If you love to cook and love to eat then this is very quietly one of Savannah’s most enjoyable activities. 700 Drayton Cooking School inside the Mansion on Forsyth Park is equal parts educational, entertaining and satisfying.
While the school has been around for over a decade, the classes change year to year and season to season. I had the pleasure of participating in one of the classes last Summer and enjoyed every little bit of it. The class I participated in was their “Grand Tour of Southeast Asia.” In that class we made Pork Dumplings, a Korean Beef rice bowl, Vietnamese Basil Rolls and a whole lot more.
The classes are incredibly hands on. A great date night or holiday gift for that food lover in your life. What’s it all about? Here’s a portion of my chat with Executive Chef Jason Winn:
JB: Most people know that 700 Drayton Cooking School has been there for a number of years. That doesn’t mean you are always cooking the same things. How does it work with your menus? How often do you rotate?
Chef Jason: At this point, because we are booking so far in advance, I basically am just adding to it. If something works, I will just keep it on the calendar for next year. I don’t rotate things off, I am always looking to add things on. Pretty quickly we discover what people like and sign up for and we keep those classes.
JB: How long have you been with the school?
Chef: Since November of 2019. Right before the craziness.
JB: So you are just now hitting a groove. Is that fair to say?
Chef: This year we’ve done very well. In the beginning we were getting a lot of staycationers. Now we are starting to see more travelers.
JB: The class that I participated in was your first venture into Asian cuisine, right?
Chef: Yes. We’ve always had Asian elements, but this was the first full class. I used to do a Pho and Ramen class. We brought back the ramen on this one.
JB: What would you say is the biggest take away from your classes? Yes, we make food and we get to pig out on our own creations, but beyond that. What do you think people enjoy most about these classes?
Chef: This is going to sound cheesy but we are making memories. I’ve been told many times. “This makes me very happy. This is the highlight of our trip.” Everyone loves restaurants, but that can be a little forgettable. You are never going to forget this. This is really fun. You are there with your family or your date and you are doing something really unique.
JB: At one point, the 700 Drayton Cooking School was named Top thing to do in Savannah. There is a lot more to do here now, but this is still a great time. I enjoyed it very much. Do you get much time off?
Chef: Depends on who you ask. (Laughs)
JB: I ask because, yes, you had us doing a lot of the work but you guys do a ton of prep. Vegetables and stocks, sauces and all of that stuff that you do during the day.
Holiday Classes coming up Winter 2021
Thanksgiving Heritage —November 25 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
There is no better place to celebrate the ultimate food holiday than the 700 Kitchen Cooking School. Join Chef Jason Winn in preparing a traditional Thanksgiving feast seasoned with historical tributes and flavored by regional perspectives. The feast includes Roasted Turkey with Zinfandel Pan Gravy and Cranberry Citrus Chutney; Western-Style Cornbread Dressing; Yukon Gold Smashed Potatoes; Herb-Roasted Squashes; Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta; Baby Greens and Apple Salad with Walnuts and Goat Cheese; Sweet Potato Casserole; Fanny Farmer Cornbread; Dutch Apple Pie; Bourbon Pecan Pie; and Classic Pumpkin Pie. Private Thanksgiving Heritage classes are available upon request. ($125/person)
● Children’s Holiday Brunch —December 5, December 12 and December 19 from 9 a.m.-noon
Make memories in the kitchen this holiday season. Parents and children are invited to prepare a kid-friendly brunch, including Holiday-Themed Pancake “Art”; Cheesy Scrambled Eggs; Bacon; Chicken Apple Sausage; Potato Latkes; and Yogurt and Berry Parfait. This festive brunch experience also includes a framed photo souvenir, refreshments and a complimentary mimosa for each participating parent. ($75/parent and child)
● New Year’s Eve Celebration —December 31 from 6-10 p.m.
Close out the year 2021 with an opulent four-course feast that you created from scratch. Menu items include Sunchoke Bisque with Oyster Mushrooms and Country Ham; Lobster Ravioli Purple Kale with Roasted Winter Vegetables and Sage Brown Butter; Roasted Veal Tenderloin “Rossini” Truffle Red Wine Reduction with Fingerling Potatoes Noisette; and Espresso Pot De Crème Kalua Chantilly with Hazelnut Biscotti. ($125/person)
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