Store Calendar

Salud! Culinary Center Cooking Classes and Store Events

Sign up here for our Culinary Center E-Newsletter

Class Information:  All participants in Hands-On classes must be at least 18 years of age, unless indicated otherwise.  Most demonstration classes are open to participants of all ages.  Attendees of classes in which wine is served must be at least 21 years of age.  Classes range from 1 to 3 hours in length, unless otherwise indicated.  Please wear flat, close-toed shoes, and comfortable clothing to hands-on classes.  Class usually, but not always, consists of a brief lecture and hands-on cooking, followed by eating at the end of class.  Students are typically divided into groups at the instructor's discretion.

  

How to Register for Classes

• Register On-Line through Acteva
• Call us at (916) 488-2800 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. PST
• Stop by Customer Service to register in person

Register is required for all events including those that are free.  The Culinary Center reserves the right to allow participants into a class without registration.  To guarantee your place in a class, payment must be received when you enroll.  Also, we encourage you to please sign up a minimum of 48 hours prior to the day of the class.  Classes do fill up and sell out!

Seating and enrollment are on a first-come, first-served basis. If a class is sold out, please call (916) 488-2800 to be placed on our waiting list.  With some exceptions, registration closes 48 hours prior to class.  

Cancelation Policy:  We are happy to refund your purchase 48 hours in advance of any class.  Unfortunately, refunds and/or transfers of credit cannot be given for no-shows or cancelations made less than 48 hours prior to the class - store policy dictates that no exceptions can be made.  Although we make every effort to avoid changes in our schedule, the Culinary Center reserves the right to cancel any class due to low, substitute instructors, and alter recipes due to product availability and seasonality.  Please contact the Culinary Center Director with questions (lynn.gowdy@wholefoods.com).  

 

Instructor Biographies
Private Class Info

• Wednesday, July 1st

  Learn to Make Stone Fruit Jam (Demonstration with Hand's-On component)

  6:30 p.m. $10

  With Kelly Barnes

  Apricots, peaches and nectarines are stone fruits in season.  Take advantage of Sacramento's bountiful harvest of these fruits by making jam.  Each participant will take home a jar of freshly made jam and recipes to try.

• Friday, July 3rd

  Come Sample Country Natural Beef Tenderloin!!!

  11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. FREE

  Join Marina, our Demo Specialist and taste some of this fabulously succulent beef.  It is on sale, 1-day only (Friday, July 3rd).  Great for summer grilling or anytime.

• Tuesday, July 7th

  Raw, Fit and Fabulous - Local Color of Food (Demonstration)

  6:00 p.m. $20

  With Pamela Spencer, Nutritionist & Raw Food Chef

  California is bountiful with locally-grown produce choices. Experiment with colorful, creative menus: the more color, the more nutrients.  Whether life is a picnic, a backyard barbecue, or lunch in the park, add some spark to old-time favorites with healthier alternatives to your traditional favorite foods.  Menu:  Corn Salad with Cilantro Dressing,  Tomato Summer Stacks,  Carrot-Daikon Slaw,  Cream Of Celery Soup,  Raspberry Neapolitan Parfait.  For more information about this class, call Pamela at 916-996-6098.

• Wednesday, July 8th

  Headaches: A Natural Solution (Lecture)

  7:00 p.m. FREE

  With Dr. Tony Baratta, D.C.

  Come to this information packed workshop to help you learn how to get off the pain pills!  Learn safe, natural and effective ways to reduce or completely eliminate chronic Headaches. Prior sign up required by phone (488-2800) or in-store. Open to all ages.

• Saturday, July 11th

  Pizza, Calzones and More (Hands-On)

  11:30 a.m. $25

  With Jason Jonas

  Pizza!!!  Great for summer eating.  Learn to make and shape pizza dough.  You'll then choose toppings for your personal pizza from several options. (These options will give you great ideas for future pizza you make at home.)  You'll also make Tomato Mozzarella and Basil Calzones, and learn about Feta Kalamata Flatbread.  Ages 14 and older.

• Sunday, July 12th

  Community Bike Ride with the Health is Wealth Bike Team

  10:00 a.m. FREE

  Meet in front of the store at 9:45 a.m.  Ride departs at 10:00 a.m.  Ride is appropriate for all levels of riders.  Carmichael Cycles will be here, offering free tune ups to those who attend the ride.  Enjoy refreshments after the ride courtesy of Whole Foods.

• Tuesday, July 14th

  Chef of the Month: Anthony Palombo, Spataro's

  6:30 p.m. $50

  A favorite of many Sacramentans, Spataro's is one of the best places to go for a guaranteed fabulous meal!  Chef Anthony has been putting out excellent Italian and Mediterranean based dishes from this downtown gem since opening.  Join us for an unforgettable evening as you watch him prepare three signature dishes right in front of you.  Evening includes wine and lots of great cooking tips from Chef.  Each attendee gets a $25 gift certificate to Spataro's.

   Menu:   Garlic Infused Ricotta Bruschetta with Fresh Cherry Tomatoes, Tonno alla Siciliana (grilled Ahi Tuna, summer squash, green and yellow wax beans, tomato-black olive salsa), and Pollo alla Mattone (grilled boneless half chicken with Panzanella- tomatoes, bread, cucumbers, torpedo onions, basil, salsa verde)                      

• Wednesday, July 15th

  UC Davis Good Life Garden Lunch - Private Event

• Thursday, July 16th

  Farmer's Market Summer Sauces (Hands-On)

  6:30 p.m. $40

   With Instructors Kelly Fong and Lynn Gowdy

  Learn how easy it is to make great sauces to accompany a variety of summer dishes.  Concentrating on the sauce, you'll make Peach Mint Glaze for Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Tangy Watercress Pesto for Shrimp, Tatziki for Lamb Shooters (mini lamb burgers), Berry Sauce for Seafood, Romesco for Pitas and Cherry Balsamic Sauce for Ice Cream.  You'll be heading to the produce department or your nearest farmer's market after this class!  Ages 18 and older.

• Friday, July 17th

  Cooking for Your Date (Hands-On)

  6:30 p.m. $32

  with Chris Chisholm

  What could be more romantic than a summer picnic with your date?   Visualize a cosy, country picnic...  blanket atop a grassy shaded spot, a picnic basket, delicious and healthy summer foods, and a refreshing drink.  Join Chris as he teaches you how to prepare an alluring picnic basket for your next summer outing with your date.  Menu: Tomato and olive dip with fresh vegetables, Nicoise Salad, Roasted Chicken, Crusty fresh bread, and Strawberry Shortcake.

• Saturday, July 18th

  Couples Cooking (Hands-On)

  5:00 p.m. $35 Individual / $45 per couple

  With Chris Chisholm

  Move dinner outside with your partner, picnic style.  Easy, healthy and eye-appealing, this basket will have Tomato and Olive Dip with fresh vegetables, Nicoise Salad, Roasted Chicken, Crusty fresh bread, and Strawberry Shortcake. You'll learn to make this Hand's-on, taste your efforts for dinner and take recipes home for your next romantic picnic.  Note: candles and roses not included but easy to pick up at Whole Foods!

• Sunday, July 19th

  Ayurvedic Diet & Lifestyle for Disease Prevention (Lecture)

  2:00 p.m. FREE

  This class will look at a wide range of health risk factors, including those linked to diet and lifestyle, and how incorporating Ayurveda into your lifestyle can help reduce and prevent incidence of disease.  Open to all ages.

  Ayurveda views health and disease as the end result of how we interact with the world, in terms of our beliefs, perceptions, thoughts and feelings, which then ultimately determine our actions. Actions in harmony with our inner nature create health, while those disharmonious create disease. Ayurveda is the science of developing greater harmony with our environment through all of our senses. Journeying back to optimal health with Ayurveda is about balancing the five elements in the body and mind through the use of herbs, diet, colors, aromas, lifestyle changes, yoga and meditation, along with other five sense therapies.

• Monday, July 20th

  Kiwi Kids' Cooking Camp - The Global Stove for ages 11-13

  11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

  See July 6^th description and/or front calendar page for more details.

  

• Monday, July 20th

  Sustainable Budget Eating for Life and Health

  7:00 p.m. FREE

  With Amanda Louden, Certified Nutrition Educator

  How do you juggle daily demands of work and family yet pay attention to healthful eating so you, your family and the environment will be around for years to come?  And do this on a budget?!  Amanda will share keys to optimal eating and health including easy planning, pantry essentials and more.

• Tuesday, July 21st

  Women's Health Issues (Lecture)

  6:00 p.m. $10

  With Pamela Spencer, Nutritionist & Raw Food Chef

   Have you suffered from PMS, PCOS, fibroids, peri-menopuase, menopause, low libido (or know someone who has)?  Hormones have a profound effect on your everyday health and well-being.  Although present in only tiny amounts, hormones act on every cell of your body.  Diet and lifestyle are directly related to hormone production or the lack of. Are you getting the nutrients through your food choices to maintain hormone balance?  This helpful, interactive class offers a overview of the various hormonal imbalances that effect a women's mental, emotional, and physical health with emphasis on diet, exercise, and lifestyle as some of the cornerstones of management.

  For more information call: Pamela Spencer at 916-996-6098 www.sacnutritionist.com

• Saturday, July 25th

  Fong Brothers Wok Kentucky Bourbon Trail (Demo)

  6:30 p.m. $45

  With Eddie and Kelly Fong

  The duo is back!  Eddie Fong, chef/proprietor of the former popular haunt "Eddie's on Broadway" joins us with his partner in crime to cook superb dishes using Bourbon.  Menu: Spicy Deep Fried Bourbon Chicken Wings, Roasted Pork Tenderloin Woodford Reserve Glaze, Chateaubriand with Jack Daniels Thyme Sauce, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Peach and Makers Mark Caramel Shortcake.  Must be 21 to attend.  Please register early for this popular class!

  

• Monday, July 27th

  Step Up, Start Cooking: Grilling (Hands-on)

  6:30 p.m. $32

  With Chris Chisholm 

  Come July, it is much too hot to cook in your kitchen. Develop the skills to grill outside, and also prepare tasty and refreshing cold drinks. Chris will introduce you to grilling and chilling with fast, easy, healthy and delicious foods.  Menu: Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp, Grilled Seasonal Vegetables with Pomegranate Reduction Sauce, Succulent Grilled Peaches, Wine Spritzers, Sparkling Berry Cooler, Luscious Lavender Lemonade. 

• Tuesday, July 28th

  Indian Summer Faire

  6:00 p.m. $45

  With Shankari Easwaran

  Learn to make memorable side dishes that will delight your palate and dazzle your guests.  Includes a discussion of Indian spices.  Menu: Spiced Chick Pea and Spinach Salad, Eggplant grilled and sautéed with Indian spices - a perfect dip with naan or pita chips, Green Beans sautéed with garlic and a dash of heat, Grilled Corn with spicy butter, and Cracked Wheat Kheer- a chilled healthy dessert with cardamom and ground almonds. 

• Wednesday, July 29th

  Cupcake Decorating for Kids

  2:00 p.m. $15

  With Bryan Castaneda, Pastry Chef

  With over 25 years experience, Bryan definitely knows his stuff!  From world desserts to wedding cakes (a specialty) to pastries, he has done it all.  Kids will watch Bryan decorate several cupcakes differently, then practice decorating their own.  Each child takes home two cupcakes and decorating tips.  Ages 7 to 13.

• Wednesday, July 30th

  Knife Skills 101

  6:30 - 7:30 p.m. $5

  Cut, chop, mince and more.  Learn how to properly hold a knife and cut, and about knife care and safety in a kitchen.  Hands-on class, must be 18 to attend. Please wear flat shoes with closed toes.

• Sunday, August 2nd

  All About Wheat and Gluten Free Flours (Lecture Class)

  2:00 - 3:00 p.m. $8

  With Joann Mitchell

  Eating gluten free (GF) is more popular as people find they are sensitive or allergic to gluten, or have Celiac Disease.  We're also hearing about what gluten does to those with no apparent allergy.  This class will introduce you to gluten free flours, their characteristics, which are better for baking, cooking, and more.  A great class to start with if you're interested in our other GF classes! Open to all ages.   For more information about Joann, check out her blog!

• Tuesday, August 4th

  Making Raw Foods Fun and Tasty for Kids (Demo)

  6:00 p.m. $20

  With Pamela Spencer, Nutritionist & Raw Food Chef

  Just what you've asked for!  Raw stuff the kids like!  Can it be sweet and healthy?  Can it be something easy?  Yes to both...  Come explore with Pamela as she demonstrates recipes to keep your kids growing up with healthy immune systems, good concentration, and healthy body weight.   Prior sign up required.   For more info call Pamela at 916-996-6098.

• Wednesday, August 5th

  UC Davis Good Life Garden - Kids in the Kitchen

  Private Event

• Thursday, August 6th

  Late Summer Farmer's Market (Hands-On)

  6:30 p.m. $35

  With guest instructor, Kelly Fong

  Fresh and abundant,  Whole Foods produce department and area Farmer's Markets are brimming with wonderful food.  You'll learn fun summer dishes and taste items oozing with flavor!  Menu:  Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad, Grilled Tonnato (tuna) with a medley of Roasted Pepper Tapenade,  Summer Orzo Pilaf,  Grilled Summer Vegetable Succotash,  and Melon Proseco Trifle.   Ages 18 and older.

• Friday, August 7th

  Juice Beauty Facials

  1:00 to 5:00 p.m. FREE (with prior sign up)

  Johanna Goldstien, Esthetician from Juice Beauty is offering complimentary beauty treatments using only the purest, most organic ingredients.  All products are packed with antioxidant rich 100% organic fruit juice, age-defying ingredients and are paraben and petroleum free!  Prior sign up required.  Stop by the Whole Body department to sign up for your 15 minute mini facial.

• Sunday, August 9th

  Community Bike Ride with the Health is Wealth Bike Team

  10:00 a.m. FREE!

  Meet in front of Whole Foods Market at 9:45, depart at 10 a.m.   Refreshments supplied by Whole Foods upon return to the store.

• Monday, August 10th

  Knife Skills 101

  6:30 - 7:30 p.m. $5

  Cut, chop, mince and more.  Learn how to properly hold and cut with a knife, knife care and knife safety in the kitchen.  Ages 18 and older.  Please wear flat shoes with closed toes.

• Wednesday, August 12th

  World Desserts: Tiramisu (Demonstration)

  2:00 p.m. $15

  With Bryan Castaneda, Pastry Chef

  An Italian favorite, Tiramisu is yummy beyond belief.  Bryan will show you that you can make this at home as he demonstrates and walks you through a traditional Tiramisu.  Each attendee gets to take some home, along with a recipe and great tips.  Class length is about 1.5 hours.

• Thursday, August 13th

  Beer Tasting with Deschutes Brewery

  7:00 p.m. $3

  Established in 1988 as a brewpub, Deschutes Brewery has brewed a family of handcrafted ales.  In 1993, they moved, expanded and improved facilities with a 50-barrel traditional gravity brew house and a new one-of-a-kind 131-barrel Huppmann brew system from Germany.  Deschutes now creates and experiments with specialty batches of limited beers like The Abyss and Hop Trip while brewing large quantities of everyone's favorites like Mirror Pond Pale Ale. Consistently producing the highest quality beers is always Deschutes' number one priority and commitment.  Join us, learn and taste fabulous artisan beer with a few complimenting food items.  Please be 21 to attend this tasting.

• Friday, August 14th

  Cooking for Singles (Hands-On)

  6:30 p.m. $32

  With guest instructor Chris Chisholm

  The hot days of August turn to warm evenings and are a great time for an alfresco date or a small gathering of your friends and family.  Join Chris as he teaches you how to take advantage of August's bounty and teaches you the following menu;  good for two or twelve! 

  Tomato Bruschetta,  Shrimp and Vegetable Kebabs with Fresh Herb Marinade, Cucumber Mint Salad  and  Lemon Lime Bars.

• Saturday, August 15th

  Couples Cooking (Hands-On)

  5:00 p.m. $32

  With Chris Chisholm

  August may be the hottest month for us in California, but it's also one of the most flavorful. Gardens are full of fresh vegetables and as result, produce aisles are filled to the brim with delicious and exciting opportunities.  Chris will teach you how to take advantage of August's bounty. 

  On the Menu:   Tomato Bruschetta,  Shrimp and Vegetable Kebabs with Fresh Herb Marinade,  Cucumber Mint Salad and  Lemon Lime Bars.

• Monday, August 17th

  Step Up, Start Cooking: Enjoy the Harvest (Hands-on)

  6:30 p.m. $32

  with Chris Chisholm 

  August is the month we reap what we sowed.  Tomatoes and more are aplenty, as well as other produce.  This class will teach you how to make delicious dishes from the bounties of the garden.   Menu:  Pasta Primavera, Tomato Mozzarella and Basil Panini, Zucchini and Tomato Salad, Vegetable Dumplings.

• Tuesday, August 18th

  Lupus Foundation Meeting

  5:30 p.m. Private Event

• Saturday, August 22nd

  Casually Woking (Hands-On)

  6:00 p.m. $35

  With Kelly Fong

  Wok cookery is fun, fast and fantastic tasting!  Let Kelly teach you wok tips and tricks then sit down and enjoy your creations.

  On the Menu:  Won Ton Soup,  Mushroom Chicken,  Broccoli Beef,  Black Bean Sauced Prawns,  and 8 Treasure Vegetarian Stir Fry - tempe, tofu, tofu sticks, black mushrooms, assorted vegetables, water chestnuts, peanuts, mung bean thread.   Ages 18 and older.

• Tuesday, August 25th

  Boost Your Child's Immune System the Natural, Holistic Way

  6:00 p.m. $10

  With Pamela Spencer, Nutritionist & Raw Food Chef

  The key to health is a strong immune system.  When functioning properly, it fights disease-producing organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.   All kids are continuously exposed to these pathogens, but exposure doesn't mean sickness.  Strong immune systems provide powerful natural defenses against disease.  Come learn how to make your child's immune system strong!   For more info call Pamela at 916-996-6098.

• Thursday, August 27th

  Aperitifs and Appetizers - Featuring Apollo Olive Oil

  6:30 p.m. $10

  With Guest Instructor, Pablo Voitzuk (Demonstration Class)

  Learn how to make small appetizer dishes using Apollo Extra Virgin Olive Oil, one of the top ten olive oils in the world. We'll pair each dish with a complementary aperitif or wine. Pablo will also walk you through a short olive oil tasting that will expand your sensory skills.  Recipes included, a tasty class! 

• Saturday, August 29th

  Pizza, Calzones and More

  11:30 a.m. $25

   With Jason Jonas

  Learn to make and shape pizza dough, and choose toppings for your personal pizza from several options.  You'll also make Tomato Mozzarella and Basil Calzones, and learn about Feta Kalamata Flatbread.  Ages14 and older.

• Every Third Wednesday Monthly

  Whole Foods Market Value Tour

  12:00 noon Free Advanced Registration Required

  At Whole Foods we believe everyone should be able to afford to eat quality food.  Though some people think higher quality means higher price, think again!  We have secrets to share with you.  The first step toward eating better on a budget is spending your money on actual food so you get the most nutrition for your buck . Cheap food is usually made from cheap ingredients, often including synthetic preservatives and dyes.  We offer real food, free of artificial ingredients and hydrogenated fats at the best price possible, especially when you know where to look.  Join us for our "value" store tour.  You'll discover you can afford to shop Whole Foods on a budget. Meet at our Customer Service desk at the front of the store.  Space is limited and pre-registration is required.  Call customer service at (916) 488-2800 to register.

More Class Information

To register for classes, call customer service at 916.488.2800.

For specific class information or information about private events at Whole Foods Market, please contact:

Lynn Gowdy
Salud! Culinary Center & Lifestyle School
lynn.gowdy@wholefoods.com

Whole Foods Market
4315 Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95864
916.488.2800, voicemail 261
Fax 916.488.2801

Cancellations
To cancel a class please contact Customer Service at 916.488.2800. Seven days notice is appreciated, but a full refund will be credited if you cancel within 48 hours prior to the day of the class. Any cancellations left on the culinary school e-mail or faxed into the store will not be honored.

Please sign up for classes early. The Culinary School has the right to cancel classes 24 to 48 hours prior to a class due to insufficient enrollment or instructor illness. Whole Foods will contact you by phone regarding the cancellation. You will receive a refund or credit toward a future class.

Questions?
For more information please call Customer Service at 916.488.2800.