Photo courtesy of Cook Like a “Dame” Cooking Series

The Phoenix Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, a philanthropic organization of stellar professional women in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries, is pleased to announce its new Cook Like a “Dame” Cooking Series, held virtually throughout the summer. The series runs through August and features hour-long classes led by award-winning Dame chefs and instructors Candy Lesher and Tamara Stanger and moderated by Dame Debbie Elder, the chapter’s president in training.

Each live class features 50 minutes to an hour of real-time instruction and the opportunity at the completion of each session to interact with and ask questions of the featured instructor. Recipes for each session will be provided five days in advance so participants can cook alongside the Dame chefs, tasting firsthand what a difference their invaluable techniques and ingredients can make in every kitchen.

The cost is $35 per individual class. Participants are welcome to “share the screen” with friends and family, encouraging the social and interactive joy of cooking.

schedule of classes:
Pie Crust 101
Instructor: Chef Tamara Stanger
Wednesday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m.

As the name implies, this class will cover all things scratch-made pie crust including the history of pie crust, Chef Stanger’s favorite pie crust recipe and rolling crust (every novice baker’s dreaded moment), as well as different variations suitable for specific dietary needs and a range of flavor profiles. Chef Stanger will also discuss when blind baking pie crust is necessary, how to do it, and the basic information for a variety of pie fillings.

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
Instructor: Chef Candy Lesher
Wednesday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Tasty, rich, and hearty, this soup is a breeze to create and will become every home cook’s satisfying go-to option for healthier Southwest cravings. Participants will learn how to make an inexpensive vegetarian-based broth that puts store-bought boxed versions to shame — and then discover the steps to extract the most impact from every ingredient for new levels of vibrant flavor. For ease and speed, directions will utilize an Instant Pot/pressure cooker; stovetop instructions will also be provided.

Southern Pies with a Southwest Desert Twist
Instructor: Chef Tamara Stanger
Wednesday, August 23 at 6:30 p.m.

In the world of desserts, Southern pie reigns supreme. Using the pie crust basics from her previous class session on June 21, Chef Stanger will show participants how to utilize indigenous Southwest desert ingredients to recreate classic Southern pies such as shoofly, vinegar, and chess pies. This one-of-a-kind class is not to be missed!

For more about the Cook Like a “Dame” Cooking Series and to purchase classes, visit: eventbrite.com/e/630821432887 .