar will be dishing it out and spicing things up- stop by!

Saturday, October 3rd:  

• La Cucina Italian (ages 6-9) (Visiting Chef Class). 3pm - 4:30pm in the Surfas Test Kitchen. $49 per class. Call 310.295.4208 to register or online at http://www.piccolochef.com/ 
  
  
  
  From the tip of the boot to the peaks of the Alps, come enjoy the tastes of the Italian kitchen! In this class we will work together as a team to discover new ingredients and flavors from all over Italy and the Mediterranean regions, as well as create fresh and healthy meals to feed our minds and bodies. With recipes like Gelato al Cioccolato (Chocolate Gelato) on Handmade Gelato Cones and Ravioli di Piselli (Sweet Pea Ravioli), you’ll be eating your way through the Italian kitchen and culture!
  
  
  

Sunday, October 4th

• Wedding Cake Workshop with Gourmandise Desserts (Visiting Chef Class). 12pm - 4pm in the Surfas Test Kitchen. $125 per person. To register, please email classes@gourmandisedesserts.com or call 310.382.4692. http://gourmandisedesserts.com/class.php?id=11  Students will receive 10% off their in-store purchase the day of class!
  This intensely delicious 4-hour workshop is designed to teach the intermediate and pro baker how to turn simple decorated cakes into masterpieces!
  
  
  We will go over how to sculpts cakes, stack multiple layers and use dowels for support. Smoothing Buttercreams and fondant work will turn our cakes into yummy works of art.
  
  
  Our next feats of decadent architecture will feature the sweet science of creating topsy-turvy effects. We will teach you which materials to use for base supports and how to create stunning visual effects on your cakes. We will be using fresh cakes and real fillings- not just buttercreams here!
  
  
  Students are welcome and encouraged to take photos and publish them. Class is limited to 10 students and each person will take home the 2-tiered cake they've created.
  

Classes and Events at Surfas for the week of 9/14 through 9/20

It's a busy week at Surfas! Stay tuned here for updates on all our free in-store demos, and our ever expanding list of Visiting Chef's Classes.

Not sure what to do for lunch this week? What about attending a visiting Chef's Class in our test kitchen?! Learn a new technique, and lunch is served!

Wednesday, September 16:

• Chef Amanda Cushman's Healthy Mediterranean Class (Visiting Chef Class). 12pm - 2pm in the Surfas Test Kitchen. $65 per person- Hand's On Class. Amanda Cushman contact info is amandascooking@gmail.com or 310 980 0139, http://www.amandacooks.com/.
  
  On the menu: Lamb Skewers with Lemon Yogurt Sauce, Mixed Greens with Crispy Feta and Tomatoes, Roasted Eggplant and Garlic Dip with Pita Toasts, Grilled Figs with Honey, and Raspberries and Creme Fraiche.

Thursday, September 17:

• A Pot Full O’ Stories, ages 3-5 with parent or caregiver (Piccolo Chef Series). 10am - 11am in the Surfas Test Kitchen. $180 for the series of 6 classes. SINGLE CLASSES AVAILABLE! Call 310.295.4208 to register or online at www.piccolochef.com.
  
  Curl up with a good book and some good eats! In this class we'll discover a new picture book like “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” or “Blueberries for Sal” and make a delicious and healthful recipe from the book! Each child will receive a cookbook with the class recipes as well as a Piccolo Chef Certificate of Completion at the end of the series.

Friday, September 18:

• French Macarons, Financiers and Florentines with Gourmandise Desserts (Visiting Chef Class). 3pm - 6pm in the Surfas Test Kitchen. $55 per person. To register, please email classes@gourmandisedesserts.com or call 310.382.4692.
  Click here to register for the class. Students will receive 10% off their in-store purchase the day of class!
  
  Intimidated by these delicate Parisian confections? Worry no more! We will cover the best techniques for foolproof results every time, and play with an infinite combination of flavors! Here are just some of the sweet delicacies that we will make together in this most sinful class:
  Chocolate Macarons with Milk Chocolate Passionfruit Ganache
  Vanilla Bean Macarons with Salted Caramel Cream
  Chocolate Pistachio Financiers
  Almond Financiers
  Milk Chocolate Macadamia Laceys
  Florentines dipped in Bittersweet Chocolate

Saturday, September 19:

• Knife Sharpening, 11am - 2pm: Free knife sharpening provided by Messermeister knife experts. Have up to three (3) knives sharpened while you wait at Surfas!
• Sushi Chef Institute- Izakaya Japanese Cooking Demo, 12pm - 1pm: Chef Andy is back in the kitchen today demonstrating the stype of Izakaya Japanese cooking. On the menu today: Nasu dengaku (Tofu dengaku)- White mise Japanese eggplants, Negi maki style- Thin sliced beef and Asparagus, and Jumbo Shrimp & Cherry tomato Kushiyaki.

Sunday, September 20:

• Quick Bites, Meals for a Radiant Life: The Versatile Bean (Visiting Chef Class). 4pm - 5pm. $25 per person. Please visit the website to register: http://vivalagreens.com/ Or call at 310.963.4279, or email at info@vivalagreens.com.
  
  Beans are a bountiful and versatile food that pack a punch with nutrients. We'll show you how to make them from scratch in a pressure cooker and give you some great recipes for quick meals with beans.
  
  These classes are designed for all ages and skill level. A 1 hour demonstration style cooking class filled with delicious plant-based recipes and information that can help either an amateur cook or anyone who knows their way around the kitchen, but needs help making low fat, healthy, and delicious vegetarian food.
  

Upcoming Weekend Events at Surfas!

Saturday:

• Bread-making Afternoon with Jerry Maybrook- Ciabatta Demo, 12pm -4pm: Spend an afternoon at Surfas with premier home baker, Jerry. Not only will Jerry share his secrets for making his out-of-this-world loaves, but also give each student some of his sourdough starter. While the bread dough is resting, enjoy a tasting of our selection of beer and cheese led by one of the Surfas award winning beer and cheese experts. Tickets are $25 per person, must be 21 and over to attend. This class will fill up FAST! Early registration is suggested. Only a few tickets left!

Sunday:

• Cake Decorating 101 with Gourmandise Desserts, 12pm - 3pm VISITING CHEF CLASS.
  Decorate like pro! Learn the few basic techniques it takes to create sweet masterpieces. We will make two types of fillings and a Siss Buttercream, then will fill, stack and ‘crumb coat’ a cake (each student will have their own freshly baked cake to work with).
  
  The second part of the class will feature piping techniques and frosting decorations such as borders and flowers. We’ll top this class off with fondant work and great ideas for themed cakes.
  
  $55 per person. To register, please email classes@gourmandisedesserts.com or call 310.382.4692.
  http://gourmandisedesserts.com/class.php?id=8
  

Recipes from Events

Did you know that every recipe given out at one of our Surfas events is available on the website?

You can find them all here on the recipe page: http://www.surfasonline.com/recipes/index.cfm

Are we missing one? Let us know! You can always reach us at info at surfasonline.com

NEW!!! Chef Classes in the Surfas Test Kitchen Starting in May

Starting May 3!!! Unlike our free demos, these classes offer the opportunity for YOU to be a participant in a small class setting.

Learn cooking, baking and culinary skills from pre-eminent professional and private chefs, bakers and caterers, restaurateurs, wine and beer experts and culinary teachers. Discover first hand the tricks of the trade and many invaluable tips of the industry in our state of the art commercial kitchen. All programs are developed by independent food professionals for you to gain knowledge that can be used in your own kitchen. These are unique classes hosted by Surfas but are solely created and arranged for you by the instructor. Therefore these are experiences that will reflect the ideas, techniques, and expertise each instructor brings to the group. We encourage you to consider being a participant and to enjoy bring your friends and have fun learning from these wonderful professionals.

Some of our upcoming classes:

• May 3, Spices Un-Limited with Un-Curry
• May 6, Cupcake Lunchdate! Gourmet Cupcake Baking and Decorating Class with Gourmandise Desserts
• May 13, Amanda Cushman: Dining in Tuscany

For more information, and a complete listing of classes, please visit our Chef Classes page!