What’s cookin’ in January (Photos)

Bruce Weinstein cooks with whole grains at the San Francisco Cooking School -- find classes, demonstrations, events and certificate programs at their website.Learn about varieties of cheese, how to pair it with beer, wine, cider or food -- or make it -- at The Cheese School of San Francisco.3 photosView the full slideshow »
Kickstart your kitchen in January at a Bay Area cooking class or event. Shown here, a Chefs' Holiday demonstration at the Awahnee Hotel in Yosemite.

Food & Recipes newsletter

The Holidays are fun, but they’re done. If you’re ready to get out of town, or just to get out of a culinary rut, January has plenty to offer.

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Blow out the glitter and refresh your kitchen with new techniques, new ideas and new energy at The Cheese School of San Francisco, the San Francisco Cooking School, Cavallo Point Cooking School, or at the Yosemite Chefs' Holidays.

View slideshow: What's cookin' in the Bay Area in January

It's a long month, you can do more than one.

YOSEMITE CHEFS’ HOLIDAYS – January 6 - 31

Choose from eight three-or-four-day celebrity-chef sessions at the legendary Ahwahnee Hotel in pristine, snowy Yosemite National Park. Sessions include private receptions with celebrity chefs, cooking demonstrations, kitchen tours, and a gala chef’s dinner. Package pricing is very reasonable and includes accommodations for two. Refer to the website for details and reservations.

Cheese School of San Francisco
37.80476 ; -122.411743
  • Session 1: January 6 – 8 Visiting Chefs: Douglas Keane ~ Cyrus, Healdsburg, CA; 
Victor Scargle ~ Lucy, Yountville, CA;
 Peter Armellino ~ Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA
  • Session 2: January 9 – 10 - Headliner: Mark Sullivan ~Spruce, San Francisco, CA; 
Demonstrators: Annie Somerville ~ Greens, San Francisco, CA; 
Ben “Wyatt” Dufresne ~ PlumpJack, Squaw Valley, CA
  • Session 3: January 13 - 15 - Headliner: Joey Elenterio ~ Chez TJ, Mountain View, CA
Demonstrators: Brian Streeter ~ Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley, CA
Jesse Cool ~ Flea Street Cafe, Menlo Park, CA
  • Session 4: January 16 – 17 - Headliner: Mark Estee ~ Campo, Reno, NV; 
Demonstrators: Peggy Smith & Sue Conley ~ Cowgirl Creamery, Pt. Reyes & San Francisco, CA; 
Adam Mali ~ Brasserie S & P, San Francisco, CA
  • Session 5: January 20 – 22 - Headliner: Matt McNamara ~ Sons & Daughters, San Francisco, CA; 
Demonstrators: Daniel Holzman ~ The Meatball Shop, New York City, NY; 
David Lentz ~ The Hungry Cat, Santa Barbara, Hollywood, Santa Monica
  • Session 6: January 23 – 24 - Headliner: Suzanne Goin ~ Lucques, Los Angeles, CA
Demonstrators: Ariane Duarte ~ CulinAriane, Montclair, NJ
; Nyesha Arrington ~ Wilshire, Los Angeles, CA
  • Session 7: January 27 – 29 - Headliner: David Bazirgan ~ Fifth Floor, San Francisco, CA 
Demonstrators: Kim Alter ~ Haven, Oakland, CA; 
Laurence Jossel ~ nopa/nopalita, San Francisco, CA
  • Session 8: January 30 - 31 - Visiting Chefs: Jonathan Waxman ~ Barbuto, New York, NY;
Jimmy Bradley ~ The Red Cat & The Harrison, New York, NY; 
Joey Campanaro ~ The Little Owl, New York, NY

CAVALLO POINT COOKING SCHOOL

This popular hotel culinary school tucked under the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge offers a new slate of classes every month, ranging from very reasonably-priced skills classes ($35), to interactive and demonstration cooking classes ($65-85), and hands-on dinner and wine classes that will set you back about $125. Subscribe at the website for monthly announcements and class updates – sooner or later you’ll find a class you can’t resist.

Menus, details, and reservations online.

  • January 15, 6:30 – 8:30 - Knife Skills: demonstration class, $35 per person + tax
  • January 16, 6:30 – 9:00 – Simple Plates: interactive, quick and easy supper dishes, $65 per person + tax
  • January 17, 6:00 – 9:00 – The Italian Kitchen: trends and traditions in Italian cooking, hands-on class with dinner and wine, $95 per person + tax
  • January 18, 6:30 – 9:30 –The Asian Melting Pot: a celebration of Malay cooking interactive class. Lots to learn and sample, $85 per person + tax\
  • January 19, 5:30 – 9:30 – Cooking from the Farmers’ Market: hands-on class with dinner and wine, $125 per person
  • January 26, 1:00 – 4:00 - Ravioli with Elena Fabbri: interactive class with tastes, $65 per person.
  • January 31, 6:30 – 9:00 - Chowder: interactive class with tastes, $65 per person.

SAN FRANCISCO COOKING SCHOOL

Taught in the same space where their professional culinary and pastry certificate programs are offered, these are classes for people who take their cooking seriously. Classes start at about $85, and cover basic skills as well as specialty classes. Subscribe for ongoing updates to class listings and upcoming events. Refer to the website for course details, and to register.

THE CHEESE SCHOOL OF SAN FRANCISCO

These wide-ranging and reasonably priced classes are a wonderful opportunity for people who love cheese and want to learn more. Classes often sell out, so if you see something you like, register promptly. For the same reason, it’s a good idea to check class listings at least monthly as new classes are added.

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, Berkeley Cooking Examiner

Karen Yencich is a freelance writer with 10,000 recipes and a really big stove. She cooks and eats in Berkeley, California.

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