VERO BEACH — McKee Botanical Garden will host a series of three culinary classes on Sunday afternoons in October, each featuring a different local chef and cuisine.
McKee’s chef series will begin on Oct. 12, with an “Introduction to Indian Vegetarian Cooking” taught by home chef and caterer Urvi Upadhyay. Held initially on Aug. 17, the class was an immediate sell out and due to its popularity a second date has been added for October.
Attendees will learn about the essential spices used in Indian cooking, observe a cooking demonstration and sample a variety of classic Indian vegetarian dishes. Class will begin at 2 p.m. Cost to attend is $55 for McKee members and $60 for non-members.
The series continues on October 19 at 2 p.m. with “Artisan Breads: Taste the Difference.” The session will begin with a live radio broadcast by Michael Glatz of Vero Beach FiveStar Radio who will interview fellow chef Mark Edmonds of the Patisserie Vero Beach on the topic of artisan bread.
Attendees will partake in a sampling of “bread wars,” with an opportunity to taste and compare true artisan breads to mass-produced frauds. The accomplished chefs will also share techniques and lead an interactive discussion. Cost is $30 for McKee members and $35 for non-members.
The final class in the series will be “Fresh, Local Cooking” on Oct. 26 at 1p.m., featuring Chris Bireley of Osceola Bistro. Chef Bireley will highlight benefits of farm to table cooking and demonstrate how to prepare dishes such as a grilled shrimp brochette, roast chicken with fall veggies and seasonal salads incorporating locally-sourced ingredients. A tasting will follow. Cost to attend is $40 for McKee members, $45 for non-members.
“Our October chef series was created based on the popularity and success of our chef series last summer,” stated McKee Executive Director Christine Hobart. “We’re delighted to showcase the culinary expertise of these talented local chefs and provide our visitors with an opportunity to discover new tastes and techniques.”
All of the classes will take place in McKee’s Richardson Education Building. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. To register, please call (772)-794-0601 or email info@mckeegarden.org.
For additional information about McKee’s chef series including a detailed description and chef bio for each class, please visit www.mckeegarden.org/classes.php.
McKee Botanical Garden is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to nurture and enhance a historic garden in a unique tropical setting for the education, enjoyment and enrichment of all. McKee Botanical Garden is located at 350 US Highway 1 in Vero Beach. Summer admission rates through October 30 are $10 adults, $9 seniors and $5 children ages 3 to 12. Admission is free for members and children under 3. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The Garden is closed Mondays.
