The Balboa Park Food & Wine School is proud to welcome Gina Freize, “Cheese Wiz,” from Venissimo Cheese in Mission Hills and Keri Busino, Southern CA District Manager of Icon Estates Wines. They will take you on a journey through 5 perfect wine & cheese pairings. Learn some simple tips on how to match cheeses with different wines as well as the basics of wine & cheese. Venissimo carries more than 120 varieties of imported and domestic artisan cheeses at any given time in the Mission Hills shop. Gina passionately believes in the “glory and goodness of cheese.” The course will appeal to both beginners and connoisseurs. You will not want to miss this class!

The Prado invites you to our 9th annual Harvest Celebration of Food and Wine. Thursday October 2, 2008 from 5pm-9pm watch cooking demonstrations from local area Chefs, meet local winemakers, sample a bounty of food created by 'Chef of the Year 2005' Executive Chef Jeff Thurston, listen to live music, nibbles from Venissimo Cheese Shop, Sushi on a Roll and many more local businesses, treat yourself to our chocolate and champagne room and more.............. $59.95+tax in advance and $69.95+tax at the door Call Stacy Anderson at 619.557.9441 X 203 for more information and reservations!

Did you miss Petes first 'Paris Cooking Class' earlier this Summer? Were you too late and it was already sold out??? Well to "bid adu" to the summer we are going to do it again! Come enjoy an evening of French Cuisine with Chef Peter Robson! On the menu: Mixed Baby Greens with a Classic French Dijon Vinaigrette; Mussels and Cream; Halibut Francaise; Braised Belguim Endive; Burgundy Shallot Mashed Potatoes and ending with Chocolate Mousse. This menu will be paired with wines selected for each course!

"WOW"! will be the word of the evening when our 'Top Chef' contender and Oceanaire Seafood Room Executive Chef Brian Malarkey does his 'thing' in the intimate kitchen setting at Balboa Park Food and Wine School. Get ready for an evening of show stopping stories; amazing cuisine and complementary company. Brians menu will include: Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette and “Rocket”; Tempura Mexican White Shrimp with a Sweet Chili Glaze; “Not Your Mama’s” Lobster Roll an ending with Vanilla Ice Cream with Sweet Chili Carmel And Spicy Mexican Chocolate and each course will be paired with selected wines. Be sure to get your front row seat for this class, it will surely sell out!

This is our FIRST ever Sushi and Mojito class, so be sure to get your seat! We will be serving up The Prados famous Mojitos while Jeff Roberto (our Sushi Maestro) from Sushi on a Roll, shows you the ins and outs of Sushi rolling and tricks of getting those chopsticks to work for you! On the menu is California Rolls, Spicy Tuna Rolls, Shrimp Tempura Rolls, Rainbow Rolls, and MORE. This will be a hands-on cooking class with a limit of 2 mojitos per person.

The Balboa Park Food & Wine School is proud to welcome Gina Freize, “Cheese Wiz,” from Venissimo Cheese in Mission Hills and Keri Busino, Southern CA District Manager of Icon Estates Wines. They will take you on a journey through 5 perfect wine & cheese pairings. Learn some simple tips on how to match cheeses with different wines as well as the basics of wine & cheese. Venissimo carries more than 120 varieties of imported and domestic artisan cheeses at any given time in the Mission Hills shop. Gina passionately believes in the “glory and goodness of cheese.” The course will appeal to both beginners and connoisseurs. You will not want to miss this class!

You have seen them on the Food Network, now come and meet them in person! How the heck do they make those cakes so darn yummy you ask? Well find out by joining Donna DiVittorio & Elaine Ardizzone from the delicious kitchen of Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. for a personalized tour de force of the Essentials of Cakes. They’ll focus on tips for baking, building, stacking, and frosting cakes for you to impress your guests and family members. Join them to learn a few awesome recipes and some secrets of the trade that help save time and sanity while trying to save money in these high-priced times for all of us. This class will be served with house chardonnay and cabernet, along with tasty nibbles of The Prados flatbread and hummus, cheeses, meats and fruit.

Bring your friends and have a night of advanced sushi rolling & crazy cocktails at the Balboa Park Food & Wine School. We decided it was time to really roll up our sleeves and rock ‘n roll the night away! Plan for an entertaining evening full of laughter and delight! We’ll serve a few of The Prado Restaurant's creative cocktails and once we are all acquainted the sushi show begins. Watch as Sushi Jeff Roberto of Sushi on a Roll molds and folds just a few ingredients together and poof! instantly your taste buds dancing in your mouth! The menu will include California Rolls, Spicy Tuna Rolls, Shrimp Tempura Rolls, Rainbow Rolls, Tuna Sushi, Fresh Water Eel Roll Sushi, and Yellowtail Sushi. This will be a hands-on cooking class with a limit of 2 cocktails per person.

Sunday Brunch? Who says so? Come and enjoy an early Saturday afternoon in Balboa Park with Pete Robson’s Brunch. Don't be fooled, you can use his recipes for Breakfast or Lunch or Dinner. With the weather still being so nice, after the class you can walk off his excellent cuisine in the park! On the brunch menu: Spinach and Black Forest Ham Quiche; Lucy’s Baguette French Toast with Walnut Maple Syrup; Smoked Salmon and Leek Fritta; Jalapeno Home Fries; Tomato and Zuke Compote; Bananas dipped in Chocolate Ganche with Chantilly Cream. This class will be servefd with mimosas and bloody marys (2 per person).

Fall is right around the corner, and Nadia Frigeri is going to be pleasing your palate with some wonderful Napa Valley inspired dishes to get you ready for the change in weather. On the menu: Pistachio Crusted Goat Cheese on Garlic Crostini with Mixed Greens and Balsamic; Three Wild Mushroom Risotto with Fontina Cheese; Balsamic-Orange-Honey Roasted Pork Loin with Calvados Caramelized Apple; Herbed Roasted Squash; and finishing with Dark Chocolate and Nuts 'Chocolate Cake' with Chocolate Sauce and Berries. This menu will be paired with hand selected wines for each course.

Looking for Friday night happy hour?-Here is it! Don't be left out of the 'Toast'-Come drink and eat at Pete Robson’s New Cocktail Cuisine! He will take you thru the lessons of cooking with your cocktails! Gather your friends and family and head on over for a libation-flaming good time! One the menu: Gin Gimlet Wilted Spinach Salad with Grape Tomatoes; Boiler Maker Marinated Beef Skewers with Rosemary Mustard; Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Grilled Chicken Breasts; Tequila Sky Cooler Carrots; Bourbon Sling Idaho Potatoes; Grilled Black Russian Apples with Chantilly Cream. This class will be served with house wine.

Don't let her scrumptious muffins and scones fool you; our healthy baking gal Aubrey is running marathons and training for her next big race and she is also teaching you how to bake and make it healthy! How you ask??? Well, come on in and find out. This class Aubrey is preparing Carrot Cake Scones with Cream Cheese Frosting and Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins. The class will be served with fresh fruit and mimosas!

The Prado invites you to our 9th annual Harvest Celebration of Food and Wine. Thursday October 2, 2008 from 5pm-9pm watch cooking demonstrations from local area Chefs, meet local winemakers, sample a bounty of food created by 'Chef of the Year 2005' Executive Chef Jeff Thurston, listen to live music, nibbles from Venissimo Cheese Shop, Sushi on a Roll and many more local businesses, treat yourself to our chocolate and champagne room and more.............. $59.95+tax in advance and $69.95+tax at the door Call Stacy Anderson at 619.557.9441 X 203 for more information and reservations!