An integral part of Charlottesville’s growing zeal for locally produced food has been the interest of home cooks, many of whom have found support for their culinary endeavors at The Happy Cook, the city’s only locally owned, independent kitchen shop. In recent years, The Happy Cook has expanded its space—and its inventory—at Barracks Road Shopping Center, a move that allowed it to expand its program of cooking classes.
“The mission of The Happy Cook is to help our community enjoy their family and friends around the table,” says Steven Belcher, who owns the shop with his wife, Monique Moshier. “Cooking classes make that happen in an immediate way. Customers who take our classes get to know new people and enjoy the experience of crafting a meal with them; they learn directly from chefs so they’re confident to take their knowledge home and put it to use.”
Monique and Steve work with several local chefs for The Happy Cook’s classes, including Mahabuba Akhter, who teaches classes in Bengali cuisine; Melissa Close-Hart, who provides tips on Tex-Mex; Christian Kelly, who shares his fresh takes on classic Southern fare; and Lu-Mei Chang, who demonstrates how to cook authentic Thai dishes.
“We look for chefs that are a lot like The Happy Cook—food lovers who enjoy imparting their knowledge to the public and who recognize that food communicates life in a unique way that leaves an indelible mark on those around us,” Steve explains.
“The community has been overwhelmingly supportive of our classes,” he adds, noting that he hopes to continue to expand the shop’s cooking class roster. “We’re always looking to hear from our customers what they’d like to see us offer,” he says. “As we often say, ‘We’re looking to put the happy back into cooking!’”
In Our Local Commons, Vol. III, which comes out May 6, The Happy Cook sponsored four tutorials featuring local chefs that teach cooking classes at the shop.
Please join the Our Local Commons team at The Happy Cook on Tuesday, May 3, 4 – 6 p.m. to get signed copy of the book before it hits shelves and enjoy snacks and drinks.
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