NIGHT OUT

DEBBIE DUGGAN’S COOKING CLASS

BY PADEN HUGHES

With training in Europe’s most prestigious culinary schools, including the Cordon Bleu in Paris and London, La Varenne in Burgundy, France and Avignonesi Culinary Center and Tenuta de Capezzana in the Tuscany region of Italy, the Emilia-Romangna region of Northern Italy, and most recently Southern Italy, Debbie Duggan has taken her vast knowledge and bottled it into 3-hour classes of sharing food facts, recipes, enjoying wine and sampling a string of dishes. She offers a variety of classes ranging from soups to sauce, and appetizers to Paleo.

The workspace at Central Coast Culinary features five commercial ovens and an 18-foot long granite countertop with its stools lining the perimeter of the welcoming French country studio. The atmosphere lends itself to friendly conversation and a constant stream of learning and laughter abound.

I sat in on a Paleo cooking class because, like so many, I’ve struggled to make healthy food taste flavorful, meal after meal. We started off with some wine while Duggan explained the theory behind Paleo and how she came up with the evening’s menu. While she shared her wisdom about the true differences between yams and sweet potatoes, her staff of four prepped, chopped, stirred, and seasoned dishes.

Over the course of the evening, we learned the nutritional benefits of persimmons, kale, and coconut oil while enjoying incredibly colorful, delicious dishes. It was striking to me how much more attention I paid to each flavor of the dishes after learning why herbs were selected and pairings made. The private showing of a talented chef exposed us to some of cooking’s best secrets and encouraged us to take the tips home to our own kitchen.

What is Paleo?

The Paleolithic Diet, or Paleo for short, is based on the way that human beings ate as huntergatherers prior to the advent of agriculture. Central Coast Culinary is located in the heart of San Luis Obispo, behind Smart & Final off of High Street and Parker Street. Class rates begin at $60 per session and are offered every week throughout the year with limited seating. Privates sessions and in-home parties are also available.

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