Rittenhouse Square’s COOK, a collaborative, 16-seat classroom, has been nurturing the chef in all of us since it debuted in 2011. The state-of-the-art kitchen invites A-list chefs from the city and beyond (Main Liners included) to reign over the joint for one enticing night, to share their craft with a small fan base of at-home cooks who are looking to hone in their craft just like the kitchen pioneers do night after night.
With a weekly—almost daily—agenda packed with enticing classes, it can hard for food lovers to pin down the classes they want to attend the most. Below, explore a lineup of courses we’re naming as “must-attends.”
Brilliant Barbecue with Stephen Starr’s Fette Sau, Aug. 22
In Philadelphia’s Fishtown district you’ll spy Stephen Starr’s Fette Sau, a barbecue restaurant specializing in dry-rubbed meats that are sourced from small, local farms and smoked in-house. Better yet, the experience is elevated by addicting simple sides like burnt end baked beans, broccoli salad, pickles, sauerkraut and potato chips. Fette Sau’s chef, James Davidson, hits COOK kitchen for a night of exceptional barbecue, schooling you on all the delicious tips to recreate ‘em for yourself at home.
Modern American Cooking with Avenue Kitchen’s Gregory Smith, Sept. 13
Chef Greg Smith, head chef of Villanova’s Avenue Kitchen, offers an uncomplicated farm to table menu pairing the freshest, finest ingredients to present simple and approachable, modern American cooking daily. For his COOK debut Smith is doing what he does best: taking simple, quality ingredients and presenting a menu of fresh and flavorful American cuisine. Think scallops, short ribs and so much more.
Shiprock: A La Calaca Feliz and Side Project Jerky Match-Up, Sept. 15
Ever had a Navajo Taco? A cousin of the puffy taco, Navajo Tacos start with a funnel-cake-esque base of frybread and are loaded with “chili beans,” lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese. While nearly impossible to find outside of Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, Philadelphians will have the rare chance to savor the gluttonous treat at two upcoming COOK seatings. Shiprock, the brainchild of Marcos Espinoza, heads the Chestnut Hill-based Side Project Jerky, and his parents run Navajo Hogan, a frybread taco restaurant in Utah. For this rare event, Espinoza teams up Lucio Palazzo, chef of La Calaca Feliz, to bring the must-try tacos to the East Coast.
Keep On Truckin’: Night with The Cow & The Curd and Spot Gourmet Burgers, Sept. 27
As serious food truck supporters, we suggest you hightail over to the COOK website and book your spot at this street food event, featuring two of our favorites: The Cow & The Curd, a Wisconsin-themed cheese curd truck; and Spot Burgers, one of the the area’s most popular mobile burger kitchens. Refreshing brews courtesy of Yards Brewery will sweeten the comfort food experience.
For more information, visit shop.audreyclairecook.com
» More Main Line Today Dining News and Events
» Sign Up for MLT’s Free Weekly Dining Newsletter
» More Town Dish News and Restaurant Reviews
