Clarke In The News - Chef's secrets series launches at Clarke showroom in SoNo

As Reported in Westport News, Westport, CT
December 2009

Chef's secrets series launches at Clarke showroom in SoNo
By Wendy Logan

If high end appliances are on your wish list for the holidays, Clarke Kitchens offers much more than just a sub-zero fridge to put under your tree. Along with design services, the company also provides special product demonstrations created to offer practical uses for their wares. But if it's not your year to put in the kitchen of your dreams, you can still cook like the pros with Clarke's new series of cooking classes offered in the South Norwalk showroom.

"We have long offered cooking classes for customers who purchase Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances through one of our retail dealers," said Tom Clarke, president and CEO of the luxury appliance distribution company in a statement.

"However, we've always been asked if we have cooking classes open to the public, so we've remodeled our South Norwalk facility to do just that and launched our `Chef's Secrets Series.' We will also be expanding the series to include wine tastings, flower arranging and other personal lifestyle classes."

In keeping with its top-of-the-line theme, Clarke enlisted the talents of some of the area's best chefs, including Greenwich's Jean Louis Gerin of Jean Louis restaurant, Julia Deane, founder of Culinary Works and resident chef at Kitchens by Deane in New Canaan, and Matt Storch of Match restaurant in Norwalk to offer classes in addition to those already led by Clarke's in-house chefs.

"Clarke's Culinary Center elevates your passion for cooking," said Deane in a release, whose September class was filled with enthusiastic women enjoying a night out.

"The design and functionality of the space creates an energetic place to relax, learn new recipes and a few culinary tips." Deane returned in October to share Modern Mexican cooking techniques, as well as a kid-friendly Halloween Cookie & Cupcake party. She will lead a class called "Everything Holidays" on Dec. 15.

On Dec. 16, Barcelona Wine Bar in Sono will join the culinary stars in the series, presenting a special version of its "Cook the Book" class, usually held in one of its six locations. Cook the Book focuses on demonstrations of recipes included in the recently released Barcelona Cookbook.

Storch, who offered one of the first of the Chef's Secrets classes in September stated the experience "doesn't get better than this...showing, teaching and feeding people the art that I love in a gorgeous setting with top of the line equipment." Storch returned in November to share "Baking Stone Magic" and the inside scoop on "Creative Thanksgiving Cooking," just in time for the holiday, and he is slated to offer "Low and Slow: the Only Way to Cook in Winter" on Jan. 7.

Prices vary, but upcoming classes by Storch and Deane are $70; Cook the Book is $50. All classes include instruction and a feast of the dishes demonstrated, complete with matching wines or cocktails.

Clarke plans to expand the Culinary Center to include a second location in their Milford, Mass. showroom, which has served as a studio set for the taping of Ming Tsai's popular series, "Simply Ming" on PBS, in 2010.

"Some of the finest chefs in the world have cooked in our showrooms," said Clarke General Manager Sean Clarke in a release. "Now we're working with them to share their secrets with home cooks who crave this knowledge. We're all about food and home design and this is a logical next step."

Clarke Culinary Gift Certificates allow people to purchase an opportunity for a friend or loved one to take a class...or a series of four classes. To purchase gift certificates or make class reservations (which are required), call 1-800-842-5275 ext. 206. For up-to-date schedules and info about guest chefs, visit www.clarkeculinarycenter.com.

The South Norwalk showroom is located at 64 South Main St.