My husband loves to cook. I'd like to find a cooking class to take him to for our anniversary. Here is Austin Texas, there's a great class given by the chef of a very expensive restaurant named "Hudsons On The Bend". The class is given at the chefs beautiful home in the hill country with all the wine or other spirits you like. After the class you go to the restaurant down the street and dine on everything the chef has demonstrated. It's a wonderful 4 hours. So, what do you have where you are? We are central so could go anywhere in the US but would like great scenery. I saw the post about New Orleans cooking classes but not interested as we've been there. Thanks

Ally:
How about the wine country in California? Maybe pick up a Sunday paper from San Francisco & see what's offered.

I happen to be in the Boston area, but would second the Napa suggestion. The place to go would be the Napa campus of the Culinary Institute of America in the old Greystone monastery. You can access their seminar program (with some searching) from the CIA homepage at www.ciachef.edu. Alternatively you could do much the same thing at their Hyde Park, NY campus, which is also very scenic, but I'd opt for Napa.

Thanks Pat and Dick. I think Napa would be FABULOUS, but I'm afraid I'm a little late to get on that boat as our anniversary is mid September and as I understand it, that's a very, very busy time and I should have already booked something there...butI just got this idea a couple days ago. Oh-well. I'll do some searching on B&B's and see if I can find one that's still got availability. Thanks again. Any other ideas welcome.....

Try The Apple Farm near Philo, CA (call 707-895-2333 for information). It's in the Anderson Valley, about 3 hours north of San Francisco and they have cooking weekends as well as individual classes. The owners "retired" when they sold their restaurant--the French Laundry in the Napa Valley--and moved to an organic apple farm where they sell their produce as well as other things they make such as chutneys, apple cider vinegar, etc. plus teach classes. Sally Schmitt, the instructor, is helped by her daughter. The son-in-law runs the apple end of the business and the husband does the bookkeeping part. They have several new cottages on the property which are very charming. After preparing the food, everybody sits down in the large farmhouse kitchen or out under the arbor to eat. Her classes are amazing as well as fun--and she covers a wide variety of foods.

I've always wanted to do the same but never have. In my list of research though is the following:
CasaLana (www.casalana.com)in Calistoga,CA
winecountryliving.com
winecountry.com
foodvacation.com
and I recall a B&B called Ramekin--either Napa or Sonoma
Greystone CIA is wonderful--it's the old Christian Brothers winery building, but I don't know how their classes run.
Good luck. Let us know what you decide.

A friend of mine attended a special session at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in upstate NY, and loved it. The session runs a few days and is mostly attended by amateur chefs who want to learn "the cooking secrets of the CIA."

Ms. Ghost, Apple Farm looks fun, but since we'll only have a long weekend, I don't think we would want to drive three hours from the airport...but I'll keep it in mind for another trip!
Kam, Casa Lana also looks wonderful, but everything is booked already!
Jim, If the CIA school last several days, that won't work for us. All I wanted was a 4 or 5 hour class to fit into a long weekend.
Dick and Pat, I found a PERFECT type class I'm looking for at Remekins B&B...but I can't find any acceptable lodging that isn't already booked for that area. I'm thinking I should put off this idea for this year and book it for next year. Bummer.
Now what am I going to do for our anniversary? (I'm just asking out-loud..don't really need a million sugesstions.HA!) Thanks for all your help!

Ally, if you really want to go to the Ramekins class, you can most likely find a hotel room in Santa Rosa. It's a bit of a drive, but not far. There's an acceptable Best Western there. One of the best restaurants in northern California is in Santa Rosa--John Ash& Co. It's in the Vintners Inn, which is probably already booked solid. Also try Hotel La Rose, the Hilton and a Holilday Inn Express in Santa Rosa. You won't spend a lot of time in your hotel--the cooking class and restaurants will make the trip. Also look at www.winecountry.com for other ideas. BTW, I would fly into Oakland if possible. Let us hear what you decide.

Thanks to everyone for such great suggestions! I was just lurking about and decided to copy this idea for my hubby's 40th. The Apple Farm sounds great for us. Ally, hope you have a great time.

I think in Orlando the Disney Institute has cooking stuff...just throwing that idea into the pot