A strawberry dessert from the center for advanced pastry studies at ICE

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Couple’s Class

The 51Թ offers cooking, chocolate and Champagne events for the occasion.

ICE is hosting romantic, indulgent and delectable classes at both campuses this Valentine’s Day and throughout February, whether you’re into an interactive date or in love with cooking ⎯ and chocolate.

By Ashley Day

ICE's former Content Director, Ashley Day has also managed USA TODAY's food section and covered food and travel for The Daily Meal, Rand McNally and Hungry? City Guides. Ashley went from taste-testing frozen pizzas at the Good Housekeeping Institute to braving exotic game meat for Field & Stream, then making ramen with Morimoto and rolling sushi with Nobu for USA TODAY Eats. 

Treat yourself or your special someone to steak, pizza, bourbon or pasta in a hands-on recreational class. In New York, couples classes include Bourbon Steakhouse, Homemade Pasta, and Pizza & Wine Bar (dessert pies included). Parties of any size can alternatively celebrate by creating a variety of sweet treats in Chocolate Confections; toasting with a prestige cuvée Champagne, American sparkling wine and more bubbly in Valentine's Day Champagne Gala; or making a lavish five-course meal complete with a duo of beef and trio of desserts in Be My Valentine with Chef Sue Gonsalves.

"Be My Valentine is all about couples having a wonderful hands-on experience putting their valentine dinner together," says Sue, a special events chef-instructor. "The fun part is whipping up chocolate mousse, mini chocolate and red velvet cakes while sipping sparkling wine and then sitting down to eat in a romantic candlelight setting."

If you’re busy on the big night or gifting a class, consider California Wine Country: American Regional Favorites on Feb. 16, when Chef Penny Stankiewicz will guide you from pork tenderloin with pan-roasted grapes to chardonnay-poached pears with crème anglaise. Indulge in seared duck breast, roasted bone marrow and more in Winter Favorites at ICE or a pizza class for parents and kids that same day.

A recreational pizza class at ICE culminates in a group meal.
A recreational pizza class at ICE culminates in a group meal.

Our Los Angeles campus hosts some of its first recreational classes this month, including a Couples: Handmade Pasta class that's open to the public on Feb. 15.

For Valentine’s Day, couples can take advantage of The Classic Steakhouse Dinner, a popular class from our New York campus, featuring shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, grilled New York strip with beurre maitre d'hotel, creamed spinach, truffled mashed potatoes and mini New York cheesecakes with strawberry compote.

“Classic Steakhouse is one of ICE’s long-standing and most popular classes,” says Director of Recreational Programs Kate McCue. “This class highlights New York’s most craveable steakhouse classics. You will learn techniques from poaching to grilling to making compound butter and vinaigrettes, all paired with a classic martini.”

Don’t forget that ICE gift cards make great last-minute gifts and to share your celebrations with us on social media @iceculinary.

See the and Los Angeles class schedules and availability to register.

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