Excited shrieks, glasses of Bordeaux, and the aroma of lavender and pork flowed through the kitchen at The Food Liaison as a dozen enthusiastic cooking students gathered for an evening of a petit education in the art of preparing a classic French feast.
“We seem to be the flavor of the month,” said Nirasha Rodriguez, the chef who opened the catering/cooking class/lunch-counter business in Carpinteria two months ago with her husband, Jason. The couple personally designed every aspect of the new space, from the functional high tables to the geometric light fixtures and tiles, which gives it their signature style. “We are excited to bring people into our kitchen,” she said. “I want this to be a community space.”
Their upcoming lessons, which cost $75-$95, feature various techniques and styles, from the classics and appetizers to Southern and “super” foods. “I want the classes to be more of a story — I want to know the heart of the food,” said Rodriguez, who was a private chef to wealthy clients and celebrities in Montecito for the past decade. “It’s important to remember how intimate food is. You have to taste that love and special moment in the food.”