Cooking School at Blair House is a hands-on experience where learning technique is paramount. Our goal is to build your confidence in the kitchen by teaching you principles and techniques from how to purchase and store the freshest seasonal foods, to preparation and presentation. Once you understand the principles of the chemistry of what you are doing, you are ready to be creative in your own right. You'll go home with a manual filled with information on principles and techniques and many recipes and ideas to help stimulate your creativity in the kitchen. We have a lot of fun and tap into everyone's creative energy. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, casual clothes, and bring your appetite!

Blair House Cooking school is now offering more classes than ever to provide a cooking school option for everyone! In addition to opening our kitchen and sharing our award-winning recipes in our intensive three-day cooking classes mid-week each month.

Individual Cooking Seminar: Work one-on-one with Chef Joey in Individual weekend classes designed to give you the skills you will need to prepare fabulous meals for family and friends. Chef Joey will walk you through the preparation of a five-course gourmet meal with lots of chances for hands-on learning. Topics vary every week, and can be tailored to your own personal tastes.

Classes begin on Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and continue on Saturday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm with an afternoon break from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Each class includes breakfast and lunches for each day. Room and Saturday night dinner are extra. For pricing information, see the pricing details after the cooking class schedule.

2008 Cooking School Schedule

January 7th – 9th : Italian Cuisine – Enjoy the luscious cuisine of Italy as you prepare such classic dishes as Osso Buco Milanese with Lemon Gremolata, Roasted Pepper Risotto with Pine Nuts, and Italian Espresso Tiramisu. You’ll learn traditional Italian sauces such as Fresh Basil Marinara, and Roast Garlic Alfredo, and how to make the finest fresh pasta, in Pasta Making 101.

January 21st – 23rd : NEW ! Seafood – See food! and Know how to Cook it! Come learn the difference between shrimp, crab, flat fish and round fish. We’ll “hook you up” with cooking techniques such as broil, grill, fry, pan fry, poach and shallow poach. We’ll show you the preparation of Batters and Breading. Plus the Fabrication, such as Darnes, Steak, Tranche and Filet. And, what would all of this be good for, with out the added side dishes and accompaniments. Due to the higher price of seafood, an additional $45 surcharge applies.

February 4th – 6th : French Cuisine – Everything you need to know about Classic French cooking right here in the Hill Country. Chef Joey will teach you the basic French techniques that you can apply to all of your home cooking. In the process, learn how to make Escargots Bourguignon En Croute, Amberjack Filet en Ppillotte and Chocolate Crème Bruleé. Plus - Sauces Francais 101!

February 18th – 20th : Cooking 101– Come join us in Cooking 101 for an introduction to the fundamentals. You’ll learn about knives--name, purpose, technique and sharpening; and the name and purpose of all those pots and pans. You’ll be introduced to the basic cooking techniques, such as braising, poaching, broiling, sautéing, pan frying, and grilling, along with the basics of soup stocks and sauces. Never again feel like recipes are written in a foreign language!

March 3rd – 5th : Mediterranean Cuisine – If you can't make it to the Mediterranean this summer, let Blair House take you on a culinary tour of the region from the Strait of Gibraltar to Cypress with plenty of tasty stops along the way! With a heavy emphasis on seafood cuisine, Duck Breasts with Pomegranate Walnut Sauce, Fruits de Mer, Calamari, Baklava, Classic Greek Salad, Focaccia, Polenta and Crema Catalana are just a sampling of what you have to look forward to on this journey.

March 17th – 19th : American Gourmet Classics – This fun filled class will focus on preparing the favorites of American fine dining, featuring a five-course dinner with such dishes as Oysters Rockefeller with Pernod, aged Beef Wellington with Truffle Perigueux Sauce, and New York Style Caramel Swirl Cheesecake.

March 31st – April 2nd : Italian Cuisine– Straight from the neighborhood restaurants of Italy, this class explores the best kept secrets of Italian cuisine. From Gnocchi al Pesto to Wood Grilled Pizza Bianca with Smoked Eggplant and Portobellos, this is the perfect opportunity to learn classic Italian fare, including how to make your own fresh ravioli and pastas with traditional sauces, such as Fresh Basil Marinara and Roast Garlic Alfredo.

April 14th – 18th : 5-Day Continental Cuisine – Experience a more in-depth cooking experience with our new extended class. Spend 5 days and 4 nights enjoying the Texas Hill Country while learning a variety of cooking skills. Focusing on classic Continental dishes, you’ll learn about such things as knives--name, purpose, technique and sharpening; cooking vessels, and basic cooking techniques, such as braising, poaching, broiling, sautéing, pan frying, and grilling. Guest speakers will lead you through the process of wine/food pairing, and you’ll spend an afternoon exploring local wineries, herb farms, and even a Tuscan style farm where olive oil is pressed from their own olive grove. Using supplies acquired during an educational shopping excursion to the organic Whole Foods Market in Austin, participants will utilize their new skills in preparing a grand finale four course dinner.

April 28th – April 30 : Cooking with Fresh Herbs – Learn the secret of preparing the perfect dish every time by incorporating fresh herbs into your cooking. Using herbs that you harvest straight from the Blair House Herb Garden, you will be amazed by the difference these little seasoning gems can make as you prepare Garden-fresh Umami Carrot Soup with Mint Chiffonade & Edible Flowers, Maple & Herb Brined Pork Roast with Sauce Moutardé, and Almond Tart with Mint Coulis. Plus learn to create your own signature Vinaigrette!

May 12th – 14th : Italian Cuisine – Straight from the neighborhood restaurants of Italy, this class explores the best kept secrets of Italian cuisine. From Gnocchi al Pesto to Wood Grilled Pizza Bianca with Smoked Eggplant and Portobellos, this is the perfect opportunity to learn classic Italian fare, including how to make your own fresh ravioli and pastas with traditional sauces, such as Fresh Basil Marinara and Roast Garlic Alfredo.

May 26th – 28th : Barbeque Camp! – Summer in Texas means BBQ, and if you’re tired of the same old brisket, this is a class designed especially for you! Learn the finest wood smoking and grilling techniques, and try your hand at these lively recipes. Dishes like Grilled Pizza, Watermelon Injected Pork Tenderloin, St. Louis Style Baby Back Ribs with Cherry Coke Glaze, and Blueberry and Peach Croustade with Blue Cormeal Crust will add excitement to any cook-out. Be the star of the neighborhood!

June 9th - 11th : French Cuisine – Everything you need to know about Classic French cooking right here in the Hill Country. Chef Joey will teach you the basic French techniques that you can apply to all of your home cooking. In the process, learn how to make Escargots Bourguignon En Croute, Amberjack Filet en Ppillotte and Chocolate Crème Bruleé. Plus - Sauces Francais 101!

June 23rd – 25th : Grill and BBQ with Fresh Herbs – This cooking class combines two of our guests' favorite classes - BBQ and Cooking with Fresh Herbs. Using the Blair House Inn herb garden, learn how to enhance the flavor of grilled meats and vegetables by incorporating the use of fresh herbs. Learn to prepare Spit-Roasted Pork Tenderloin Crusted with Mediterranean Herbs and to use the indirect method to make St. Louis BBQ Ribs. Enjoy such favorites Spiked Watermelon Salad with Fresh Mint. Your summer grilling will be improved by the use of sure-fire brines and marinades.

July 7th - 9th : Barbeque Camp! (as Featured on Food Network) – Summer in Texas means BBQ, and if you’re tired of the same old brisket, this is a class designed especially for you! Learn the finest wood smoking and grilling techniques, and try your hand at these lively recipes. Dishes like Grilled Pizza, Watermelon Injected Pork Tenderloin, St. Louis Style Baby Back Ribs with Cherry Coke Glaze, and Blueberry and Peach Croustade with Blue Cormeal Crust will add excitement to any cook-out. Be the star of the neighborhood!

July 21st - 23rd: Italian Cuisine – Enjoy the luscious cuisine of Italy as you prepare such classic dishes as Osso Buco Milanese with Lemon Gremolata, Roasted Pepper Risotto with Pine Nuts, and Italian Espresso Tiramisu. You’ll learn traditional Italian sauces such as Fresh Basil Marinara, and Roast Garlic Alfredo, and how to make the finest fresh pasta, in Pasta Making 101.

July 28th – 30th : Barbeque Camp! (as Featured on Food Network) – Summer in Texas means BBQ, and if you’re tired of the same old brisket, this is a class designed especially for you! Learn the finest wood smoking and grilling techniques, and try your hand at these lively recipes. Dishes like Grilled Pizza, Watermelon Injected Pork Tenderloin, St. Louis Style Baby Back Ribs with Cherry Coke Glaze, and Blueberry and Peach Croustade with Blue Cormeal Crust will add excitement to any cook-out. Be the star of the neighborhood!

August 11th– 13th : Italian Cuisine – Enjoy the luscious cuisine of Italy as you prepare such classic dishes as Osso Buco Milanese with Lemon Gremolata, Roasted Pepper Risotto with Pine Nuts, and Italian Espresso Tiramisu. You’ll learn traditional Italian sauces such as Fresh Basil Marinara, and Roast Garlic Alfredo, and how to make the finest fresh pasta, in Pasta Making 101.

August 25th – 27th : NEW ! Seafood – See food! and Know how to Cook it! Come learn the difference between shrimp, crab, flat fish and round fish. We’ll “hook you up” with cooking techniques such as broil, grill, fry, pan fry, poach and shallow poach. We’ll show you the preparation of Batters and Breading. Plus the Fabrication, such as Darnes, Steak, Tranche and Filet. And, what would all of this be good for, with out the added side dishes and accompaniments. Due to the higher price of seafood, an additional $45 surcharge applies.

September 8th – 10th : Cooking 101– Come join us in Cooking 101 for an introduction to the fundamentals. You’ll learn about knives--name, purpose, technique and sharpening; and the name and purpose of all those pots and pans. You’ll be introduced to the basic cooking techniques, such as braising, poaching, broiling, sautéing, pan frying, and grilling, along with the basics of soup stocks and sauces. Never again feel like recipes are written in a foreign language!

September 22nd – 24th : Hill Country Cuisine – From wild flowers to wild game, enjoy the abundance the Texas Hill Country has to offer! Chef Mark will show you the secrets of preparing fresh game in such mouthwatering dishes as Molasses Grilled Wimberley Quail over Soft Polenta and Spit-Roasted Wild Duck with Orange Demi-Glacé. Enjoy learning to make traditional Stonewall Peach Shortcakes with Poteet Blackberries Sorbet.

October 6th - 8th : New Orleans Cuisine – Spend 3 days and 2 nights in the beautiful Texas Hill Country while learning a variety of New Orleans cooking skills. This class will focus on the two main cooking styles in and around New Orleans -Creole and Cajun- and will deliciously reflect their mix of Spanish, African, and French heritages. You will learn to produce such dishes as award winning Gumbo, Blackened Fish, Cajun Barbecued Shrimp, Cajun Marinated Roasted Loin of Pork, and the classic Beignet.

October 20th – 22nd: Holiday Feast – This class is designed to reduce your stress for the holidays. We will teach you the art of planning and executing a memorable holiday dinner. Prepare Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding, Whiskey Brined Roasted Turkey with Fresh Sage Herb Dressing. This class will also feature traditional holiday baked items such as pies , cakes, stollen, and Kugelhjupf. Jump-start your holiday season by taking home your fresh baked cookies!

November 3rd – 5th: Italian Cuisine – Straight from the neighborhood restaurants of Italy, this class explores the best kept secrets of Italian cuisine. From Gnocchi al Pesto to Wood Grilled Pizza Bianca with Smoked Eggplant and Portobellos, this is the perfect opportunity to learn classic Italian fare, including how to make your own fresh ravioli and pastas with traditional sauces, such as Fresh Basil Marinara and Roast Garlic Alfredo.

November 17th – 19th: Mediterranean Cuisine – If you can't make it to the Mediterranean this summer, let Blair House take you on a culinary tour of the region from the Strait of Gibraltar to Cypress with plenty of tasty stops along the way! With a heavy emphasis on seafood cuisine, Duck Breasts with Pomegranate Walnut Sauce, Fruits de Mer, Calamari, Baklava, Classic Greek Salad, Focaccia, Polenta and Crema Catalana are just a sampling of what you have to look forward to on this journey.

December 8th – 10th : Holiday Baking – Celebrating the traditions of Christmas baking, this class highlights festive creations seen especially at this time of year. Along with celebrating the diversity of our Texas culture with recipes such as Traditional Bouche de’Noel (Christmas Log), German Appell Taart with Sauce Anglaise, and Texas Rustic Peach and Blackberry Croustade with Buttermilk Lemon sorbet, you’ll prepare mouthwatering meals with a variety of ‘Blair House Favorites’. Kick-off your holiday season by taking home your fresh baked cookies.

Themed Cooking School Single Occupancy Price Per Person: $715.88 (all taxes and tips included).

Themed Cooking School Double Occupancy (2 cooking school participants in one room) Price per Person: $609.88 (all taxes and tips included).

Themed Cooking School Tag-along Rate (for friends or family who don't want to take the cooking class, but still want to eat all the incredible food you cook!): $198.79 per person (all taxes and tips included) added to single occupancy package rate.

Cooking School Special: Stay one night before or one night after the cooking school and receive 20% off your regular room rate!

Cancellation policy - a $50.00 fee is charged for all cancellations made 30 days prior to the day of arrival. Balance of deposit will be refunded on the date of the cancellation by check or credit to your bank card account. However, if there is a need to cancel within 30 days of the arrival date, we will be happy to issue a gift certificate for the entire amount of the cooking school. Cancellations made within 72 hours of the scheduled cooking school will result in forfeiture of your deposit and a gift certificate will be issued for the balance of the cooking school tuition.