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Relish Culinary Adventures finally has a home

HEALDSBURG COOKING CENTER OFFERS CLASSES, TEAM BUILDING; $25,000 IN DONATED APPLIANCES

HEALDSBURG – After five years as a “roving school,” Relish Culinary Adventures finally has a place to call home in downtown Healdsburg, which owner Donna del Rey said will allow it to more than double its current capacity.

“This has been a long time coming, and it’s really nice to finally have a physical home,” Ms. del Rey said.

Formerly Relish Culinary School, staff members have waited more than two years to move into their first stationary location on Matheson Street next door to the Murphy-Goode tasting room. The center can accommodate up to 36 guests for team-building workshops, corporate events, private parties or just daily tourists.

Classes are taught by professional chefs from across the Bay Area and usually last about three hours, though some can go all day or over several days. Groups will still travel to off-site locations, including wineries, oil-producers and cheese-makers, but they will no longer work from Relish’s former home, a 1952 Chevy truck.

The new site is described as modern but infused with classic farmhouse details and includes a 1,000-square-foot commercial kitchen, 1,300-square-foot demonstration kitchen and outdoor patio with wood-burning oven.

Relish received about $25,000 worth of donated energy-efficient appliances through sponsors solicited by Traditional Home Magazine. Relish is the first culinary center sponsored by the publication, which usually solicits for show homes.

“This is something really different for them because usually they put these homes together and have a few days’ events, but then someone buys it and they never see it again,” Ms. del Rey said.

“With Relish, the site will always be open to the public and thousands will have the opportunity to see it.”

Sponsorships came from both local and national companies and include granite and bamboo work by Surface Art Countertops of Healdsburg and tiling by Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. in Windsor.

Several of the design features are also considered eco-friendly, including the white-oak cabinets crafted locally by Green Home Center from Forrest Stewardship Council-certified wood. The company also used low-VOC-emitting paint, sealants and wood finishing. The chefs also integrate local foods from the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market.

The school includes three catalogs a year, which have day classes on cheesemaking, grilling, wine education, braising and other culinary skills.

The culinary center is not considered a vocational school, but for recreation. More information is available at www.relishculinary.com.