While I have been to Cooks on Crocus Hill in Edina, I had not checked out the area that they hold their cooking classes and private events. When I was invited to a breakfast there, it seemed the perfect time to check it out.
Cooking classes are gaining popularity for bachelorette parties (sure beats putting a condom on your head and getting drunk), team building (the team that can cook together can build a company together) and date night (good opportunity to find out your potential partner’s adeptness in the kitchen).
We enjoyed some fun breakfast food, along with mimosas and coffee.
And after a quick breakfast, we lined up to learn knife skills. Now, I think with the amount of time I spend in restaurants and with caterers, one would think I know all about knife skills. Unfortunately, I find cutting vegetables extremely challenging. However, I was taught a few quick tips and thought my slicing and chopping turned out pretty even!
It all begins with a very sharp knife (to avoid sawing and having to exert so much pressure the knife slips).
One thing I did not know is to pinch the knife just above its handle. I have a tendency to place my index finger on the top of the knife, which does not give me the control I need.
I struggle with tucking all of my fingers out of the knife’s reach (especially the thumb), but have become more and more comfortable with using my knuckles as a guide for the knife.
The biggest tip I learned was to cut off the stem (not the root) of an onion to create a flat surface to set the onion when slicing. The root basically holds the whole onion together allowing you to slice without it falling apart. While I’ve watched chefs do this a million times, I didn’t know it was because the root was holding it all together! It sure beats trying to slice something that is rolling all over the cutting board.
Not too bad, right?
For private events or cooking classes, contact:
Cooks on Crocus Hill
www.cooksoncrocushill.com
877 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105 | 651.228.1333
3925 West 50th Street, Edina, MN 55424 | 952.285.1903
324 S. Main Street, Stillwater, MN 55082 | 651.351.1144
