Posts Tagged ‘cooking school’
March 6th, 2013 by Blair House Inn
Fresh herbs can add an abundance of flavor to any dish. Utilizing the freshness will give any dish an impact that no dried herb can emulate. At the Blair House we grow them all summer long, picking off what we need for our dishes, making pesto, and preserving them for use during the winter.
When working with fresh herbs, some people get stuck on how exactly to go about using them. In our Cooking with Fresh Herbs class we will address multiple techniques on utilizing a wide range of herbs. We will address how to plant and maintain your own garden in the region you live in.
Here are a few techniques for chopping herbs to add to your dishes, as well as how you can save any extra herbs for use later on. 
Washing Herbs – Herbs are plants, and like most plants, they are exposed to nature. We will show you how to properly harvest, wash, and dry to ensure a healthy practice with cooking.
Removing Stems – When working with herbs such as parsley, dill, and sage, removing the main stem or stalk is the most important part. For rosemary, thyme, and herbs with a woody stalk you will want to strip the leaves at their base to avoid any bitterness. You will learn how to determine what process to use with which herbs.
Chopping Herbs – Each herbs have different methods of chopping to utilize the most impact of flavor and presentation for your dishes.
Preserving & Drying – Extra chopped herbs can easily be preserved by freezing in ice cube trays, covering with a teaspoon of water and frozen. Frozen herb-sickles can be added to soups or dishes as they are heating for a fresh burst of flavor in winter months. Drying herbs at the end of the growing season can be utilized for months after summer has passed.
Our next Fresh Herbed cooking school is April 1 – 3 and there is still available space. Call or follow this link to book your reservation.
Tags: Cooking Classes, cooking school, getaways, Texas bed and breakfast, Texas Hill Country
Posted in Cooking Classes | Comments Off
February 26th, 2013 by Blair House Inn
There’s no need to book a plane ticket for spring break this year when there are so many options for Spring Breakers in Texas this year. Been there? Done that? Are you looking for something new to do? Or a quick getaway for Spring Break? The Texas Hill Country is right in our backyard with plenty to do from winery visits to hiking and biking. March is the perfect time to venture to the Hill Country for some fun and relaxation.
With spring break just around the corner some of you are frantically search for the perfect place to get away. Explore the heart of the Hill Country from our Texas bed and breakfast, the Blair House Inn. We are located in the charming town of Wimberley, just an hour south of Austin and hour north of San Antonio, we are in the center of it all. There’s something for everyone.
Top things to do during your Spring Break at Blair House Inn:
For Wine Connoisseurs and Foodies:
For Adventurers and Outdoor Enthusiast:
- Book a tour with Wimberley Zip Line and soar through the air while soaking up the Hill Country views.
- Hike the Blair House nature trail or take out the guest bikes and meander through the rolling hills of Wimberley Valley.
- Grab your binoculars for some wonderful bird watching, the Blair House is home to many beautiful birds and other wildlife.
For Art Lovers and Treasure Hunters:
- Browse through the many unique shops and art galleries located in downtown Wimberley. You’re sure to finds some unusual treasures.
- Stop by the Wimberley Glass Works for a glass blowing experience that’s truly unforgettable.
- Peruse through the halls at the Blair House Gallery and enjoy the art of local artists.
Don’t miss out on a unique Spring break destination, the Texas Hill Country. Make reservations now as space is limited. Call for more details or book online.
Tags: cooking school, getaways, Spring Break, Texas bed and breakfast
Posted in art gallery, Cooking Classes, Saturday Evening Dinner, Texas Hil Country Getaways, Texas Hill Country, Texas Wines, Wimberley's Seasonal Activities | Comments Off
February 5th, 2013 by Blair House Inn
Want a way to sizzle this summer besides the Texas heat? Venture out to a romantic Texas bed and breakfast and enjoy a renown leisure cooking school at the Blair House Inn. Cooking class are offered year around with many different themes to choose from. Spark that fire deep inside and entice your family and friends with delectable recipes created by our own Chef Chris.
(Click here to read more about our Executive Chef Chris Huffman.)
Classic French Cuisine
This is where it all started! Join Chef Chris and learn how to prepare authentic French dishes. Your hands on experience will include Coq au Vin, Steak au Poivre, and Chocolate Torte with Raspberry Coulis. Family and friends will be impressed not only by the name of the dishes, but how well you prepare them and how delicious they taste.
Cooking with Fresh Herbs
Spring is around the corner and the growing season will be well under way. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be so bland. Join us and learn how fresh grown herbs can take your dishes to a new level. Use herbs that you harvest straight from the Blair House Herb Garden and enlighten your mind on how to create a garden at your own home. Dishes include Maple & Herb Brined Pork Roast, Herb infused oils, Cilantro Shrimp Kabobs, and Lemon Herb Buttermilk Sorbet. Who says healthy eating is boring?
These classes and many others are open for you. Book a unique getaway at a Texas bed and breakfast. Be sure to check out our Themed Cooking School Schedule. Call us today or book your reservations online.
Bon Appetite!
Tags: Cooking Classes, cooking school, Texas Cooking School
Posted in Cooking Classes, Texas Hill Country | Comments Off
November 27th, 2012 by Blair House Inn
‘Tis the season to indulge in life’s many delights. Pack your bags and head to the Hill Country for the holidays. As the heat starts to wane and the signs of cooler weather arrive our thoughts turn to the upcoming holidays and the planning begins.
The Hill Country is abound with a variety of festive events. Some places have a white Christmas, but in the Hill Country we have a light Christmas. Between the months of November and January the hills are illuminated in a multi-colored glow, its an electrical extravagance that’s so contagious it has spread through out the Hill Country’s many small towns and now forms the Trail of Lights. The Emily Ann Theatre in Wimberley is a proud participant in the Trail of Lights. Enjoy hot chocolate as you walk the trail. If you are still not feeling festive enough you can enjoy the 2012 Holiday Wine Trail. Take part in the self-guided Holiday Wine Trail and enjoy the Hill Country’s vineyards and tasting rooms that will be cloaked in lights, warmth and holiday fun. 
The Hill Country will be aglow in festivities this December. The Wimberley Winter’s Eve Festival on the Square will take place on December 8th. Shops will be open late, enjoy live music, food and vendors until 10 PM on Saturday.
The Blair House Inn will be decked out with lights and holly in celebration of the season.
Join us for our Olde English Saturday Evening Dinner served the first four Saturdays of December. Click the link to view the dinner menu.
Don’t miss out on our January Vintner Dinner series, enjoy a five course gourmet dinner paired with Texas Hill Country wines.
Hooray! The 2013 Cooking School Schedule is here. We are excited to announce several new classes. Be sure to see the full schedule on our website.
We look forward to sharing the warmth and joy of the season with you.
Tags: cooking school, Hill Country wineries, holidays, romantic getaway, Texas Hill Country, weekend getaway, Wimberley activities, wineries
Posted in Romantic Weekend, Texas Hil Country Getaways, Texas Hill Country, Wimberley's Seasonal Activities | Comments Off
November 21st, 2012 by Blair House Inn
Search no more, the Texas Hill Country is the perfect Texas romantic getaway. The holidays are fast approaching and I bet you are looking for that unique “something” for that special person in your life. This is the perfect time to plan a Texas Hill Country vacation and attend one of our renowned Cooking Schools. Enjoy three days of hands-on time in the kitchen. Eat, drink, and learn; our Chef will guide through one of many themed group classes. Not sure when you want to come, purchase a gift certificate and choose your dates later.
Are you looking for something a little more intimate? Book a two day cooking school, class size is limited to two people. Enjoy some one-on-one time with the Chef helping him prepare the Saturday Evening Dinner for our guests at theInn. The Blair House Inn is the perfect post-holiday retreat. Come and relax with on our 22 acres, book a full body massage, and afterward cuddle up to the fireplace in your room. Enjoy a romantic getaway, some fun in the kitchen, and the beauty of the Texas Hill Country.
We are excited to announce 3 New cooking schooling schools which include American Classic Cuisine, Mediterranean Seafood Cuisine and Farm-to-Table Cuisine. If you have already attended a cooking school, don’t let that stop you from coming again. We are always adding recipes and creating ways to take the everyday recipe to the next level. You can see our full class description and register online. www.blairhouseinn.com
New! American Classic – Celebrate Presidents Day with the American Classics! Combining flavors fromAmerica’s melting pot with traditional techniques this class focuses on preparing the favorites of American fine dining; Old World peasant dishes made from luxury American ingredients. This class will feature such dishes as Oysters Rockefeller with Pernod, Beef Wellington with Wild Mushroom Perigueux Sauce, and New York Style Caramel Swirl Cheesecake.
New! Farm-to-Table Cuisine – A class dedicated to fresh seasonal ingredients, innovative dishes and local foods that showcase Hill Country produce and products. Learn to prepare locally produced foods with an emphasis on freshness, seasonality and local availability.
New! Mediterranean Seafood Cuisine – If you can’t make it to theMediterranean this summer, let Blair House take you on a culinary tour of the region from theStrait ofGibraltar toCypress with plenty of tasty stops along the way! You will prepare Risotto, Hummus, Pita Bread, Pasta, Fruits de Mer in Puff Pastry, Calamari, Fresh Fish Filet with Tomato Herb Sauce, Baklava, Classic Greek Salad, Focaccia, Polenta and Crema Catalana. This class offers a variety of seafood dishes. These are just a sampling of what you have to look forward to on your journey.
Tags: cooking school, Gift, Gift Certificates, Texas Hill Country, Texas Romantic Getaway
Posted in Romantic Weekend, Texas Hil Country Getaways, Texas Hill Country | Comments Off
July 12th, 2012 by Blair House Inn
The Blair House Inn, a Texas bed and breakfast, has been known for years for our destination cooking schools. We offer themed cooking school classes 22 weeks out of the year. They vary in themes from BBQ, French, Italian to Mediterranean cuisines just to name a few. Cooking School at Blair House Inn is a hands-on experience where learning technique is paramount. Our goal for this Cooking School Vacation Camp is to build your confidence in the kitchen by teaching principles and techniques from how to purchase and store the freshest seasonal foods, to preparation and presentation. Once you understand the principles and chemistry of what you are doing, you are ready to be creative in your own right.
Our Texas bed and breakfast is a great place to bring your loved one, enroll in one of your two-day weekend cooking schools and rekindle that flame in the kitchen. Our chef guides you through the preparation of a delicious five course gourmet dinner, served to our guest on Saturday Evenings. The menu change every week and if you book far enough out Chef will work with you to build a menu of you liking. What better place then the kitchen to stir-up some romance for your anniversary, birthday, or even your honey moon.
Our cooking schools have been featured on Food Network and most recently in Hotel F+B Magazines, Texas Meetings + Events and Prime Magazine. Take a look at the new video posted on our website. Click on the links to read the articles and view the videos.
Enjoy aTexas-style getaway and book our BBQ Camp this fall or fall in love all over again with an Italian or French themed 3-day cooking school. Or book a business retreat with us and work on your company’s team building skills all while having fun in the kitchen. TheBlair House Inncooking schools are a unique birthday or wedding gift, gift certificates are available. Book now, these classes fill up fast!
Tags: Cooking Classes, cooking school, romantic getaway, summer vacation, Texas Cooking School, Texas Hill Country
Posted in Romantic Weekend, Saturday Evening Dinner, Texas Hil Country Getaways, Texas Hill Country | Comments Off
May 26th, 2011 by Blair House Inn
Summer in Texas means BBQ, and if you’re tired of the same old brisket, this is a class designed especially for you! Register for the Blair House BBQ Cooking Class: Learn the finest wood smoking and grilling techniques and try your hand at these lively recipes. Dishes like Cedar Planked Wild King Salmon with Jerk Spice and Mango Salsa, St. Louis Style Baby Back Ribs with Cherry Coke Glaze, Beer Can Chicken and Fredericksburg Peach Cobbler with Home-made Vanilla Bean Ice Cream will add excitement to any cook-out. Be the star of the neighborhood! Call us today to book our June or July classes or follow this link to register online.
Tags: BBQ, Cooking Classes, cooking school
Posted in Cooking Classes | Comments Off
October 6th, 2010 by Blair House Inn
It’s that time of year again! The 2011 Cooking School Schedule is now available. This is the perfect time to plan a fantastic Texas Hill Country Vacation to one of our renowned Cooking Schools. Chef Sebastian has added 4 new classes that include Sauces 101, Southwestern Cuisine, Southern Italian, and American Fall Classics. Even if you have attend a cooking school before don’t let that detour you. We are always adding recipes and creating ways to take the everyday recipe to the next level. This is a great gift idea for that home cook you know. Call for reservations or Gift Certificates. 2011 Three Day Cooking School Schedule
Tags: Chef Sebastian, Cooking Classes, cooking school, Italian Cooking Classes, Learning Vacations, southwestern cuisine
Posted in Cooking Classes | Comments Off
September 7th, 2009 by Blair House Inn
Chef Joey Kulivan Istructor for Blair House Inn Cooking School
Chef Joey completed a fantastic Italian Cooking Class in August! Our guest had a wonderful experience and learned fantastic recipes to take home! They are sure to be a hit with their family and friends when they make the wonderful meals with confidence and flair. Sylvia and Denny, two of our students, wrote a wonderful note telling us how much they enjoyed the seminar.
“We just wanted to say thank you one more time for our very enjoyable visit to your Blair House Inn. We found that our room and grounds made for a very pleasant stay. We also had a great time at the Italian Cooking Class we attended. Chef Joey made sure we not only learned a lot by ‘hands on experience’ but that we came away feeling like this was something we could do at home and enjoy doing. Also, we appreciated Holly’s extra effort to make us feel welcomed and special. Thank you too for our great new aprons and certificates. A very nice ending to a wonderful stay!”
Denny and Sylvia
If you are looking for a fun and exciting vacation then the Blair House Inn Cooking School is something for any level cook! Click here for our upcoming schedules and to register for your next fantastic vacation!!
Tags: Cooking Classes, cooking school, Italian cuisine, reviews
Posted in Cooking Classes | Comments Off
Gift Certificates
Classic French and Mediterranean Cooking School
Texas Hill Country Kitchen VIDEO Series | Grasshopper Pie: Part 2
Texas Hill Country Kitchen VIDEO Series | Grasshopper Pie: Part 1
