Learn to Cook from Southwest Florida’s Best Chefs

After a successful first run last October, Naples Originals has increased the schedule of cooking classes being held at local restaurants this fall.

For a chance to learn truffle foam tricks from a master of molecular gastronomy or the secret to searing a piece of fresh-caught snapper, grab your front-row seats to the kitchens of the Gulfshore’s best chefs while you can.

Foodie Camp, a Naples Originals community-minded venture, is back after a great debut year with an extra week and double the number of classes. This time it will run from Monday, Oct. 17, through Thursday, Oct. 27. Thirteen classes are on the docket with more being added in the coming weeks, and already 30 percent of the seats are sold out.

It’s the same basic format—local celebrity chefs will host 90-minute cooking classes at their restaurants with the proceeds from ticket sales benefitting St. Matthew’s House and the Naples Originals’ culinary scholarships at FGCU (the organization, a consortium of independently owned restaurants doing everything it can to foster our unique restaurant scene, puts helping budding culinary talent as a top priority).

The sessions are $50 during the afternoon and $60 at night; all include samples of whatever is being prepared, wine and a take-home recipe book. Most aim for a mix of demos and hands-on learning.

Chefs who were on board last year, such as Brian Roland of Crave Culinaire, Alexander Bernard of Alexander’s and Lisa Boët of Chez Boët, will repeat their roles as professor, and they will be joined by even more of our local stars, including Dominico Bosco of Kitchen 41 and Jason Goddard of Barbatella, among others.

For a complete schedule and to buy tickets, click here.