Cooking Classes

Week of September 21, 2019

Rob Ittner, Owner and Chef at the Cooking School of Aspen.  Rob has been in the food and beverage industry for over 30 years and has owned 5 restaurants over that time.  Notably, Rustique Bistro, awarded by Esquire Magazine “American’s Best New Restaurants” when it opened in 2000.  Rob was an instructor at the New England Culinary Institute and is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.  Currently Rob teaches cooking classes to the people in Aspen and caters (or he likes to say “Curates”) specialty private parties and events through his newest venture TasteAspen.com.  These parties are not your run of the mill event, more like experiences that can’t be found in the main stream market.  For example, imagine a Michelin Star Chef flown in for one night and dinner on a mountain top, or a farm tour with an eight-course meal in a remote field.

Rob’s approach to food is a unique one. He lives by two food philosophies.  First, “Food is Art”.  Rob’s definition of “Art” in the book he is writing (Conscious Tasting) is “something that we experience though our senses that inspires an emotion” and he goes on to argue that since taste and smell are so closely related to our memories and memories trigger emotions, food can be one of the most profound artforms if we let it.  Second, “Our ability to taste, is directly connected to our consciousness”.  Rob teaches about “Conscious Tasting”, simply put our consciousness, language and their connection to our memories is what give us the ability to taste, and it is a learned experience that needs to be cultivated for our inner chef to come out.

Rob is also a Certified member of the Court of Master Sommeliers and will use some of his experience in wine to teach the skills of tasting during the dinner.

Chef Rob Ittner offers three hands-on culinary experiences, 3.5 hours each, during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our culinary center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 4pm. For more information and registration, please click here.

 

Chef Rob Ittner offers three hands-on culinary experiences, 3.5 hours each, during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our culinary center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 4pm. For more information and registration, please click here.