Forget about just watching Food Network. Juneau's "recreational cooking school," Chez Alaska, is giving residents and visitors alike a chance to learn how to cook great food using the bounty of Southeast Alaska's seas. Classes focus on dishes such as Wild Alaska Salmon with an Asian Twist, Sourdough Desserts, and Alaskan Seafood Safari.

"Classes have covered mostly seafood - salmon, halibut, scallops, shrimp, and black cod," said the school's president and founder, Laraine Derr, but also include other delicacies such as sea cucumber, squid, or abalone.

"We used octopus in a seafood pasta with a garlic butter sauce that included salmon, scallops, and shrimp." Derr received a Food and Beverage Management Certificate with honors from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Motel Association and has been catering receptions since 1983.

Derr and her husband, Romer, are well known around Alaska for their gourmet meals prepared and served in their home to benefit local charities.

Chez Alaska's classes also team up Alaskan seafood with other local favorites, such as beer from Juneau's Alaskan Brewing Company - a recent offering was shrimp etouffee made with Alaskan's Smoked Porter. The year-round school offers a treat at the end - students get to sample what the chef created.

The 45-minute demonstration classes occur 3 or 4 times daily and cost $25. Participants need to register online for the three-hour hands-on classes that cost $99.

CHECK IT OUT

Chez Alaska Cooking School
Nugget Mall Annex
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 790-2439
www.ChezAlaska.com