Photos courtesy of Shawnie Kelley Foy
Once home to large trucks and water hoses, the Old Coach Road fire station in Upper Arlington is now home to pursuits of a decidedly more domestic kind.
Cooking instruction, along with many of the city’s other Lifelong Learning and Leisure classes, is now at the Recreation Station, a fire station from 1957 to 2010. The classes introduce participants to different types of food and cooking, and each class has a theme.
Related: A cook with class
Other programs include tastings at restaurants and partnerships with other businesses and chefs around Columbus, such as the Refectory in northwest Columbus, the Cooking Cottage in Marble Cliff and well-known chef Shawnie Kelley Foy.
“When people take a cooking class, I find that they like a well-rounded experience, not just the recipe. They really like the sideline bells and whistles – hearing about where the recipes originated from, etc.,” says Deb Mosely, program coordinator. “You feel like you’re there for an evening with the visual stuff and the food and the tasting. It really becomes a trip away from home for a night.”
At the end of the class, participants are given recipes they learned that day so they may try them at home. Some programs have seasonal aspects, such as tasting wines that particularly complement the winter season and seasonal recipes to jazz up a traditional Easter meal.
At the Recreation Station, an instructor provides background about the region and history of that day’s cuisine and demonstrates cooking the authentic recipes.
Students also participate in preparing the fruits of their labor. The partnership with Cookie Cottage allows for a small number of people, usually five to 10, to bake from scratch onsite at the establishment.
Other classes focus more on consuming than creating. At Diversity Dining classes, participants sample various dishes, family-style, at a restaurant. There are also wine, beer and spirit tastings.
Related: Contemporary Cuisine
Past classes have included learning to make three unique types of dim sum baskets at Panda Inn, a demonstration by a sushi chef from Akai Hana Restaurant, a tea and scones class at the Cooking Cottage and Brew Master for a Day, a brewing class at North High Brewing.
The City of Upper Arlington’s Lifelong Learning & Leisure program has offered adult enrichment programs and classes to Upper Arlington for almost 40 years. The largest adult education program in central Ohio, it is entirely funded with enrollment fees. The majority of the Recreation Station classes cost around $40, or $48 for non-UA residents. For more information about classes and fees, visit www.uaoh.net.
Upcoming Events
April 16
Louisiana Bayou Supper
With Antonio Taylor at the UA Recreation Station Demo Kitchen
April 19
We CAN! Jammin’
With the staff of the Glass Rooster Cannery in Sunbury
April 21
No Guilt Snacking
With Sheila Gibbons, certified holistic health and nutrition coach, at the UA Recreation Station Demo Kitchen
April 23
Japanese Street “Fare”
With Kaori Becker at the UA Recreation Station Demo Kitchen
April 28
Crisps, Crumbles & Cobblers
With Gail Page at the Cooking Cottage
April 30
Tuscan Seasonal Spread
With Annette Bellisari Johnson at the UA Recreation Station Demo Kitchen
May 5
Eastern Shore Dining & Entertaining (It Ain’t Just Lobstah!)
With Bill & Ginny Ress at the UA Recreation Station Demo Kitchen
May 7
Picnic Potluck
With Shawnie Kelley Foy at the UA Recreation Station Demo Kitchen
May 12
Turn the Lite on Spring
With Sheila Gibbons, certified holistic health and nutrition coach, at the UA Recreation Station Demo Kitchen
May 13
Raise the Bar: Summer Artisan Cocktails
With Cris Dehlavi, internationally renowned mixologist, at the Homewood Suites by Hilton
May 17
We CAN! Fresh Seasonal Juicing
With the staff of the Glass Rooster Cannery in Sunbury
June 17
Cooking in Cannes with Julia Child
With Shawney Kelley Foy at the UA Recreation Station Demo Kitchen
Taylor Woodhouse is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
