If you’re ever wondered what chefs do when they’re on vacation…. now you will know: they take cooking classes!
As readers of this blog know, whenever we travel and have the chance to take a cooking class, we do so- most notably in Vietnam. So when Chef Dan & I had a chance to get away this winter & booked a cruise, we had the opportunity to take 2 cooking classes, including a truly excellent one with Chefmaker’s on board our ship, & our experience with Chefmaker’s was truly great! We had THE best Instructor- Michael Gusman– and we learned to make (and then got to enjoy- with wine!) a truly fabulous meal- the best meal we had aboard ship! We started by making a Caramelized Onion Pizzaladiere– a totally delectable puff-pastry, gourmet “pizza”- and then followed it with Mini Beef Wellingtons in puff pastry- RARE, thanks to Gusman’s secret instructions!- served on a creamy Leek Fondue, a totally luscious Shrimp Scampi on Grilled Romaine (which Chef Dan has already adopted…), and finally, a Key Lime Pie with Vanilla Bean Cream! And if that doesn’t make you want to do a Chefmaker’s class, nothing will! (They had a “small bites” class w/baby lamb chops that we Badly wanted to do, too, but the timing wouldn’t let us!)
The fun of Chefmaker’s aboard ship was that Chef Dan got to work in a “real” kitchen, and I, the Elkhorn Inn’s resident foodie (& Chef Dan’s ‘official food tester’ LOL), got to do it all, too! In addition to everything else, I even learned how to properly squeeze a lime (& Michael, you know what I mean!) & separate an egg! (Don’t laugh- even after 9 years with an Inn, you can still learn things that will turn your life around!)  


Dan & Michael, preparing Beef Wellingtons



Chefmaker’s Instructor Michael Gusman
Learning to deal with puff-pastry…

Chef Dan & Chefmaker’s Instructor Gusman
Chefmaker’s Instructor Gusman & Dan, separating eggs…



Chef Dan, sauteeing shrimp…



Dan & Elisse, beater in hand!

The instruction we got was excellent- Chef Dan LEARNED real professional kitchen stuff that he’s already started using at the Elkhorn Inn!- AND we had a Wonderful time, and the final result- dinner!- was superb!

Chef Dan & Elisse beating & whipping…

Chefmaker’s Gusman & Dan, Separating The Egg…

Chef Dan, sauteing…

Elisse & Dan, blending & squeezing!

Elisse & Dan, Livin’ Large!

Elisse, preparing a Mini Beef Wellington



Instructor Gusman & Dan, popping the Wellingtons into the oven…




Chef Dan, searing the Romaine…





Elisse & Dan enjoying the fruits of their labor!

MWAH! & thank you to Chefmaker’s and Michael Gusman, for THE best “foodie” experience on the high seas!
XOXOXOX
Chef Dan & Foodie Elisse