Cooking Old School Italian: Honoring The La Rocca Family
Hands-On | Full Meal
Thursday 08/15/2024
6:00pm - 8:30pm
$85/person
Executive Chef Richard McPeake
Adults 18+
Menu:
Turkey Florentine Cannelloni
Chef Richard’s 300-year-old Sicilian Marinara Sauce
Ricotta Cheese Stuffed Fried Eggplant
Fettuccine al Burro
Citrus Semifreddo
Class Description:
Embark on a…
Cooking Old School Italian: Honoring The La Rocca Family
Hands-On | Full Meal
Thursday 08/15/2024
6:00pm - 8:30pm
$85/person
Executive Chef Richard McPeake
Adults 18+
Menu:
Turkey Florentine Cannelloni
Chef Richard’s 300-year-old Sicilian Marinara Sauce
Ricotta Cheese Stuffed Fried Eggplant
Fettuccine al Burro
Citrus Semifreddo
Class Description:
Embark on a culinary journey that pays homage to the rich traditions of Italian cuisine and the pivotal role played by the La Rocca family in shaping the career of acclaimed Executive Chef Richard McPeake. This immersive cooking class promises to transport you to the heart of a bustling Italian kitchen, where time-honored recipes and techniques have been passed down through the generations.
The La Rocca family owned and operated the revered Fox Hollow Inn restaurant, which served Italian and American food in Rhinebeck, New York, for 41 delicious years. Chef Richard got his first full-time job with the La Rocca’s in the mid-1970s, while he was still getting his degree from The Culinary Institute of America in nearby Hyde Park.
The La Rocca’s were old-school chefs who honored their Italian roots, using only family recipes with Italian cuisine that was always made by hand. The La Rocca’s famous Marinara Sauce (which you will learn to make!) comes from Rose La Rocca’s great-great-grandmother, and Chef Richard has made it countless times without changing a thing.
During class, Chef Richard will share many of his personal stories about working with and learning from the La Roccas, including how he got the job and how they ignited in him a passion for great cooking that has served him well in his storied fifty-year career. As Richard says, “Without Rose and Ed, my career would have gone a different route!”
In this class, tradition is alive and well, and Chef Richard is thrilled to pass this tradition and love for classical Italian food onto you. Under Chef Richard’s expert guidance, you'll learn to prepare a sumptuous menu that celebrates the flavors and spirit of his mentors. Everything on the menu is gloriously old-school and delicious: we will make an original Alfredo sauce with no cream, hand-roll a delicate Turkey Florentine Cannelloni, and that robust 300-year-old Sicilian Marinara Sauce. Each dish is a testament to the La Rocca’s enduring legacy, one that Chef Richard honors to this day.
You’ll learn how to craft Ricotta Cheese Stuffed Fried Eggplant, a golden-fried delight that is the essence of Italian comfort food. Discover the secrets to a velvety Fettuccine al Burro, a simple yet sublime pasta dish that showcases the beauty of traditional ingredients. And for a refreshing finale, savor the citrusy notes of the La Rocca’s Citrus Semifreddo.
More than just a cooking class, this experience is a celebration of the La Rocca family's generosity in sharing their knowledge and igniting Chef Richard's lifelong passion for cooking. Join us on this flavorful adventure and honor the traditions that have influenced generations of Chefs like Richard, one tasty bite at a time.
Notes:
- Our Kitchen Shop Experience™ retail store will be open for browsing prior to class, during any breaks, and after class. Please enjoy a 10% discount on all items in our retail store during the full calendar day/night of your class or event.
- We provide a full refund if you need to cancel more than three weeks prior to the start of a scheduled class. You will receive an Account Credit if you need to cancel at any time within three weeks but prior to the class start time. Please note that any refund issued for classes purchased using a Gift Certificate or Account Credit will result in reinstatement of the original Gift Card or Account Credit and will bear the same expiration date. Account Credits issued for cancelations within three weeks of a class will expire one year from the date of issuance. We reserve the right to cancel a class for any reason, at any time, in which case you will receive a full refund.
- This class is for adults 18+. Children 14-17 years old are allowed if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please let us know if you plan to bring a minor.
- If (a) you’d like to sit with another registered guest, or (b) have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please let us know in the Comments section of your registration after reading our full description of policies and information about classes. If you've registered with other people on the same order, you will automatically be seated together.
- Your registration tells us that you have read through the class description including the age requirements for that particular class.