Dan Robson hatched his plan when he and his wife had dinner at Ninety Acres last year. Walking around the big, lodge-like restaurant ensconced in Natirar Park in Somerset County, he noticed the wing dedicated to the Viking Cooking School, with its high ceiling, French doors opening onto a patio and range-in-the-round kitchen seating. Right away, he knew what he was going to get his wife, professional baker Jessica Romeo, as a Valentine’s Day surprise—a class at the cooking school.
Couples can sign up to take any of the school’s classes, many of which are just one session. But for a romantic evening it’s hard to beat the monthly weeknight Date Night classes. The food is always luxe—the menu for the March class that the Robsons, who live in Chatham, attended included lobster pot pies and porcini-crusted filet mignon with crab-stuffed shrimp and champagne butter sauce—and all the attendees are couples, married or dating. The price is $125 per couple.
“Weekend classes are more hands-on,” says school director Ellen Taylor. “Date Night is more of an entertainment thing. Some couples will bring in a glass of wine from the bar.” Cooking, she adds, “is a wonderful thing to do together.”
Diane Ricci and Jamie Bryant (not their real names) found it to be just that. At a recent Date Night, they were the only couple dating rather than married. They stood side by side at the long prep table, Jamie’s arm around Diane, as chef Suzanne Lowery, the instructor, went over some basics. Each of the couples was assigned one dish and started by doing things like cleaning shrimp, dicing butternut squash or mincing chives. Then all five couples took seats at the bar that surrounds the big Viking stove. Lowery called up each couple in turn to complete the cooking of their dish under her friendly supervision.
When all was said and done—and eaten—everybody went home happy, praising the food and the fun they had. The Robsons retired to the Ninety Acres bar for a drink before heading home. Said Ricci, an enthusiastic home cook, “We would definitely do another one.” The next Date Night class is May 26.
Viking Cooking School at Natirar
2 Main Street
Peapack-Gladstone
908-901-4714
natirar.com
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