Meet your hosts at their beautiful home in Dana Point, just minutes from Laguna Beach and neighboring the Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf Astoria hotels. Begin your culinary experience with a welcome cocktail and appetizer while discussing the menu and recipes for the day.
Step into Ann’s spacious kitchen for a small-group, hands-on cooking class where you'll prepare a seasonal French-Californian meal from scratch. Please note that unlike most Traveling Spoon experiences, this is not a private class, but a small-group experience limited to a maximum of eight guests. Throughout the class, Ann will guide you through classic French techniques adapted to highlight the freshness of local Californian produce. You’ll learn how to make the creamiest mashed potatoes using a foolproof method, braise green beans to perfection, and prepare a Parisian favorite, chicken with morels. For dessert, master the art of making choux pastry to create decadent cream puffs (surprisingly simple and incredibly satisfying!).
After cooking, sit down to enjoy the meal you’ve prepared, paired with thoughtfully selected French red, white and sparkling wines. Each guest will receive printed copies of the recipes to recreate the dishes at home, along with a small keepsake to remember your time in Dana Point.
1. This is a small-group experience, not a private experience.
2. Our host's home and cooking experience is designed for adults and recommended for ages 16+.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Fresh mixed salad in a lemon, honey and olive oil dressingFrench baguetteChicken with morels served with creamy mashed potatoesBraised green beansCream puffs, filled with fresh whipped creamA lovely Californian couple, Ann and Rick live in a large home along the Southern California Coast - near Laguna Beach, their neighbors include The Ritz Carlton and the Waldorf Astoria hotels. Ann and Rick are passionate about food, traveling and entertaining. Ann thinks of food as love and whenever she plans travels she makes sure to include cooking classes so she can learn from locals. Ann learned to cook from her mother, her travels and culinary school. An avid entertainer, Ann enjoys hosting dinner parties at her home for family and friends. Ann and Rick are planning to retire and are excited to host guests from around the world in their beautiful home. The couple shares their home with two cats who will be upstairs during your experience.
"5 Star experience cooking with Ann and Rick in their beautiful home! What a fabulous experience we had cooking, enjoying great wine and eating the most amazing French meal with Ann and Rick in their beautiful home in Dana Point. We highly recommend this unique cooking class and look forward to returning with the rest of our kids when we have our next family reunion."
