Learn to Cook

It's time to don your aprons, ladies and gentlemen . Apricot Rosemary Scones . Honey Almond Chocolate Mousse . Classic Beignets. Creamy Lentils with Garlic & Chilies. Maybe not all of these represent the most healthy of recipes, but you can’t deny at least one of them has succeeded in whetting your taste buds. These sweet and savory dishes found are found in one location. Where is it? Perched on the third deck of Santa Monica Place is The Market , home to local, artisanal foods and products. Also tucked in The Market is a a school where you can learn to make dishes of every kind: savory and sweet; baked and raw; kitchen skills and business sense. Welcome to The Gourmandise School.

Francophiles know “Gourmandise” is the French for “A taste and relish for good food”, referring to the individual palate. A little indulgence is necessary in even the healthiest of diets. I’m certainly not one to shy from indulging my sweet tooth every now and again.

In a previous post on the school , I had not yet had the opportunity to get to know the owners. The brains, beauty and talent behind Gourmandise are Clemence Gossett and Hadley Hughes . They share non-traditional culinary backgrounds, coming from corporate, professional settings. Their passion for baking and cooking brought them together to create a business and share their gifts of cooking with the community. Clemence specializes in pastries and Hadley is a master of Southern cuisine. Their vision  was to share their love of cooking and food, culminating in a beautiful space with offerings for the budding cook to professional chefs.

Learning to cook is one of the easiest ways to take care of yourself. There are very few legitimate excuses for not having the time to throw together a quick meal with whole foods. It takes a little time to develop the skills and the frame of mind for eating healthy, but once you’re tuned in, there’s no turning back (and NO MORE DIETING!!)! My state of health would be pretty questionable without the people in my life who took the time to teach me the basics of cooking. If there are any questions you have or resources you need in getting started, leave a note in comments or tweet at me via @WELLinLA . I’m happy to help point you in the right direction.