Our Fundamentals classes are designed to give home cooks a solid foundation of skills for everyday cooking and baking. They will build your confidence, equip you with techniques, and provide you with abundant inspiration in the kitchen.
What You'll Learn
By the end of the class you will:
- Understand the basic chemistry of emulsified, butter, and roux-based sauces by walking through examples of each
- Have the confidence to elevate a simple meal with a quick sauce from pantry staples
- Have the ability to build a pan sauce from memory and without a recipe
About This Class
One thing that separates restaurant dishes from home cooking is the ability to execute a refined sauce. Sauce Fundamentals will walk through the foundations of preparing a variety of professional style sauces to pair with savory dishes.
You’ll learn to make several classic French sauces as well as a few, more modern, sauces that are lighter, intense, and quickly prepared. Each student will also have an opportunity to execute an emulsified sauce, such as hollandaise, doing it by hand so you understand exactly how it comes together.
This class is ideal for any level of home cook who wants to elevate their skills to a more professional level.
Menu
Some of the sauces that will be made in this session are hollandaise, beurre blanc, béchamel, classic reduction-pan sauce and more
Details
- Wine included
- Full meal served in class
- Work in teams
- Ages 18+
FAQ
All students must show proof of vaccine before entering school and will be required to wear a mask unless eating/drinking.
We understand and respect that lifestyle decisions during Covid are an individual choice. If you test positive for Covid while the class is in session, you will be asked to send a friend in your place until you have a negative test. Classes will not be rescheduled, credited or cancelled. Once the class session starts the class is non-refundable. This was our policy pre-Covid and continues to be our policy today. We hope you find this policy acceptable and understand that this policy is required for a small school like SFCS to operate and open our kitchens for great food experiences.
The average duration of our current cooking classes is 4 hours, which is predominately hands-on work. You will be standing for the majority of class, cooking at your work station as your instructor demonstrates techniques and walks around providing individual feedback. Most of the time you’ll be working with a partner or small group on a few different recipes.
Doors will open 10 minutes prior to class starting and we will begin promptly on time. Students will be asked to queue up outside the door of the school to have their vaccine cards checked the first week of class (these will only need to be checked once).
Please arrive at the school with your own mask on. New, disposable masks are available should you need to replace yours while in class.
Wear comfortable clothes and close-toed shoes (remember, you’ll be on your feet cooking). The kitchens at SFCS are fully equipped with everything else you need, including clean aprons.
You will sit down with your classmates to eat what you’ve all prepared, along with some wine. We do suggest you have a small snack before class as dinner does happen towards the end of each session.
Wear casual clothing you can easily move around in, and comfortable close-toed shoes. Long hair must be pulled back and masks are required while in the building.
Cancellation Policy
David Groff
After graduating from both the California Culinary Academy and Tante Marie’s Cooking School, David spent time teaching cooking classes and working as a line cook at Zuni Cafe and Gioia in San Francisco. He has worked as a personal chef and volunteered with the Bay Area’s largest fish supplier before joining SFCS as Lead Recreational Cooking Instructor. David instructs virtual and in person classes from his company, Mealticketsf.