Eric Fraudeau and Yetunde Oshodi
Photographs by Discover Paris!
Our friends Eric Fraudeau and Yetunde Oshodi, founders of the cooking school Cook’n With Class, invited us to help them celebrate the ten-year anniversary of their school. The party was held in the evening of the last Thursday of September…and what a party it was!
Chefs Anton Gonzales and Eric Fraudeau Preparing Hors d’œuvres
Photograph by Discover Paris!
When we arrived, Eric and his staff were preparing savory dishes in the front kitchen.
Chef Sarah Tyler Prepares Macarons and Puff Pastries
Photograph by Discover Paris!
In the kitchen in the back, Pastry Chef Sarah Tyler was preparing macarons and puff pastries. As the front kitchen was crowded with eager, hungry guests, we decided to start in the back kitchen, eating dessert first, and then proceeding to the main courses. What a wonderful way to start partying!
Sarah Advises Monique on How to Fill a Macaron with CreamPhotograph by Discover Paris!
Sarah gave each of us careful instruction on how to fill macarons with cream from a pastry bag. We got to choose the flavor of the cream: chocolate, passion fruit, caramel, or orange blossom for the macarons and pistachio, praline, or Grand Marnier for the puff pastries.
Monique Filling a Macaron
Photograph by Discover Paris!
Monique deftly filled a macaron with caramel…and then another.
Caramel-filled Macaron
Photograph by Discover Paris!
I filled a macaron with caramel, too. Is this yummy, or what?
Chefs Anton Gonzales, Eric Fraudeau, and Patrick Hebert in the Main Kitchen
Photograph by Discover Paris!
After eating our fill of pastries, it was time to return to the main kitchen, where Chefs Gonzales, Fraudeau, and Hebert were busy as bees preparing the courses.
Assortment of Dishes by the Cook’n With Class Chefs
Photographs by Discover Paris!
There was a wide variety of tasty dishes to choose from. From top to bottom, left to right: Camembert cheese with fig and ham; Fennel salad; Roulade of chicken and mushrooms; Pissaladière; Bouillabaisse; and Beef Bourguignon.
And then we met some great people:
Tony and Daisy from San Diego
Photograph by Discover Paris!
Veronica from Washington, DC and Sam from Maine
Photograph by Discover Paris!
Monique with Jackie from Greenwich, England
Photograph by Discover Paris!
Then it was time to award prizes…
Yetunde Shakes Her Casserole
Photograph by Discover Paris!
Party attendee’s business cards were placed in a casserole and several drawings were held.
Tom Wins Cookbook
Photograph by Discover Paris!
And I won a cookbook! Les Marchés Français — Four Seasons of French Dishes from the Paris Markets was written by one of the Cook’n With Class chefs, Brian Defehr. The book’s photographs are by Pauline Boldt.
Monique Wins a Macaron Class at Cook’n With Class
Photograph by Discover Paris!
Monique won a prize, too! A certificate valid for a macaron class at the cooking school. I anticipate that she will blog about her experience there.
Then more desserts were served…
Assortment of Desserts
Photographs by Discover Paris!
From top to bottom: Hazelnut Birthday Cake, Lemon Meringue Pie, and Fig Tart.
Following dessert came the entertainment…
Musicians in the Pastry Kitchen
Photograph by Discover Paris!
A three-man ensemble played some of the weirdest music that I’ve ever heard, improvising on empty canisters and the oven.
The Staff of Cook’n With Class
Photograph by Discover Paris!
A good time was had by all, thanks to the staff at Cook’n With Class!
