- Words by Toby Tannas Photography by Darren Hull

It91裸聊视频檚 a new recipe for date night and it91裸聊视频檚 become one of the hottest tickets in town. Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Lakehouse Home Store has opened Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School, and it91裸聊视频檚 a true sensory experience from the moment you step into the grand space, located on the second floor of the Bernard Avenue store.

The hands-on kitchen is a feast for the eyes. Cooking stations are equipped with the top-of-the-line products you91裸聊视频檝e come to associate with Lakehouse. A beautiful dining area is perfect for hosting small, private gatherings and the impressive demonstration kitchen is truly a culinary masterpiece91裸聊视频攁nd it91裸聊视频檚 where some of the best chefs of the Okanagan share their expertise.

On this night we are seated in the demonstration kitchen for a Sip & Savour experience with Lakehouse91裸聊视频檚 culinary director, Chef Bernard Casavant. Our table for two has a bird91裸聊视频檚 eye view of the prep area and large TV screens allow us to see the chef91裸聊视频檚 every move as he guides us through the preparation of a three-course Spanish meal.

Chef Bernard is casual and comfortable with the small group, as we wait for everyone to arrive. Drinks are served and there91裸聊视频檚 a genuine enthusiasm on both sides of the kitchen island. Tonight91裸聊视频檚 menu includes Spanish seafood soup, roast leg of lamb and Spanish flan. Not only do we get to learn from and interact with a world-class chef, we also have the privilege of eating the food he prepares.

It91裸聊视频檚 a new style of date night and it91裸聊视频檚 catching on.

91裸聊视频淲e know it91裸聊视频檚 a trend that isn91裸聊视频檛 going away,91裸聊视频� says Chef Travis Pye, operations director at Lakehouse. 91裸聊视频淧eople like to cook at home, and through the pandemic people realized they want to spend more time in their kitchens, so it91裸聊视频檚 a good thing to know how to cook. The pandemic really re-ignited that passion in people.91裸聊视频�

The idea for Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School sprouted well before the pandemic. Chef Travis, along with Lakehouse owners Ben and Sue Boschman, were exploring the cooking-school concept in other markets. They drew on the research to build high-calibre kitchens designed to attract not only a foodie clientele but topnotch chefs to lead the experiences.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e excited and honoured to have Chef Bernard here as our culinary director to lead the program. Along with him, we91裸聊视频檙e bringing in guest chefs from around the community. We have 10 Red Seal chefs and pastry chefs on board right now to teach their specialties.91裸聊视频�

These specialties include preparing world and regional cuisines, cake decorating and more technical things like Knife Skills 101.

We get a taste of knife skills tonight as Chef Bernard de-bones the lamb shank, showing us step by step how to best do this at home. As he works, someone in the group asks where he got his start.

91裸聊视频淚f you read my high school yearbook, my aim was to be the chef at the best hotel in BC. I91裸聊视频檓 BC-born and raised,91裸聊视频� he says with pride, as he arranges meat, bones and vegetables in a baking dish. 91裸聊视频淎t that time, the best hotel in my opinion was the Four Seasons in Vancouver. I did work there as executive sous chef, but then I got pulled to Whistler. I ended up spending 19 years in Whistler, and worked at what I now consider the best hotel in BC91裸聊视频攖he Fairmont Chateau Whistler.91裸聊视频�

Not all of his 19 years there were at the Fairmont. Chef Bernard also ran his own bistro with his wife and business partner, Bonnie, for 11 of those years. Ask anyone who dined at Chef Bernard91裸聊视频檚 place back in the day about the carrot and brie soup and the famous cinnamon pecan buns: they are apparently unforgettable.

It91裸聊视频檚 a different soup on the menu tonight. Fresh seafood is the star of sopa de mariscos (seafood soup). As Chef Bernard explains how combining paper towel and fish and a few days in the fridge helps your fish achieve a beautiful crust (really, it91裸聊视频檚 true), he peppers in the story of how he came to call the Okanagan home.

91裸聊视频淲e love the lifestyle91裸聊视频攚e love to golf91裸聊视频攁nd the food scene was up and coming back in 2006. Our kids were raised so we made the move.91裸聊视频�

Since then, Chef Bernard has operated or consulted in some of the best restaurants in the valley, including a stint at The Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, and working to revamp the food and beverage program at Manteo at Eldorado Resort for the launch of SmackDAB. He also took a turn running the culinary program at Okanagan College and worked as operations director at the renowned RauDZ group of restaurants in downtown Kelowna. Chef Bernard91裸聊视频檚 realm of influence is vast, but he says working in the Lakehouse kitchens is the perfect culmination of it all.

91裸聊视频淭his is my Zen moment. I am proud to be here training young apprentices and the everyday home-cook enthusiast. Instilling in them a love for the industry and showing people how to make really good food is an experience that they can bring back to their own kitchens.91裸聊视频�

As he prepares and serves the three courses, Chef Bernard shares more stories and kitchen knowledge that draw several 91裸聊视频渁h ha91裸聊视频� moments from the group. Did you know you should roast your peppercorns before you put them in your grinder? Or that spices should not be in your cupboard for more than a year? (Honestly, I have a jar of paprika that has been through three moves over five years!) The takeaways are endless and include menus, recipes, wine pairings and chef notes from each class.

With our appetites satisfied and our thirst for information quenched, we offer up a cheers to the chef and his team and head off to pick up some key tools used to prepare the meal. That91裸聊视频檚 another perk of a class at Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School91裸聊视频攚e91裸聊视频檒l call it the fourth course91裸聊视频攕hopping at Lakehouse Home Store with your 91裸聊视频渃hef for a night91裸聊视频� discount.

Dinner out is great; dinner out with conversation and instruction from a professional chef like Chef Bernard is next level. Reserve your spot at the next Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School experience. You91裸聊视频檒l find the ever-expanding class calendar online at .

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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