Created by Amy Pappas and featuring personalized instruction from prominent Cleveland chefs, the Chase The Flavor virtual cooking series walks participants through extensive step-by-step meal prep on Zoom. Ahead of the Oct. 2 event with Thyme Table’s bar manager Eric Scott and the Oct. 26 event with Fahrenheit’s chef and owner Rocco Whalen, we talked to Pappas about the series.
Q: How does Chase The Flavor work?
A: The chef chooses a recipe, people sign up for the class and get the ingredient list and cooking method in advance, so you can shop for the ingredients needed that you might not have at home. When you log on, you are ready to cook alongside the chef. The chef goes through everything in depth with participants. You get personalized instruction, new recipes, kitchen skills and techniques.
Q: What specialty does Chase the Flavor bring to Cleveland?
A: Chase the Flavor is unique because you can log on and cook with Karen Small of Flying Fig, Rocco Whalen of Fahrenheit, Douglas Katz of Zhug, Joshua Ingraham of Go Buddha or any of these chefs that might not normally do a cooking class. Cleveland is such a foodie town and a lot of the chef owners of popular restaurants don’t typically do cooking classes.
Q: How do you plan on growing the series?
A: One of my long-term goals for Chase the Flavor is to work with chefs in other cities. I’ve also been talking about doing a Chase the Flavor cookbook featuring recipes from chefs that have participated in classes and also doing in-person experiences. I am also considering offering a monthly subscription option. If people are subscribers and they can’t make the class, they would have access to the video after.
