You could go out to eat. You could order in. Or, you could get together with a table full of your friends \u2013 or strangers \u2014 to make a meal, learn something new along the way and share the joys of prepping, cooking and dining together.<\/p>\n
This is where The Social Table, located in Lincoln Park, comes in: why not try something new for the new year?<\/p>\n
This North Side culinary space offers public classes for intimate groups of eight to 12 as well as private events for up to 24 people per kitchen. \u00a0The chef-instructors are knowledgeable, fun, and they have a passion for teaching groups how to expand their culinary repertoire and bring people together in the process. With three to five days a week set aside for public classes and a flexible private event schedule, bonding with new people while making homemade pasta can certainly help you make good on that New Year\u2019s resolution to cook more and expand your social circle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this day and age, people are setting more personal life goals, like learning a skill and spending more time with friends,\u201d says Rebecca Goldfarb, creator and owner of The Social Table. \u201cWe are really trying to tap into this.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Social Table\u2019s classes are unique because they build camaraderie in the kitchen. And, private parties \u2013 bachelorette brunches, couples nights, office outings, and family dinners \u2013 are fast becoming popular and booking up weeks in advance.<\/p>\n
Menu options span a range of cuisines, introducing groups to fun and new ingredients, and recipes that offer learning experiences for both the novice and the seasoned home cook.\u00a0 The Winter Italian<\/em> menu, featuring Italian stuffed flank steaks and handmade gnudi, and the Taste of Spain <\/em>menu, featuring a chicken, chorizo & mussel paella, are favorites this time of year. \u00a0With expanding menu options that rotate every five to six weeks, The Social Table team offers guests the opportunity to come back regularly and experience something new every time. Because the student-to-instructor ratio is kept small, participants can really get their hands dirty, bond with their classmates and walk away with a meaningful experience.<\/p>\n \u201cMany people are often surprised by how amazing the dinner was, even though they made it,\u201d Goldfarb says. \u201cThe whole experience shows that an impressive dinner isn\u2019t out of their reach.\u201d<\/p>\n Goldfarb adds that The Social Table experience is about more than just cooking. It\u2019s about connecting with other people through food.<\/p>\n \u201cWe try to bridge that gap between people who say, \u2018I can\u2019t cook. I can\u2019t ever have people over, I have to go out and eat,\u2019 to this idea that cooking is something you can do,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s fun and something you can do with other people to challenge yourself and to socialize with your friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Interested in joining a class or scheduling a private event \u00a0at The Social Table? <\/em>Visit the website for more information.<\/em><\/p>\n By Adrienne Samuels Gibbs, DNAinfo Creative<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You could go out to eat. You could order in. Or, you could get together with a table full of your friends \u2013 or strangers \u2014 to make a meal, learn something new along the way and share the joys of prepping, cooking and dining together. This is where The Social Table, located in Lincoln … Continue reading This New Year, Cross Learning To Cook Off Your List Of Resolutions<\/span>