Instead of binge-watching Food Network to learn how to sear, roast and steam, local residents can learn cooking basics and tips at the Taste of Home Cooking School next weekend.
The traveling production, put on by the Taste of Home magazine, will be at Denton High School on Saturday, featuring culinary specialist Jamie Dunn, local vendors and several free giveaways.
“It brings together home cooks across the nation so they can share and learn, and gain some great recipes,” Dunn said. “People come and watch the show, and I teach them tips and tricks and ideas about cooking.”
The traveling show started more than 50 years ago, and has grown in popularity as the Taste of Home magazine has grown its subscription base to more than four million readers.
The two hour show will feature different recipes from the magazine and readers that have all been tested in the magazine’s test kitchen, Dunn said. Part of the draw of the show is to learn the new recipes, but there will be tips and tricks for new and experienced home cooks as well. This helps draw people of all demographics who want to learn more about the food they prepare at home, Dunn said.
“I think what’s really great about the cooking school is it’s for every age and gender,” she said. “It’s great for anyone who is interested in food.”
Pat Sherman, DATCU’s vice president of business development, was the emcee of the event last year and will return again this year. For Sherman, an empty-nester who doesn’t cook frequently, the show helped inspire her to begin cooking at home more.
“I never imagined that it would be the quality of experience it was,” she said of last year’s event. “It’s very helpful to have some tips and ideas so we can create those kinds of recipes and culinary experiences in a lot less time.”
As emcee at the event, Sherman will be in charge of drawing for the door prizes, which range from cook books to appliances. As assistants transitioned the kitchen set between recipes, Sherman was also in charge of keeping the audience entertained.
The whole production was “so well orchestrated,” that she and other DATCU employees were impressed enough to sponsor the show this year, she said.
While the cooking demo begins at 6:30 p.m., local vendors will be set up at the Denton High School Auditorium at 3 p.m. Vendors include local businesses like The Courthouse Collection, and local representatives for companies like Tastefully Simple, which sells mixes and sauces to easily prepare meals at home.
General admission for the vendors and show is $15, and this year attendees have the option to buy VIP passes. The passes include a meet and greet reception from 5 to 5:30 p.m. with Dunn, sponsored by Sidewalk Cafe. Additionally, people with the passes have early entry to the show at 6 p.m., before general admission attendees can be seated at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are available online at DentonRC.com, the Denton Record-Chronicle office at 314 E. Hickory St., and DATCU’s location at 225 W. Mulberry St.
JENNA DUNCAN can be reached at 940-566-6889 and via Twitter at @JennaFDuncan.
