The French Guide to Holiday Apéro

A hands-on in-person cooking class culminating in a dinner served with wine and beer. This class is limited to 14 students. Review our registration and cancellation policies here. 
 

The holiday season is upon us, when we’ll be called to host our family & friends. Learn how to entertain as artfully and effortlessly as the French do! The secret? A variety of hors d’œuvres to keep the party flowing and a menu flexible enough to allow you to enjoy the party while hosting!

The apéro (short for apéritif) is a tradition thoroughly ingrained in French culture, when friends and family come together over pre-dinner drinks. In recent years, a new term has emerged - “l’apéro dinatoire” - which keeps the elegance of the traditional apéritif, but deviates from the formality of a traditional multi-course dinner party. The apéro dinatoire is made for chic yet casual grazing on a spread of bites made from simple, abundant and seasonal produce. 

Join chef Zoé and learn how to prepare and plan for a holiday feast that will be sure to impress your friends and family! 

MENU

Kir Royal—Champagne Cocktail with Crème de Cassis 

Gougères—Choux Pastry with Gruyère Cheese

Warm Marinated Olives

Rillettes de Saumon—Salmon Rillettes with Shiso Leaf 

Salt Cured Baby Potatoes with Tarragon Aioli

Chestnut, Apple & Celery Root Soup

Fromage Fort with Olive Oil Crostini

This menu contains the following common allergens: Fish, Egg, Dairy, Wheat. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions that concern your ability to cook along, please e-mail info@18reasons.org before purchasing a ticket.

Let’s Cook Together! 

Zoé McLaughlin was born in Paris and raised in San Francisco. She graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and worked in restaurants in France while she wrote and published her first cookbook – a collection of family recipes influenced by her multicultural upbringing. She now lives in San Francisco, where she works in the non-profit culinary world and hosts online cooking demonstrations. She has a passion for bringing together the diverse flavors and culinary traditions of the Bay Area with the time tested techniques of classical French cooking.

_{Photo courtesy of Zoe McLaughlin}