Art Palace offers cooking, wine-tasting classes

MARION - The Arts Palace, a visual and performing arts program of the Marion Palace Theatre, has teamed up with culinary staff members at Tri-Rivers Career Center to offer a series of cooking classes for teens and adults. In addition to culinary classes, the Arts Palace will host wine-tasting classes led by Van Creasap of Shamrock Vineyards for adults 21 years and older.

"Getting Back to Basics" offers cooking classes designed for beginning cooks to veteran cooks wanting to broaden their knowledge and to become inspired by new recipes and cooking techniques. Students will receive hands-on, supervised instruction and will choose from a list of recipes to prepare for the group. These Saturday workshops are $25 each and are instructed by certified culinarian Angela Fritz in the kitchen at Tri-Rivers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as follows: Feb. 21, "Main Meats and Hearty Sauces;" March 7, "Eat Your Veggies;" March 14, "Perfect Pastries;" March 21, "Sweet Endings Desserts."

"Exploring Favorite Wines" is instructed by Van Creasap of Shamrock Vineyards. These interactive wine-tasting evenings focus on the most popular wine varieties. Participants will taste three to five different wines from several different regions each night and learn about the key aromas and flavors they produce. Over the course of the evening, students will learn about the unique wine-making styles, growing regions and foods to enjoy with each variety.

Cheese, crackers and coffee will also be served. Each workshop meets from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Palace Theatre. Each class fee is $20. Cabernet wines will meet Feb. 27; Chardonnay wines will meet March 27; Pinot wines will meet April 17.

Registration deadline is one week before class begins. More classes for children and adults are offered in addition to the class mentioned above including dance, fiber arts, photography, family workshops, painting and more.