Chef Jeff Besecker

Chef Jeff Besecker of The Old Arcana has announced their 2016 schedule of cooking classes.  Here’s your chance to join the Arcana team in the kitchen at 109 W. George Street in Arcanum, and learn to prepare dishes with familiar flavors as well as recipes that push your taste buds to new and exciting places.

Classes include a blend of demonstrations from the  kitchen crew as well as hands-on lessons that attendees will prepare themselves.  Because their kitchen space is small, classes are limited to 8 students each to ensure plenty of room to work and learn, so be sure to register early to ensure your spot! Classes run $45 and you can register online.

Here’s the upcoming class lineup:

FEBRUARY 17TH: 6PM
Stocking up for Winter: 3 Hearty Soups = Multiple Meals

During this class we’ll learn how to make a rich and savory Chicken Stock and a spicy and healthy Vegetable Stock that serve as the base for three delicious soups that will keep you warm and fed all winter long.

You’ll learn how to make:

• Herbed Chicken Stock
• Spicy Vegetable Stock
• Herbed Chicken Noodle Soup
• Asian Ginger Vegetable Soup with Rice Noodles
• Hearty White Bean, Kale & Chicken Thigh Stew

This is a Demonstration Class. You’ll watch the Arcana kitchen team create each stock and soup step by step, and then we’ll all enjoy 3 soups together with crusty Bakehosue Bread & Cookie Company bread. Recipes are included to take home.


MARCH 9TH: 6PM
Spectacular One Pot Meals: Coq au Vin!
(Channel your inner Julia Child)

Channel your inner Julia Child and learn how to make one of her signature one pot dishes: Coq au Vin. A traditional French dish, Coq au Vin is chicken braised in red wine with pearl onions, mushrooms, and lardons of pork (bacon!). Although the recipe began as a rustic, peasant dish, when prepared correctly Coq au Vin can be an impressive meal for guests with an elegant presentation and a spectacularly rich and complex sauce. During this class, you’ll enjoy a variety of cheeses and fruit while we’ll demonstrate how to build your Coq au Vin correctly. Then we’ll enjoy a previously cooked version (Coq au Vin takes a long while to simmer) over hot buttered noodles with a crusty with French baguettes from Bakehouse Bread in Troy. A light mixed greens salad with apples, goat cheese and walnuts will be served on the side.

This is a Demonstration Class. You’ll watch the Arcana kitchen team create Coq au Vin step by step, and then we’ll all enjoy our meal together with crusty bread. Recipes are included to take home.






MARCH 23RD: 6PM
Baking Bagels!

In 2014, Chef Jeff’s Ozro & Ray’s Authentic Homestyle Bagel recipe was voted “Best Creative Bagel in Ohio” by Ohio Magazine. We’ll teach you the secret to making this fun and easy twice-cooked specialty at home. Get the techniques to mix, proof, shape, boil and bake a great bagel, complete with classic toppings and fillings. Plus, you’ll learn to make flavorful compound butters and cream cheeses that will remain a “must” on your breakfast table from now on.

At the end of class, you’ll enjoy trying the piping hot bagels you made with cream cheese, smoked salmon and all the fixings.

You’ll learn how to make:

• Chef Jeff’s award winning bagel recipe
• Flavored cream cheese
• Compound butter

This is a Hands-On Class. You’ll watch the Arcana kitchen team create some elements of bagel dough, then you’ll get your hands in dough and learn how to weigh, roll and shape bagels! You will be on your feet cooking most of the time so please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and clothing that you don’t mind dusting with a little bit of flour. Recipes are included to take home.

 

 

APRIL 6TH: 6PM
Date Night: Making Meatballs!

Create your very own “Bella Notte” with your favorite someone… learn how to make Pasta with Meatballs at The Old Arcana! Grab your date and get ready to enjoy a tactile, hands-on culinary evening.

You’ll learn how to spice and hand-roll some of the best meatballs you’ve ever eaten and make marinara sauce from scratch. You’ll also learn the difference between Parmesan cheeses and why true Parmigiano Reggiano is the only choice to make.

At the end of class, you and your date will enjoy your pasta & meatballs with a freshly baked crusty baguette from Bakehouse Bread and herbed compound butter.

You’ll learn how to make:

• Arcana Meatballs
• Arcana Marinara Sauce
• Compound butter

This is a Hands-On Class. You’ll watch the Arcana kitchen team create our fresh marinara sauce, then, you and your date will mix and roll meatballs together! You will be on your feet cooking most of the time so please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and clothing that you don’t mind getting messy (we’ll provide aprons). Recipes are included to take home.



APRIL 20TH: 6PM
Making Fresh Pasta: Hands On

Pasta is a pantry staple and every cook should have a repertoire of go-to recipes. In this class you’ll explore both fresh and dried pastas, and gain an understanding of why certain shaped pastas are paired with certain sauces.

Everyone will make a batch of basic egg pasta dough. Using our handy KitchenAid pasta roller and cutter attachment, we’ll make fresh sheet pasta for ravioli and fresh fettuccine noodles. We’ll also learn how to make a basic cream sauce as well as a vegetable based ravioli filling.

The ravioli stamp we’ll be using that evening will be yours to keep!

You’ll learn how to make:

• Fresh sheet Pasta
• Fresh Fettuccine

This is a Hands-On Class. You’ll watch the Arcana kitchen team create sauce and ravioli filling, then you’ll dig in and make fresh pasta by hand! You will be on your feet cooking most of the time so please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and clothing that you don’t mind getting messy (we’ll provide aprons). Recipes are included to take home.



MAY 11TH: 6PM
Spectacular One Pot Meals: Chicken Curry!
(Fundamentals of Indian Flavors & Spices)

We will introduce you to an Indian pantry full of fragrant spices, healthful vegetables, spicy chilies and succulent sauces and then show you how to use those basics to create a delicious Chicken Curry. We’ll also make homemade naan, a traditional leavened bread. Rice and chutney will be available to enjoy with your meal.

You’ll learn how to make:

• Chicken Curry
• Naan Bread

This is a Demonstration Class. You’ll watch the Arcana kitchen team create Chicken Curry and Naan step by step, and then we’ll all enjoy our meal together with rice and chutney. Recipes are included to take home.

So grab some friends, or make it a work outing and sign up for a class.  The best part, you can grab a bottle of wine and drink during these Wednesday night classes, while you’re learning how to make fabulous food.  Sounds delicious!