Registration has started for the new cooking school CulinAerie at Thomas Circle. Set to open in late September, it will specialize in culinary activities for corporate and private teambuilding groups.
Co-founders Susan Holt and Susan Watterson—former instructors at Gaithersburg’s L’Academie de Cuisine—plan to offer Food Network-inspired classes, minus the prep work and clean up. They’ve recruited 20 instructors, including local chefs Ris Lacoste of 1789 Restaurant and David Guas of Damgoodsweet Consulting Group, to teach classes that run the gamut from French and Italian to Indian and Persian cuisine.
CulinAerie will include two kitchens: one with cherry wood accents, space for 16 participating students and 20 for a demo; and the other with a stainless steel look and room for twice as many. A three-hour teambuilding class will run $115 per person and include a three-course meal and a gift bag. All-day classes will be offered at a flat rate starting at $5,000 for as many as 20 participants. The space can also be rented for private events with full catering and wine service at $95 per guest.
