Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

Central Market to Add Kitchen, More Classes at Southlake Store

Christianne Young

Staff Writer

Calling all foodies, cooks and chefs. Southlake’s Central Market is turning its community room into a full-fledged kitchen. Complete with four-star equipment, the kitchen will include Viking sauté burners, confection ovens and even home-style granite counter tops.

Kitchen construction begins Dec. 1, and classes in the new kitchen will open in January.

The new kitchen will allow customers to practice their cooking skills in a familiar environment, said Nicholas Walker, the store’s catering and cooking school manager.

"It’s going to be more hands-on, and it’s going to relate to what they have in their house now," Walker said.

Previously the store offered cooking classes in its community room, which had been turned into a make-shift kitchen with tables, two butcher blocks and two portable propane burners used for demonstrations. The new kitchen’s amenities will allow the store to offer more classes.

"There will be a lot wider range of class. We’re not going to be so limited," Walker said.

Pastry and baking classes will be included, as well lessons devoted to one of America’s all-time food favorites: chocolate. The kitchen will also include a grill for classes on grilling techniques.

New classes offered will focus on specific portions of the store, such as seafood or produce. "These classes will help the new chef or cook learn how to use the products we sell," said Southlake Central Market General Manager Austin Jourde.

The first local chef scheduled to conduct a cooking class in the new kitchen is Chef de Cuisine of the Reata in downtown Fort Worth, Juan Rodriguez. Mark your calendar for the Jan. 28 class. Walker said he is trying to get a Food Network celebrity to come for the new facility’s grand opening class.

The store will offer both hands-on and demonstration classes, but even those who don’t get a front and center seat will see what’s going on. TV monitors and mirrors strategically placed around the room will enhance the view for everyone. Sound will be enhanced with speakers and microphones. Demonstration classes will allow between 30 to 36 students and hands-on classes will allow for 16 to 18 participants.

Previously, Central Market offered one to two classes a week, but the new kitchen will increase this to five or six times a week. Classes will be scheduled Tuesday through Sunday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will cost $50 to $100. Each class includes wine or beer. During the weekday, noon classes are $20. During the noon hour, class members will enjoy a three to four course meal while enhancing their cooking skills.

Classes for parents and their children will also be offered, as well as a cooking class for teens.