Learning to Cook the Cover of EAT Magazine with Chef Jennifer Danter

You know those photos on the cover of EAT magazine that always look so enticingly delicious? This month we launched a new series of classes that teach the recipes in each issue’s cover story. Not only does the class teach how to make everything on the cover, but you’ll also learn about presentation and plating so your meal looks as good as it does on the cover too.

The theme of the first class was making entertaining easy, which all starts with the recipes. The secret is to choose a menu that’s easy to prepare and serve but looks and tastes amazing. In other words, the biggest flavor for your labour.

Chef Jennifer Danter quickly got us on our feet and in the kitchen to help prepare three dishes:  spring salmon baked smothered with crème fraiche, roasted squash and braised kale and mini baked Alaska for dessert. Jennifer’s straightforward style and simple instructions demystified the recipes and inspired. The result was an incredible meal that looked as elegant as it does in the magazine. The mini baked Alaska was the crowd favorite and everyone would have had seconds if only we had room!

Helpful tips from the class:

• Prepare what you can in advance; this will keep your stress levels down for when your guests arrive.
• Picture how the food will look in front of you. When plating a meal, never be afraid to use your hands to set the food on the plate.
• Use finishing oils, flavored oils with herbs, salt and garlic, to drizzle around the plate.
• Instead of plating, try presenting the food buffet-style to create an informal setting that’s relaxed yet elegant.

Jennifer is a chef by trade who’s a recipe developer and food stylist for EAT Magazine and Epicure Selections. Previously, she lived worked at Chatelaine Magazine doing recipe development and food styling for six years. In case you can’t tell, we’re really excited about this new series of classes and look forward to more classes with Jennifer in 2012. Here is the link to the next class, Apres Ski.

To see more photos from this class and others, please visit us on Facebook.