LIMITED TO SIX PARTICIPANTS!

During the Festival concerts in April and August, The Hungry Musician cooking classes bring together six students for the preparation of a complete menu with wines. Meats and fish will be simply grilled or roasted with an emphasis on new flavors. Vegetable dishes showcase taste, color, and texture. Desserts will star fresh fruits in granitas, panna cottas, delicate pastries and soufflés. The lessons flow with comparative tastings of the menu's ingredients plus the dishes prepared throughout the session. Professionaly-trained chef Libby Hartman provides up-close, expert guidance on meal preparation, ingredient selection, and making optimal use of the best kitchen tools.

With the August temperature spiking, it's time for a deep-dive into the exotic power of Middle Eastern spices. This class will feature the unique flavors from Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and North Africa. The lesson will include mezze, flatbreads, slow roasted and grilled meats, accompanying sauces, and exotically perfumed desserts. Each lesson begins with a cocktail and continues with dining on the featured menu items along with paired wines. Students also receive printed recipes to take home. All proceeds benefit food services provided to musicians performing at Staunton Music Festival.