Seasonal Classes and Culinary Coaching
Locavore extraordinaire and veteran cooking teacher, Amy Cotler, has taught home and professional cooking extensively at schools such as the Institute for Culinary Education and The Culinary Institute of America.
In The Locavore Way Cooking Class Series, students learn how to cook seasonally, bringing out the best in farm-fresh ingredients, seeking out and savoring delicious local foods wherever they live. This style of ingredient-focused cooking emphasizes improvisation and recipe adaptation, using fabulous food combinations with easy-to-follow techniques. The results are delicious.
Click here for information about culinary coaching in your home.
Take one of the classes below, or arrange your own private class with 1-8 students, to be held at Amy Cotler’s house in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts or at your home in the Berkshires or Manhattan. Private group lessons can also be arranged to include pick-your-own outings and/or farm tours with a cooking class.
2013 Cooking Classes
April
April 27th. Main course salads, using local greens in West Stockbridge. See this link for more, including menu.
2012 Cooking Classes
October
Saturday, October 27, Apple Tasting and Cooking
Compare and contrast local seasonal apples.
Make and bring home apple sauce.
Prepare and dine on Apple Galette with with Berkshire Ice Cream
A Saturday, Noon-3, $55 including a apple sauce and heavenly dessert.
Location: My house in West Stockbridge at the address below.
Contact me for details and to register. Or send a check with class to:Amy Cotler, 139 West Center Road, West Stockbridge, MA 01266
Past classes
August
August 18, Corn and Tomato Extravaganza
Taste and compare the best of the heirloom tomatoes.
Prepare and Savor:
Fresh tomato Brochetta
Celebration Corn Soup with Tomato Salsa
The Best Local Field Greens Salad
A Saturday, Noon-3, $55 including a light lunch.
Location: My house in West Stockbridge at the address below.
Contact me for details and to register. Or send a check with class to:Amy Cotler, 139 West Center Road, West Stockbridge, MA 01266
2011 Cooking Classes
A unique gift.
January 8th
Local Vegetable Turnovers with Parsley Pesto
Tuscan white bean soup with Greens
Local Butternut Squash and Shiitake Mushroom Risotto
Apple Galette with Garam Masala
$100 per person. including a full meal, 10 am-2 pm
February 12
East-West Maine Shrimp Dumplings
Shittake Mushroom and Butternut Stew on Piedmont Polenta
Vegetable course TDB,depending on availability
Mini Molten Chocolate Cakes with Local Eggs and Cream
$100 per person, including a full meal, 10-2 (Great Valentine’s day gift.)
July 22
Goat Cheese Heaven
Visit and tour at Rawson Brook Farm in Monterey
Savor the cheese with a green salad, using local produce.
Enjoy unforgettable cheesecake.
Noon-3 pm, a Sunday, $55 a person, including a light lunch.
Location: Monterey and West Stockbridge, MA (Or just Monterey TBD)
Contact me for details and to register. Or send a check with class to:Amy Cotler, 139 West Center Road, West Stockbridge, MA 01266
2010 Locavore Way Cooking Class Series
June
Greens and Strawberry Workshop
June 25, Friday, June 5, 5:00–9:00 p.m.
Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, New York
Welcome to Summer Feast
June 27th, a Sunday, 10:30 to 2:00 or 2:30
At Amy Cotler’s teaching kitchen, West Stockbridge, MA.
July
Let the harvest Begin Buffet
July 16, a Friday, 5:30 to 9:00 or 9:30
At Amy Cotler’s teaching kitchen, West Stockbridge, MA.
Cook with The Season’s Bounty
Flexible and forgiving recipes and improvisations for your CSA share
Friday, July 23, 5:00–9:00 p.m.
At Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, New York
August
Summer Bounty Candlelit Dinner
August 14, Saturday evening, 4:30 to 7:30 or 8:00
At Amy Cotler’s teaching kitchen, West Stockbridge, MA.
Locavore Candlelight Peak-of-the-Season Supper
A celebration of the gifts of the Earth
Saturday, August 21, 4:00–8:00 p.m.(bring your sweetie to the dinner)
At Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, New York
Tomato and Corn Extravaganza
August 29, Sunday, 10:00 to 2:00 or 2:30
At Amy Cotler’s teaching kitchen, West Stockbridge, MA.
September
Labor Day: On The Farm Outdoor Locavore Harvest Feast
Sunday, September 5 (Labor Day weekend), 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (family-style)
At Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, New York
Harvest Celebration
September 13, a Monday, 6:00 to 9:30 or 10:00
At Amy Cotler’s teaching kitchen, West Stockbridge, MA.
October
Local Apple and Cheese Tasting and Cook Off
October 2, a Saturday, 2:00-6:00
At Amy Cotler’s teaching kitchen, West Stockbridge, MA.
Where are the classes held?
Locavore Way Series Classes, as above
West Stockbridge, MA (Amy Cotler’s teaching kitchen)
Ghent, New York (Hawthorne Valley Farm’s teaching kitchen)
Private Classes
Manhattan (Your apartment)
The Berkshires in Western Massachusetts (Your home)
In West Stockbridge, Classes are taught in the large kitchen of Amy Cotler’s charming 1810 home in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts in The Berkshires. Classes are also taught in the teaching kitchen at Hawthorne Valley Farm Private classes for 1-8 people are also available in West Stockbridge or at your home in the Berkshires or Manhattan.
More about the Classes
West Stockbridge: Full-participation classes in West Stockbridge, MA are 4 to 4-1/2 hours, including a full meal, either buffet-style or plated in courses. The cost for each person per class is $100, or $90 per class for 3 classes or more. Full menus, which are dependent on availability, will be posted a month before the class, but will always include at least 6 dishes and a full meal with wine. When weather and daylight allow, the final meal is served outdoors. When students are interested, there is a trip to a farm ($25, 80% goes to farmer) or to the farmers market ($10) before the class. The farm or market location will be announced at least 2 weeks before the classes.
Hawthorne Valley Farm: Details as above in West Stockbridge classes. Differences: Class limit of 12 people, not 8, except for the September 5th class,which we hope will be a large outdoor extravaganza. Classes and class meals take place at the farm’s new teaching kitchen.They run a total of 4 hours, including a short harvest on the farm. Full menus, which don’t include wine, are posted on line. The cost for each person per class is $70 per person.
Signed books — The Locavore Way — will be available for $12.95 at all classes.
To sign up for classes
For West Stockbridge classes, please send a check or money order made out to Amy Cotler, with the name of the class written on it: 139 West Center Road, West Stockbridge, MA 01266. For The Hawthorne Valley Farm classes, follow directions on the link or call the farm. Include your email address for class confirmation. Classes have limited space, so are only held with complete prepayment. Free phone consultations are available to arrange for private classes at 413 232 7174. Students are asked to bring a chefs knife and apron.
For more information
Feel free to call 413 232 1774 or email Amy at amy@freshcotler.com. See “offerings” on the home page for more culinary services, such as consulting and culinary coaching. Amy is also available on a limited basis for private chef’s work in the Berkshires. Read about other upcoming events on the calendar.
A Sampling of other Classes Taught
Cooking for Company
Everything Salad
Fall Harvest Meals
Farmers Market Class
Finger Foods
Healthy, Quick and Easy
Holiday Fare (class by holiday)
How to Season Food
International Soups and Stews
Italian First Courses that Make a Meal
One Pot Vegetarian Meals
Pasta Intensive
Pick-Your-Own Class
Quick and Easy Gourmet
Risotto Extravaganza
Rustic Mediterranean
Summer Bounty
The Best of Spring
The Improvisational Cook
The Seasonal Chef
Vegetarian Main Courses
Warming Winter Meals
World Chicken
