Farm-to-KITCHEN Cooking Class: Native Foods of Massachusetts

  Farm-to-KITCHEN Cooking Class: Native Foods of Massachusetts Presented by The Trustees This September, we are excited to bring you a very special cooking experience that focuses on the foods and cooking styles of Massachusett's Native American Tribe, the Wampanoag, who resided in Eastern Massachusetts during the 17th century and whose decendants still live in the Commonwealth today. This class will highlight pre-colonial diets and farming practices, including seasonal rounds of fishing, planting, harvesting, hunting, and seed saving, while also providing some insight into the past and current Wampanoag population. While fairly invisible in our current food system, the Wampanoag contributed greatly to our food production knowledge and our understanding of seasonal eating. This class sets out to honor these great people and educate attendees on the history of local food. Our menu focuses on the Wampanoag's "three sisters" crops of corn, beans and squash, which will be in peak season in September. In this lively, hands-on cooking class you’ll learn how to utilize the produce and products of the farmers and artisans of the Boston Public Market. Guided by Chef Alexis you’ll create an exciting three-course meal based on seasonal, local food, and increase your comfort in the kitchen through new knife skills, techniques, and flavor profiles. In addition to learning a new cooking style, you'll enjoy tastes of three local New England wines that pair perfectly with recipes we’ll be making, courtesy of The Massachusetts Wine Shop. Come ready to roll up your sleeves and get cooking! Dates: Sunday, Sept 9 | 4-6 pm Friday, Sept 21 | 6-8 pm Sunday, Sept 30 | 4-6 pm Menu: Smoked Fish and Green Bean Salad, featuring fish from Boston Smoked Fish Co. Sweet Corn and Squash Fritters with Crema Easy Drop Berry Shortcakes with fresh Appleton Farms cream This menu can be made vegetarian, but not gluten free, or vegan. Please email kitcheninfo [at] thetrustees [dot] org to let us know if you need a vegetarian option or to alert us to any allergies. Our hands-on cooking classes are structured as a group learning experience; you’ll work with other students to create a seasonal meal led by our professional chef instructors. We focus on learning new cooking styles and techniques to increase your confidence and enjoyment in your own kitchen. Here are a few things to know before booking a class with us: Each class is centered on the local, seasonal farmers and artisans of the Boston Public Market, so menus may change slightly based on what’s available the day of the event. During each class, you’ll learn 2 or 3 recipes, you’ll work with between 2 and 4 other students to create each one, and you’ll enjoy a plentiful taste of each. Classes are usually between 2 and 2.5 hours long, unless otherwise noted. Please be prepared to be on your feet, standing at a table, and cooking for the duration of class. We recommend comfortable, non-slip, and closed-toe shoes. Tickets: $60 for Trustees member and $75 for Non-Trustees Members. Members must bring their current member card and number. Join The Trustees and save! Members save between 20-40% off all classes in The KITCHEN.   About Chef Alexis Daniels Alexis began catering at 13-years-old in the San Francisco Bay Area, and launched her own private catering company at 16. Rather reluctantly, she closed her business and uprooted to chilly Boston to earn a BA in Anthropology, Community Health, and Fine Art from Tufts University. Delighted to learn food does in fact grow here too, she stayed a while longer and earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy. After testing the waters in rehabilitation hospitals, clinics, and schools, she decided the kitchen best suits her creative, culinary mind! These days, she is Enrichment Programs Manager at the Acera School, a founding member of Eastie Farm (the neighborhood’s first non-profit urban farm), and an avid world traveller. Alexis is excited to extend her love of global cuisines to students at the Boston Public Market, through classes highlighting New England’s highest quality local food. About The Trustees and The KITCHEN As one of the largest owners of agricultural land and the premier steward of the cultural and natural landscape of Massachusetts, The Trustees extends its leadership to transform the local food system by connecting residents and visitors back to the land and sharing the Commonwealth’s collective agrarian heritage through innovative retail and educational experiences at the Boston Public Market in the heart of downtown Boston. The KITCHEN is a community gathering place, managed by The Trustees, that is restoring the craft of seasonal cooking in Massachusetts, New England, and beyond through hands-on classes and educational experiences that celebrate the farmers and artisans of this region. Partnered with the Boston Public Market, The KITCHEN embraces a whole-food approach to eating and promotes cooking as an essential cornerstone of a sustainable food system. Join the Trustees and recieve discounts on KITCHEN events. Join here.