Urban Discoveries Baltimore

One of the more shameful trends of the last, oh say, ten to fifteen years is the dumbfounding inability of anyone under the age of 35 to cook.  Not that people have stopped eating – not us, anyway – but more and more meals are had at restaurants, 7-Elevens, and vending machines.  Shame on us, the American public, for neglecting our culinary duties in favor of the lazy ease of chicken fingers and cheese sticks.   If you’d like to reverse this trend (at least personally), but don’t know a skillet from a spatula, then consider a cooking class.  Baltimore has quite a few – ranging from the social to the personal to the professional – in case you never want to consider a gas station hot dog a meal again.

For the Love of Food (20 Clarks Lane in Reisterstown) has a strict shoe policy:  closed toe only, no sandals or flip-flops.  And you can tell they mean business: those words are written in big red italicized letters on their webpage.  That health code concern aside, there’s plenty of fun to be had here with classes like tonight’s “Chocolate Oblivion” (hurry!  Not sold out yet!), featuring recipes like “Bittersweet Decadence Cookies,” “Melting Chocolate Meringues,” and “Triple Chocolate on Chocolate on Chocolate Roulade.”  If your tooth isn’t quite that sweet, never fear; there are courses on everything from comfort foods, to building your own gingerbread house, to introductory knife skills.  Check their website for upcoming classes and costs.

Donna’s (yes, the Donna’s of Charles Village, Columbia and Cross Village fame) offers cooking classes every Wednesday night at their Columbia location.  Much like Donna’s itself, the classes have an emphasis on Mediterranean food in a thoughtful, considered way.  For example, they teach how to cook without recipes, a skill that some of us (raised hand) are sorely lacking.  Upcoming December courses include the 9th‘s holiday brunches class and the 16th‘s Italian Christmas Eve dinner.  Classes last two hours and are $45.  Call 410-659-5248 ex. 112 for reservations.

If you’re looking for more personal instruction, you might want to consider private lessons with Cook With Ben.  The eponymous Ben is Ben Tehranian, a graduate of the Westminster Culinary College and Baltimore Magazine’s best crabcakes in 2002.  (His resume is much longer than that, we’re just focusing on the highlights.) Classes are either held at Ben’s professional kitchen, or, if you prefer, your own house, using your own kitchen utensils – it’s the man that makes the tools.  Classes are generally three hours, include the cost of groceries and cover a full menu.  Prices depend on class size, but range from $80-$95.

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