Sex Week: Couples Cooking Classes

Photo courtesy of Shelbey Howard Davis

Ever thought about skipping a trek to a restaurant on Valentine's Day and instead doing something just as impactful, but more appealing to the senses? If restaurants are your only bag, you're missing out on a little gem of a place called Hipcooks, where professional chefs and amateurs alike can come together for an evening of relaxed instruction and hands-on participation in the wonderful world of food preparation.

If you haven't taken a cooking class before, Hipcooks is an excellent first start. With many friendly and trained professionals on staff, a fully-stocked kitchen, and an approach to the craft that speaks to the idea that anyone can cook, any fears or pressures you may have will melt away minutes after entering their front door.

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Photo courtesy of Shelbey Howard Davis

We decided to stop by for a visit and see for ourselves if the positive buzz we've been hearing is true and as it turns out -- it is! With a romantic holiday just around the corner, we opted for one of the more couples-oriented classes called "A Romantic Dinner for Two (Part III)", and we were not disappointed. Our instructor, Bonny, cheerfully greeted us as we walked out of the cold and into the cleanest, most comfortable cooking space we've ever seen. An equally cheerful instructional assistant grabbed our coats and promptly offered us a beverage. As we gathered around the cooking table, complete with utensils and cutting boards for all of the six couples involved, we realized that no over-priced restaurant meal could ever compensate for the experience we were about to gain and the friendships we might possibly form.

First up on the menu was a baked wild mushroom ragout stuffed neatly inside of a buttery, pastry square. It was surprisingly easy to make, with very few ingredients and a whole lot of flavor. We washed it down with our first glass of an aged Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Savignon, and moved on to the second course: beef tenderloin with polenta cake atop a tri-color veggie sauté, smothered in ancho chile sauce. As we enjoyed every tasty morsel, we could feel our taste buds practically high-fiving each other (or maybe that was the second glass of wine talking). Short of licking the plate after we finished, we simply couldn't get enough of the good stuff! By the time we moved on to the final dish of the night, dessert of course, we were thrilled that we had invested in the $65 per person fee. In our opinion, this is underpriced for what you will end up taking away with you at the end of the night.

Dessert is our favorite and we thought that nothing could ever top chocolate, but the goat cheese tart with berry coulis proved us wrong. The delicious contrast between the creaminess of the cheese and the tartness of the raspberries was incredible. We were certain that if the class had been even half as full as it was, we could've easily devoured the entire tart on our own! Hello, thunder thighs!

By the end of the night, our bellies were bulging and our hearts were content. We came away with helpful tips too, like the various ways a knife can be held to achieve a desired cut or shape, and how the addition of salt to a dish enhances the natural flavor of foods. It seems the more salt, the merrier! Who knew cooking could be this much of an adventure?

So why not give something like this beginner cooking course a try this Valentine's Day? You just never know what it might stir up -- in or outside of the kitchen!