Lemme ask you a question: Do you do date nights with your spouse or significant other?

My husband and I have recently begun making a concerted effort to really set aside time to invest in unique experiences with each other. Because honestly, we’ve been together forever and HAVING CHILDREN IS EXHAUSTING. If we don’t create a plan for our time together, we’ll end up in a incoherent-zombie-like state until the kids turn 34.

I’m not exaggerating.

In the spirit of this effort, my husband and I have done all sorts of things together lately: Escape Rooms, dinner, drunken book store scavenger hunts (What? That’s not a thing in your world?) and most recently…cooking class.

I should pause here to divulge that my cooking skills are sadly lacking. (Not shocking if you know me in real life.)

I realize that cooking is a pleasurable experience for most people. I, however, don’t generally enjoy my time in the kitchen. (Mostly I am just trying to keep my family alive, not invent a new culinary experience.) So it was with a bit of trepidation that I agreed to join in on Saturday Night Tapas Party at The Kitchen Studio with my husband, my sister and her boyfriend.

I was worried; but, I needn’t have been.

From the minute we arrived, Chef Christine Van Bloem put us completely at ease. (The wine we brought might have helped a tad.) In no time this novice was prepping goat cheese, chopping herbs, roasting brussel sprouts and stuffing piquillo peppers. (STUFFING. PAQUILLO. PEPPERS.)

And I was having fun.

The class was conducted in such a way that everyone, no matter their comfort or experience level in the kitchen, felt included and learned something. What that basically means is that my sister (the let-me-just-whip-up-a-last-minute-five-course-meal cook) and I (the I-think-I-might-have-a- can-of-Spam-around-here-somewhere cook) equally enjoyed our evening.

Huzzah!

Chef Christine is wonderful. I can’t say enough about this lady. She is fun, playful and knows her way around a kitchen! She has a Julia Child approachability to her that literally makes you want her as your best friend.

Like, for real.

The menu for that evening included:

• Goat Cheese Fritters
• Albondigas
• Tortillas Espanole
• Crab-Stuffed Piquillo Peppers
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Hazelnut Romesco
• Churros with Spiced Chocolate Sauce

We laughed. We chopped. We ate some damn good food. But most importantly, we’re coming back.

This time we’ve got our sights set on sushi.

Deets:

Cost: Varies. (Depends on the class. Consult their class calendar for more information.)
Booking: Reservations are required.
Tip: Bring a bottle of wine (or two) and enjoy the relaxed, playful evening. There will be plenty to eat at the conclusion of the class. Also, I recommend elastic-waist pants because, YUM.