Cooking Class/Parties

To schedule a fun, live, or virtual cook along private cooking party
please contact me directly on aejhome@yahoo.com

Info: Melissa Byrne, 410-313-4704 or mbyrne@howardcountymd.gov. In person Live Cooking classes - Ellicott Mills Middle School.     To register for Live cooking classes, go to: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&date_after=2024-12-03&activity_keyword=Chef%20Alba&viewMode=list Tuscany Past and Present – January 23, 2025, 6-8:30pm Tuscany is a unique region of historical treasures, with cities rich in art, small and picturesque villages with immense cultural heritage, and bewitching views of countryside and rolling hills. Tuscan cuisine is an uncomplicated cuisine using high quality ingredients with unsophisticated techniques. Join Chef Alba as we create delicious old family traditional dishes modified and personalized for today’s cuisine. Menu: Pappa al Pomodoro, Etruscan Style Chicken with Pancetta and Herbs, and Tuscan Cannellini Beans in Tomato and Sage. Traditional Dishes of Umbria – February 20, 2025, 6-8:30pm "The Green Heart of Italy," enchanting Umbria is nestled next to Tuscany in central Italy, in the heart of the boot. Umbria is known for its pristine landscapes, immersed in the green of the sinuous valleys and ancient villages. Join Chef Alba and discover how to prepare delicious traditional recipes of Umbria. Menu: Cauliflower and Onion Bruschetta, Sausage in White Wine and Dark Grapes, and Balsamic and Garlic Smashed Potatoes. Enchanting Recipes of Casablanca – March 20, 2025, 6-8:30pmThe cuisine of Casablanca, Morocco is rated among the best in the world because of its aromatic spices, how the food is carefully and artistically prepared, and how delightfully it is served. The anticipation is to always please the guest, so they know they are always welcome back. Join chef Alba as we prepare these enchanting dishes. Menu:  Three Colors Hummus and Adornments, Festive Seffa Couscous, Morrish Chicken Kebabs, and Harissa Sauce from Scratch. Rockin Moroccan Cuisine -   Thursday, May 22, 2025, 6-8PM Morocco holds its roots from the Indigenous Berbers and Arabs. The French and the Spanish also influence Moroccan cuisine. As in ancient times the use of spices enhance rather than mask the ingredients. This makes it an exotic and interesting style of cooking. Join Chef Alba and experience this Moroccan cuisine. Menu: Moroccan Spiced Beef Lettuce Wraps, Tangier Couscous with Moroccan Vegetables and Spices, Home Made Harissa Sauce, and Moroccan Stuffed Dates With Almond Paste Filling. Make Mine Mediterranean -  Thursday, June 19, 2025, 6-8PM Mediterranean food is influenced by North Africa, Southern Europe, and Eastern Mediterranean countries. This cuisine is intricately robust, boldly flavored, and free from complicated sauces and heavy dollops of cream and butter. Join Chef Alba as we prepare these tasty Mediterranean dishes. Menu: Halloumi Cheese and Vegetable Kebabs, Skinless Chicken Thighs in Fresh Lemon and Garlic Sauce, Crushed Lentils in Tahini and Cumin with Yogurt Sauce, and for dessert Exotic Apricot-Pistachio Bites. All Greek to me-  Thursday, July 17, 2025, 6-8PM Greek food is simple and elegant, with flavors subtle to robust, textures smooth to crunchy, fresh, and timeless, nutritious, and healthy. Preparing and enjoying Greek food is an adventurous journey into the cradle of civilization and the land of the Gods of Olympus. Join Chef Alba  and discover tasty Greek Dishes. Menu: Baked Red Grapes and Whipped Feta Bruschetta, Spanakopita Stuffed Chicken, Greek Orzo Pasta Fresh Lemon and Herbs, and No-bake Baklava Bites. Lemony Amalfi Dishes – Thursday, August 14, 2025, 6-8PM Amalfi seduces us with art, narrow streets, and contrasting colors between its blue sea, the green of its trees, and the bright yellow of its fragrant lemons. Pucker up and join Chef Alba in creating delicious and aromatic dishes from the region where she was born. Menu: Crema di Ricotta e Limone Pasta, Stracciatellas di Pollo al Limone e Vino Bianco,  Insalata di Olive con Limone, and for dessert Lemon Mousse. Zoom Virtual Classes  Cook Along with Chef Alba Classes: To register for virtual cooking classes, go to: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&date_after=2024-12-03&activity_keyword=Chef%20Alba&viewMode=list Soups You Can Eat With a Fork – January 16, 2025,  6-8pm Soups are very satisfying in cold weather months. They are perfect for preparing ahead. Warm up and learn to transform plain soups into flavorful and decadent main courses with simple legumes, vegetables, herbs, and spices. We will prepare tasty and creative soups that will be appreciated and enjoyed by everyone. Menu: Roasted Tomatoes Zuppa, Spicy Cauliflower Soup, and Stufato of Beans in Red Wine. Everything Chocolate – February 13, 2025, 6-8pm In this class Chef Alba offers irresistible chocolate desserts suitable for any occasion. Let’s  celebrate the goodness of chocolate with a rich and delicious selection of recipes that will really tempt everyone. Recipes that satisfy the eyes and above all, the palate. Menu: Chocolate Zucchini Cake, White Chocolate Lemon Truffles, Toasted Nutella Ravioli with Mascarpone and Chocolate, and Tuscan Hot Chocolate for two. Delicious international and Hearty Sliders – March 13, 2025, 6-8pm Homemade dishes are much better, heartier, more genuine, and more economical. Feed your wanderlust with slider recipes inspired by some of chef Alba’s favorite world-class flavorings. Join Chef Alba in making amazing sliders that you, your family and guest will be proud to serve at your next gathering at the family table. Menu: Chickpea and Coriander Sliders, Turkish Lamb Sliders with Good Things, and Sicilian Sliders with Capers and White Wine. Rome’s Most Renowned Pasta Dishes -  Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 6-8pm Rome is a beautiful eternal city with many historical sites and characteristic trattorias and restaurants. Rome is also  known for its unsurpassed pasta dishes which are cooked with only a few ingredients. Join chef Alba as we prepare these famous traditional and rustic Roman pasta dishes. Menu: Amatriciana, Carbonara, and Cacio e Peppe. Delightfully Turkish -  Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 6-8pmTürkiye, with its long history of ancient civilizations, fertile lands, and geographical setting stretches a thousand miles from east to west. The choice of dishes are wide because the cuisine is so diverse. Join Chef Alba and let’s cook this wonderful cuisine. Menu: Turkish Lamb Burgers with Yogurt Sauce Delicious Havana Cuban Dishes – Tuesday August 12, 2025,  6-8pm When you can’t travel, cooking food at home can bring you to that destination and its local traditions. Cuban food is simple to make with easy to find ingredients. Join chef Alba and cook along to explore delicious Havana Cuban dishes you will make over and over. Menu: Cuban Pork Chops with Pineapple, Cuban Black Beans & Rice (Moros y Cristianos/Arroz Congri) and Cinnamon Brown Sugar Grilled Pineapple for dessert.

In person cooking Classes at Mary's Land Farm to register go to: Cooking With Chef Alba - Classes at the Inn | Mary's Land Farm Ancient Roman Recipes – January 25, 2025 Unlike modern Italian cuisine, the upper-class ancient Roman diet relied on the extensive use of spices and herbs and fewer ingredients available today. Through much travel to Antica Roma, the love of learning and sharing ancient recipes attracted Chef Alba’s attention to create these dishes. Join Chef Alba has we explore and step back in time to make and enjoy these exceptional recipes. Menu:  Eggs in Honey (Ova Spongia Ex Lacte) Served with Bread of Ancient Rome (Libum), Chicken Escalope in Golden Raisins and Honey (Dormouse), Ancient Roman-Style Carrots, and for dessert Ancient Roman Cheesecake (Libum) Italian Style Valentine Dishes – February 15, 2025 In preparation for Valentine’s Day, storefronts set up heart-shaped themed items on display to remind us of this special day. On Valentine’s Day we look for special or romantic dinners to share with loved ones. In this class we offer irresistible savory chocolate dishes suitable for Valentine’s Day or for any special occasion. Join Chef Alba as we prepare, enjoy, and create dishes that will surely tempt chocolate lovers. Menu:  Mozzarella Con Limone Caramellato e Pistachios, Sicilian Meat Lasagna with hint of Chocolate, Garlic and Parmesan Spinach, and for dessert Baci da Perugia. Fusion of Italian Mediterranean Cuisine -  March 22, 2025  Fusion cuisine merges two distinctive food gastronomies to produce delicious, unique, and innovative flavors. In this class, we will combine a delightful mélange of traditional Italian flavors with Mediterranean techniques and culinary traditions. Join chef Alba in creating these flavorful fusion dishes. Menu: Crostini of Hummus di Borlotti Beans with Spicy Shrimp, Za’atar Topped Focaccia, Meatballs Tagine in Italian Tomato Sauce, Potatoes in Red Wine Coriander and Cumin and Moroccan Fresh Oranges Cake with Cardamom.