Dinner and Drinks 2.0: Cooking Up with OutGourmet
New York City’s first official gay cooking class, the OutGourmet, is the perfect recipe for a social night out for men who aren’t afraid to clean their plates- and get their hands dirty. Chef Michael Plunkett recently invited me to be his guest at one of his signature classes: Steakhouse at Home. Dismissing any hesitation I might have about my fleeting social skills, Chef Michael admitted, "It’s time-consuming and difficult to make friends or meet someone special in a crowded bar or club. In an era of speed dating, online personals and ’e’ everything, spending time in the kitchen is a great way to slow down and get to know someone."
Where’s the Beef?
OutGourmet classes are held in a quaint commercial kitchen tucked within an otherwise nondescript pre-war building in Hell’s Kitchen. With a maximum 8 students per class, it’s the perfect opportunity for hands-on experience - both culinary and otherwise. The evening began with casual introductions, basic kitchen protocol, and a review of the recipes to be prepared.
Did I mention the gourmet appetizers and flowing bottles of wine?
This particular menu featured scrumptious house-smoked salmon and hoisin-glazed chicken skewers. The events are BYOB, and my new friends didn’t disappoint. We could have opened a street-side mini-bar, but opted instead to consume the provisions on our own in the spirit of Julia Child, who always suggested that one should have a cocktail at hand when in the kitchen.
Next page :: Never too many cooks in the kitchen!
