Blair House Inn Bed and Breakfast and Fine Dining

If you are passionate about cooking or even if you have always wanted to learn, but have never found the time, why not consider a cooking school in the beautiful and charming Texas Hill Country?

Our group classes are available all year and are characterized by its use of the freshest ingredients, prevalently from the inn’s surrounding herb garden and local farmers. Our students may participate in picking and collecting the herbs and have the certainty of always utilizing and eating 100% natural ingredients.

In our school you will not simply be a spectator but hands on protagonist actively participating in approximately sixteen hours of five labs.  You will participate in the preparation of two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners. After the each lesson, you will enjoy the dishes you have prepared with your fellow students in dinning room setting with complimentary wine fitting the subject matter.

The courses are specially designed to assist you to quickly and easily learn the secrets of the various dishes so that, once back home, you will be able to easily repeat the preparation of the dish and provide an amazing dinner that will astound your friends.

Typical Schedule follows:

Day One

• Arrival at the charming Blair House Inn by 3:00 pm.
• Your first demonstration will begin with our Executive Chef in our commercial kitchen at 4:00 pm.
• After dinner you participate in a short discussion with our Chef.  This will include an itinerary and recipe assignments for the next two days.

Day Two

• Chef will await you at 7:45 am and your first lab will begin by preparing breakfast.
• After enjoying your meal you will have a short break to explore the Hill Country and return to the kitchen by 10:00am.  At this time you will receive instructions and break off to prepare you assigned recipes for lunch.
• An afternoon break will be after lunch and at 3:00 pm you start to prepare your evening dinner.
• Once complete you will have a feast of the finest foods to enjoy and top the evening off.

Day Three

• You will once again report to the kitchen at 8:00 am and begin breakfast preparation.
• A small break will be allowed and then you will enjoy preparing a picnic lunch to be taken on a Hill Country outing to a local Texas Vineyard or Farm.  You will be given a tour of the vineyard grounds and enjoy your prepared picnic lunch.
• This will conclude your three day course at approximately 2:00 pm.

Below you will find our themed three day classes to choose from.  If you would like to schedule a private group class please feel free to contact the inn directly for assistance.  To enroll in a class simple click our registration page and follow the instructions.  All prices include two night room stay, taxes, gratuity, classes, and 15 – 35 recipes.

Schedule your classes today and share the joy of cooking with new friends in a relaxing atmosphere!  Extra night availability is available at a 20% discount on our published rate.  Class room size is limited to no more than eight, to insure individual attention.  Food allergies should be given at the time of booking to insure exceptions can be made.

2012 Cooking School:    December 3– 5: Hill Country Holiday Feast & Baking ­- Get in the mood of the Holidays. Learn a variety of ways to cook turkey and side dishes. Make holiday dishes such as Mesquite Smoked Turkey, Chocolate Truffles, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Ginger Cookies, Classic Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Bruleé, Pecan and Sage Cornbread Dressing, and Sausage Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Port Glaze! Make this holiday traditional, but with a twist!

2013 Cooking School Schedule

January 21^st – 23^rd :  Sauces 101  – This class has no shortage of flavor!  Enjoy learning dishes with a common main ingredient and tasting the dramatic different flavors sauces will bring.  Start by learning the Five French Mother sauces: Béchamel, Veloute’, Classic Tomato Sauce, Hollandaise, and Espagnole. You will also make Vinaigrettes, Mayonnaise, and flavored oils. Don’t forget the dessert sauces, Caramel, Fruit Coulis, Crème Anglaise and Syrups. Pack your friends and families taste buds with maximum flavor. (One of our most popular classes! Reserve early!!)

February 18^th – 20^th : 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.

March 4^th – 6^th: Classic French Cuisine - Learn the art of haute cuisine. Create exciting fare such as Shrimp Scampi, French Onion Soup, Coq au Vin, Steak au Poivre, and Beef Bourguignon. Learn the art of roasting carnard (duck) served with an orange sauce. Prepare delectable desserts like Chocolate Torte with Raspberry Coulis and Crème Caramel. The Chef will teach you basic French techniques that you can apply to all of your home cooking.

March 11^th – 13^th: Italian Cuisine (SOLD OUT) - Come enjoy the taste of Italy as you prepare classic dishes such as Osso Buco Milanese, Roasted Red Pepper Risotto, and Italian Espresso Tiramisu. You’ll learn traditional Italian sauces such as Fresh Basil Marinara, and Roasted Garlic Alfredo, and how to make fresh Pasta and Potato Gnocchi.

April 1^st – 3^rd :Cooking with Fresh Herbs – Learn the secret of preparing tasty dishes by incorporating fresh herbs into your cooking. Using herbs that you harvest straight from the Blair House Herb Garden, you will be amazed by the difference these little seasoning gems can make as you prepare Garden-Fresh Carrot Soup with Mint Chiffonade & Edible Flowers, Maple & Herb Brined Pork Roast with Sauce Moutardé, Herb infused Oils, Cilantro Pesto, Jalapeno Mint Sorbet, and French Lemon Basil Cream Sauce. Plus learn to create you own signature vinaigrette!

April 15^th – 17^th : BBQ with Fresh Herbs –  Take it to the next level! Learn the 3 methods of Barbeque; direct/indirect, smoking, & grilling. Utilizing the Blair House Inn herb garden, learn how to enhance the flavor of your meals. Prepare Cilantro Shrimp Kabobs, Slow Smoked Lamb Chops, Smoked Herbed Turkey Breast, BBQ Short Ribs, Dutch-oven Pineapple Upside Down Cake, or such favorites as Lemon Herb Buttermilk Sorbet. Enhance your summer cooking by using sure fire brines and marinades.

April 29^th – May 1^st : - 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.

May 27^th – 29^th : Classic French – Learn the art of haute cuisine. Create exciting fare such as Shrimp Scampi, French Onion Soup, Coq au Vin, Steak au Poivre, and Beef Bourguignon. Learn the art of roasting carnard (duck) served with an orange sauce. Prepare delectable desserts like Chocolate Torte with Raspberry Coulis and Crème Caramel. The Blair House Chef will teach you basic French techniques that you can apply to all of your home cooking.

June 10^th – 12^th : Italian Cuisine – Come enjoy the taste of Italy as you prepare classic dishes such as Osso Buco Milanese, Roasted Red Pepper Risotto, and Italian Espresso Tiramisu. You’ll learn traditional Italian sauces such as Fresh Basil Marinara, and Roasted Garlic Alfredo, and how to make fresh Pasta and Potato Gnocchi.

June 17^th – 19^th: Barbeque Camp! (Featured on the Food Network)- (SOLD OUT) – Summer inTexas means BBQ, and if you’re tired of the same old brisket, this is a class designed especially for you! Learn the finest wood smoking with the Big Green Egg and grilling techniques, and try your hand at these lively recipes.  Dishes like Cedar Plank Wild King Salmon with Jerked Spice and Mango Salsa, St. Louis Style Baby Back Ribs with Cherry Coke Glaze, Beer Can Chicken, Texas Brisket, and Fredericksburg Peach Cobbler with Home-made Vanilla Ice Cream will add excitement to any cook-out. Be the star of the neighborhood!

July 15^th – 17^th : Classic French – Learn the art of haute cuisine. Create exciting fare such as Shrimp Scampi, French Onion Soup, Coq au Vin, Steak au Poivre, and Beef Bourguignon. Learn the art of roasting carnard (duck) served with an orange sauce. Prepare delectable desserts like Chocolate Torte with Raspberry Coulis and Crème Caramel. The Chef will teach you basic French techniques that you can apply to all of your home cooking.

July 22^nd – 24^th:New! Mediterranean Seafood Cuisine – If you can’t make it to the Mediterranean this summer, let Blair House take you on a culinary tour of the region from the Strait of Gibraltar to Cypress 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 features a variety of seafood dishes. These are just a sampling of what you have to look forward to on your journey.

August 5^th – 7^th : Barbeque Camp! (Featured on the Food Network) – Summer inTexas means BBQ, and if you’re tired of the same old brisket, this is a class designed especially for you! Learn the finest wood smoking with the Big Green Egg 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, Texas Brisket, and Fredericksburg Peach Cobbler with Home-made Vanilla Ice Cream will add excitement to any cook-out. Be the star of the neighborhood!

September 9^th – 11^th : Country French– Chef will teach you basic French techniques that you can apply to all of your home cooking. In the process, learn how to make dishes like Steak Diane, Poulet Wellington, Raspberry Tarts, and Chocolate Crème Bruleé. Plus Sauces Francais 101! Never again feel like recipes are written in a foreign language!

September 23^rd – 25^th : 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, local availability, and simple preparation such as Texas Pecan and Bourbon Pie or a Handmade Artisan Goat Cheese and Fresh Mint Salad.

October 7^th – 9^th : Barbeque Camp! (Featured on the Food Network) – Summer inTexas means BBQ, and if you’re tired of the same old brisket, this is a class designed especially for you! Learn the finest wood smoking with the Big Green Egg and grilling techniques, and try your hand at these lively recipes.  Dishes like Cedar Plank Wild King Salmon with Jerked Spice and Mango Salsa, St. Louis Style Baby Back Ribs with Cherry Coke Glaze, Beer Can Chicken, Texas Brisket, and Fredericksburg Peach Cobbler with Home-made Vanilla Ice Cream will add excitement to any cook-out. Be the star of the neighborhood!

October 14^th – 16^th : Country French – The Blair House Chef will teach you basic French techniques that you can apply to all of your home cooking. In the process, learn how to make dishes like Steak Diane, Poulet Wellington, Raspberry Tarts, and Chocolate Crème Bruleé. Plus Sauces Francais 101! Never again feel like recipes are written in a foreign language!

November 4^th – 6^th : 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.

November 11^th – 13^th :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, local availability, and simple preparation such as Texas Pecan and Bourbon Pie or Handmade Artisan Goat Cheese and Fresh Mint Salad.

December 2^nd – 4^th : Hill Country Holiday Feast & Baking ­- Get in the holiday mood. Learn to prepare Mesquite Smoked Turkey, Chocolate Truffles, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Ginger Cookies, Classic Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Bruleé, Pecan and Sage Cornbread Dressing, and Sausage Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Port Glaze! Make this holiday traditional, but with a twist!