February 25, 2016
Our first Tuscan Experience was BELLISIMO!!!
February may be a short month, but it has been a good one for Freda’s Kitchen. We had our first event with Chef Dean, and the group was delightful! Dean made the house smell like an Italian Cuchina as he demonstrated how to make a typical Tuscan meal of beef carpaccio, risotto, baked chicken, and Tuscan bean stew. This particular group of ladies wanted an elegant dinner party where they could learn about the cuisine without getting their hands dirty and drink wine; Chef Dean did not disappoint! If you are interested in your own Tuscan Culinary Experience, make sure you give us a shout!
We’re growing!
Welcome to our new Culinary Assistant, Danny Stroud. Danny is a master at many things, and most recently worked in the Hollywood Film Industry. He is also a musician, artist, and a carpenter. I hear he makes a mean chicken coop, too!
Freda’s Kitchen is always looking for experienced home cooks and chefs who have a passion for a particular cuisine. If you are interested in learning more, please make sure you send me a resume at [email protected].
Come learn how to make Vietnamese Pho and Spring Rolls!
While Austin is in a flurry in March with SXSW, Freda’s Kitchen will be preparing for its first official Culinary Experience at Tipping T on Fitzhugh Rd, next to Jester King. Come join us on March 31 for an evening of Vietnamese Pho and Spring Rolls! Chef Jen Du will be sharing her family’s national dish from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Tickets are $65 pp plus tax, and are limited, so get yours today!
We plan to highlight a different cuisine every month at Tipping T, so stay tuned for future events!
Freda’s Kitchen will be able to serve more of South Austin
Lastly, Freda’s Kitchen became a founding member of the Cook’s Nook. The Cook’s Nook is a new incubator for food and beverage startups. In a few months, we will have access to their demo kitchens, and mindshare, which is really exciting! It’s located in southeast Austin, so we will be able to offer our Culinary Experiences to more South Austinites.
January 30, 2016
January has been an incredible month for Freda’s Kitchen! We had our first event in a new venue, meeting new friends and sharing delicious cuisine. And, we hired another chef!
One of the highlights of the month was an Indian Experience for the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce and Friends at the new Tipping T event venue on Fitzhugh Road. It’s right next to the Jester King and Stanley’s Farmhouse Pizza on a road that is just exploding with new, fun places to check out. Emily Tipps is the proprietor, and her family has and turned five acres of hill country into a beautiful, wooded retreat. They have several cabins, and a couple houses, one of which was moved to the land and originally built in the early 20th century.
The cabins/houses sleep 36 comfortably, and there is a brand new common house with a kitchen and dining room that had me at, “Hello”. It’s rustic and comfortable, intimate and kitschy, and the perfect place to create a beautiful culinary experience. Emily says that it’s the perfect place to elope to, or have a family reunion, friends’ weekend, or just a little getaway from Austin’s hustle and bustle.
Emily, and her sister Megan, created a warm, homey ambiance for the nine participants who shared the evening of January 28th with Chef Sunita and me. As usual, Sunita outdid herself, the smells of her cuisine wafting through the rafters and out the windows of the kitchen. I’m sure the coyotes were licking their chops as the smell of curry leaves and tumeric enveloped all of us in their wonderful scents.
Of course, the food was AMAZING! Her masala chicken, ginger peas, lentils and rice, and delicious sesame naan stole the show. Everyone left with full tummies, and new connections made. It always tickles me to hear strangers get to know each other, sharing their stories with each other, Facebook friending each other on the spot.
We thoroughly enjoyed working with Emily and the Tipping T., so stay tuned for more events in the coming months.
In other news, we hired a new chef! Jen Du is an accomplished entrepreneur and loves to cook her heritage cuisines, Vietnamese and Korean. If you’ve always wanted to try Vietnamese or Korean foods, this is your chance to not only try them, but learn their history and how they are made. Jen is available for events starting immediately, so make sure you let us know if you have a group interested in getting together.
Now, we are looking forward to February! Chef Dean is preparing for his first event with Freda’s Kitchen. I can’t wait to cook with him! The menu is incredible! I’ll be talking more about that event in a couple weeks. In the meantime, if you would like a Tuscan Culinary Experience, let us know so that we can get you scheduled. He only does a limited amount of events, so don’t wait too long!
I hope you are all having a wonderful winter season, and hope to meet more of you as we continue to grow.
January 3, 2016
What a way to start off the New Year!!! I had the pleasure of hosting seven lovely new friends while we made two types of pierogi, meat and potato. Everyone jumped right in! We had two teams compete to see who could make the most pierogi out of their dough. Everyone was a winner, because they all got to taste each other’s masterpieces and take some home to share!
Interested in learning how to make pierogi? Let’s get a group together and do it! Just send me a note!
December 28, 2015
We are excited to offer our first Polish Culinary Experience! Participants will get to make two kinds of pierogi, light dumplings that are a staple during every Polish holiday. Learn more about the event and sign up for a fun Sunday afternoon on January 3!
December 15, 2015
Wow! It’s been a whirlwind three months at Freda’s Kitchen! Back in September, I knew that I wanted to do something unique, something that would bring people together, something reminiscent of simpler times. I started to think about the best parts of my childhood, and my memories of cooking with my grandmother just struck me.
I started talking to friends about my memories, my ideas, and it all started to gel. My friends were supportive, and people have come out of the woodwork with advice, connections, and ideas. It’s been a wonderful experience!
Fast forward past all the “business” stuff, and I found my first cook, Sunita. You can read her bio here. She made Freda’s Kitchen a reality. From the first time I met her, through our first dry run, I knew she had something special to offer.
Since then, I’ve been meeting with chefs, looking at all sorts of kitchens, and getting everything ready for the January official launch. It’s exciting!
Last week, we held a sneak peek for Dripping Springs Women2Women group, and it was an unequivocal success! You can read some of the comments from the participants here.
I’m looking forward to getting Freda’s Kitchen off the ground and serving you all amazing cuisine and experiences you will never forget!