I am so envious of Ann Luke! Her experience at Fustini’s Oils and Vinegars was fantastic. Sounds like the perfect (and economical) date night or girl’s night out! Thanks Ann!

 

I have spent a fair amount of time over the last couple of years learning how to cook, so a night at Fustini’s was right up my alley. Up until now, I have always used regular or extra virgin olive oil and plain balsamic or red wine vinegar in my cooking, so I knew a night at Fustini’s would open up my options and my palate.

The class was held in the charming Kerrytown Shops in Ann Arbor, but there are also locations in Holland, Traverse City, and Petoskey for you Michiganders who might not be in southeastern Michigan. The night was spectacular and fellow bloggers from clovereats.com, foodandwinehedonist.com (both fantastic blogs for finding the best food in Ann Arbor), and I watched Chef Andy prepare dishes under the theme of “Fin Fish and Shell Fish.”

One of best parts of attending a cooking class is that I am much more open to trying all sorts of things I would never make at home or sample in a restaurant because in a cooking class, there is nothing to lose! I am always pleasantly surprised at what I end up loving.

Chef Andy’s dishes were no exception…they were all excellent. Our menu consisted of Crab Stuffed Peaches, Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, Whitefish Grenoble, and Shrimp Fra’Diavolo.  While I thought the crab dish was the one I was going to like the least (crab and peaches just didn’t seem to go together in my mind), it ended up being my favorite!

Chef Andy travels to all four locations and teaches the cooking classes. He is knowledgeable and interesting and easily created an comfortable rapport with the group and kept us engaged the entire evening. I also appreciated the the techniques and skills he taught along the way. The classes are themed by month, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store. You can learn more about all of their class offerings on their calendar of events.

The cooking or sampling classes are a perfect way to mix up the traditional “let’s meet for dinner” routine. For only $25 per class, you get an incredible meal, engaging company and cooking tips and tricks. You also receive a $10 voucher to use toward the purchase of products like the Tuscan Herb Olive Oil I brought home. It really kicks up the flavor in my home cooking!
You can’t talk about Fustini’s without saying a bit about their oils and vinegars. Sampling all the store had to offer was a fun addition to the night. The bottles are beautiful to look at and even better to taste; they are a great addition to your home pantry or the perfect hostess gift. I can’t wait to get back to Fustini’s for the classes and for the oil and vinegar!

 

Disclosure: Mom Explores Michigan was invited to attend the class for free in exchange for this review, but the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

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