Charlotte’s Restaurant news: Get a taste of spring cooking ideas

Harper’s Restaurant Group

Upstream in SouthPark and Mimosa Grill Uptown offer cooking classes 10 a.m.-noon on select Saturdays. Cost for the classes is $40 per person, unless otherwise noted. Upstream with Executive Chef John Dyrness offers: April 13, Wake-Up Seafood Breakfast, featuring eggs Benedict, smoked salmon and more; May 4, Cinco de Mayo Seafood Style with Yucatan fish stew and fish tacos; June 15, Grillin’ Out for Dad with St. Louis ribs, rockin’ potato salad and more.

Executive Chef Jon Fortes’ Mimosa Grill classes include: March 23, All Hands In, where participants will learn how to make some of the restaurant’s favorite dishes; 7 p.m. April 27, A Tribute to Southern Chefs, the James Beard nominees from the South, $65 per guest; May 25, The third annual BBQ Bash all day event with a pig picking, music and drink specials; and June 22, Sweet Grass Dairy, uncovering a cheesy approach to cooking.

Call the restaurants to reserve your spot; check the websites for details.

• Upstream

6902 Phillips Place Court, 704-556-7730

www.upstreamseafood.com

• Mimosa Grill

327 S. Tryon St., 704-343-0700

www.mimosagrill.com

Blue

Blue’s Executive Chef Gene Briggs teaches farm to table cooking classes 11 a.m.-1 p.m. the first Saturday of each month. Cost for each class is $44.95. The classes: April 6, Classic French; May 4, Morocco and Across North America; June 1, Local and Fresh Food From the Farmers; Aug. 3, Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatoes. Each class dish is paired with wines available for a purchase at a discounted rate. Cooking class packages are available: purchase three classes and receive a free bottle of wine, or purchase six classes and get the seventh free.

Call to reserve your spot.

• Blue

206 N. College St., 704-927-2583

www.bluecharlotte.com

Bar Cocoa

The Ritz Carlton’s Cocoa Lab at Bar Cocoa offers three-hour cooking classes taught by their culinary team on select Saturdays:

•  9 a.m.-noon or 2-5 p.m. March 16. Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate teaches participants the versatility of all types of chocolate from semi-sweet to white to milk. Menu for the class includes: mini chocolate cupcakes with chocolate Chantilly, hand-rolled chocolate and Grand Marnier truffles and double chocolate cookies.

• 9 a.m.-noon or 2-5p.m. March 23. Baby Cakes, a class featuring cake bites will be taught. Featured cakes include carrot with cream cheese icing, strawberry shortcakes and warm chocolate cake.

• 9 a.m.-noon April 6. Jams, Naturally, Of Course. Participants will learn to make four exceptional jams: vanilla-scented raspberry jam, sweet potato jam, banana chocolate jam and pear.

• 9 a.m.-noon April 13. Classical French Desserts features favorites from the movie “Julie and Julia”: Apple Tarte Tatin, Chocolate Cream Pie and Raspberry and Chocolate French Macaroons.

Call to save your spot; visit the website for details.

• Bar Cocoa

The Ritz Carlton Charlotte

201 E. Trade St., 704-972-4397

www.barcocoacharlotte.com

Food Love

Chef Nikki Moore’s hands-on culinary classes are taught at The Kitch in Cornelius, Flex and Fit Uptown and in your home. Coming 6:30-9:30 p.m. April 2 is Seafood Cookery, featuring how to purchase and prepare seafood for cooking, and dishes including Steamed Whole Snapper with Lemongrass, Mussels with White Wine, Shallots and Tomatoes and Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos with Mexican Slaw. Seafood Cookery is offered at The Kitch for $90 per person; call to reserve your spot. Check Nikki’s website for details and upcoming events.

•  Food Love

www.n2foodlove.com, 704-576-6474

The Liberty

Chef Tom Condron hosts cooking classes on select Saturdays at The Liberty in the South End. In store for spring:

• The Classic Southern Table, Cuisine from the Old South 10 a.m.- to noon March 23.

• March 30, a special evening class at 7 p.m.: The Chef and the Sea, a British Isles Seafood Dinner and

Spring has Sprung…Farmer’s Market Dinner featuring all things local, sustainable and fresh April 20.

• Learn to make recipes fit for a queen for Mother’s Day brunch 10 a.m.-noon May 11.

Classes include three courses and beverage pairings from wine and beer professionals; check the website or call for pricing.

• The Liberty

1812 South Blvd., 704-332-8830

www.thelibertycharlotte.com

Reid’s

Located in Selwyn Corners, Reid’s is hosting a cooking class noon-3p.m. April 2. Learn to make three pizzas at home using three techniques. Wine pairings for each pizza are included in the $65 per person price. Reservations can be made at www.reids.com.

•  Reid’s

2823 Selwyn Ave., 704-377-1312

www.reids.com