I am an American Foodie! We should all embrace our incredible diversity, Carol’s delicious Pea Soup with Crusty Croutons, Carol’s favorite Meat Loaf with a light Tomato Sauce, Haystack Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Fried Onions, All-In-The-Family Corn Fritters with Warm Maple Syrup, Carol’s Famous Crab Cakes with Homemade Tartar Sauce and Carol’s Maple Butter Pecan Ice Cream.

I think Southwest flavors are up there with the tastes of Italy; we never get tired of them. Classic Fresh Lime Margarita with Tequila Plata. (It’s so delicious you’ll definitely want to enjoy more than one) Peel-and-Eat Shrimp with Grill-Roasted Green Chile Tartar Sauce, Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers with Cheese and Salsa Mayonnaise, Orzo, Black Beans, and Cherry Tomato Salad, Brined and Stuffed Double Pork Chops with Sour Cream Cornbread with Green Chiles and Pumpkin Seeds Stuffing and a refreshing Avocado Ice Cream. So delicious!

Italians love fried foods! With some Good Olive Oil and my trusty tongs, I am good to go. Herbed Goat Cheese Fritters, drizzled with some warm Honey. These little fritters make a wonderful warm cheese course or a great passed Hors d”oeuvre, Carol’s famous Fried Pizza served at Carol’s Café (Fresh Tomatoes, Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Shallots, Balsamic Vinegar, Homemade Mozzarella and Basil), Neapolitan Doughnuts with Warm Chocolate Sauce. These little ring-shaped Doughnuts will be familiar to anyone who has strolled through an Italian street fare. I think a warm fritter every now and then is an indulgent treat that can be enjoyed today and worked off on a treadmill tomorrow.

New !  The Story of a Signature Dish ~ 1 Lesson ~ October 20 ~ $65

What makes a dish a classic at Carol’s Café? Carol’s Famous Mussels in a White Wine Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil, Fried Calamari with Garlic Butter & Hot Cherry Peppers, Winter Salad with Blue Cheese & Candied Pecans, Vienna Schnitzel with Spatzle, pan seared, in a Fresh Sage Brown Butter Sauce and Warm Chocolate Cakes with Chantilly Cream. Wine will be served.

If you dream of Italy - (and who doesn't ?) Be prepared to fall in love. Sweet-Tart Salad of Apples, Basil and Spinach, Spaghettini with Shrimp, Chickpeas and Young Greens, Leg of Lamb Glazed with Balsamic and Red Wine, Potato “Gatto” (This is like a Lasagna of crushed Potatoes mixed with Parmigiano, Salami & Peas, layered in a Casserole with a filling of Mozzarella & browned Onion, topped with toasted Garlic Bread Crumbs, and for dessert - Pine Nut and Almond Shortbread.

Celebrate the new Latin-American Cuisine! The original Daiquiri, Sweet Onion Flatbread (Just thinking about it makes me hungry) Watercress and Tomato Salad with Peanut Dressing, Cuban Black Bean Soup with Homemade Crème Fraiche, Grilled Flank Steak with Mushroom Ceviche, Enchilado de Camarones (The word - Enchilado - is Cuban, for - Seafood in a Spicy Tomato Sauce served over Rice. And for dessert - Café con Leche Ice Cream (This ice cream in one tasty Nuevo Latino dessert).

New !   The Secrets of Pie Pastry (2 - hour Demonstration) Special Time ~ 7 PM - 9 PM 

1 Lesson November 10 ~ $50

Sweet Pastry, rolling out Dough, fitting Dough to pan and techniques for Fluting. Carol will bake a delicious Ultimate Apple Pie. Coffee and Tea will be served.

Memories of Christmas Eve, purchasing Fish from the Fish cart, soaking the Baccala, the Prince family in the kitchen, everybody helping clean the fish, laughter, looking forward to a magnificent feast. Stuffed Baked Clams and Mussels, Zuppa di Cosse (Carol’s famous Mussels with White Wine, Lemons, Tomato, Onion, Garlic and Basil), Frutta di Mare (The most delicious Cold Seafood Salad you will ever taste) Octopus, Scungilli, Calamari, Shrimp and Poached Whiting in a Lemon Vinaigrette. Carol’s Classic Shrimp Scampi, flamed in Cognac with Couscous, Carol’s Café Deep Fried Calamari with Lemon Wedges, Blue Crabs in a wonderful Tomato Sauce served with Spaghetti and Baccala in Padella Con Pepperoni (Pan-cooked Cod with Peppers, Tomatoes, Onions and Garlic) Wine will be served.

New !  Bring Happy Hour Home - Sensational Starters  ~ 1 Lesson ~ December 1 ~ $65

Your home may become the new happy hour hot spot. Spicy Seared Tuna Sashimi with Sesame Vinaigrette, Rock Shrimp Samosas with Lemon Chutney, Walnut-Crusted Goat Cheese with Baby Greens and Citrus Salad, Crab and Goat Cheese Strudel with Red Bell Pepper Sauce, Marinated Shiitake Mushrooms Wrapped in Rice Paper. Spectacular Key Lime Margaritas for everyone to enjoy.

New !    A Glorious Holiday Buffet ~ 1 Lesson ~ December 15 ~ $75                                        

All Prepared Ahead and Served at Room Temperature

Cherry Tomatoes Stuffed with Basil & Cheese, Sicilian Holiday Spinach Pie, Christmas Baked Ham, Duck & Wild Rice Salad, beautifully decorated Salmon Mousse with Whole Wheat Toast Points and Carol’s Fabulous Holiday Trifle (Sponge Cake, Pastry Cream, Raspberries, Roasted Sugared Almonds, Chantilly Cream, Chocolate Triangles and Cherries). Champagne will be served.

New !  Just A Little Butter ~ 1 Lesson ~ January 12 ~ $65

Just a little butter adds flavor to everything we eat. Enjoying our meals makes us happy and lowers our stress. And, as hard as it might be to believe, fat is good for us, too. Spicy Buttered Popcorn, Mixed Spice Nuts, (these are delicious with cocktails), Double Butter Salad, Butter Chicken (Ginger, Cardamom, Cumin, Chiles, Tomatoes, & Butter), Buttery Pureed Potatoes (just like I ate in Paris) and my absolute favorite - Carol’s Café Hot Banana Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream, & Bananas sauteed in Butter, and flamed in Rum WOW !

A Chicken In Every Pot ~ 1 Lesson ~ January 19 ~ $65

Sautés, Fricassees and Stews.  Coq au Vin (Chicken in Red Wine with small braised Onions, Wild Mushrooms, and Lardons of Pork, a wonderfully satisfying dish, and a fine one for company), Carol’s delicious Northern Italian Chicken Fricassee (Onions, Celery, Yellow Peppers, Plum Tomatoes, and White Wine) with Pan Seared Noodles in a brown Butter Sage Sauce, Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Breasts with Eggplant Panzanella and Raisin-Pine Nut Vinaigrette. Wine will be served.

Delicious Vegetables by Executive Chef Carol Frazzetta

1 Lesson ~ January 26 ~ $65

The question asked the most at Carol’s Café, how did you make the Glazed Carrots? Now you can come and learn how to make them. Rum-Glazed Carrots, Escarole with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Lemon and Pepperoni, Wild Mushrooms cooked in Parchment with Fragrant Herbs and Pancetta, Toasted Israeli Couscous with Grilled Vegetables & Eggplant “Quail” with Goat Cheese or Mozzarella & Fresh Tomatoes. Just to let you know, all dishes can be made without meat.

The Techniques & Theory of Cooking 1 (Basics for the Beginning Cook)                                   

6 Lessons ~ February 2, 9, 16, 23, March 2, 9 ~ $390

Even if you have never cooked before, Techniques & Theory of Cooking I, will help you learn how to prepare simply delicious meals, and give you the confidence to cook and bake. This basic course will stress hands-on instruction and include menu planning, equipment, cooking techniques and theory, seasoning, using herbs, spices and so much more. A White Wine & Shallot Tart, Caesar Salad; Crab & Shrimp Stuffed Flounder with a lovely Bechamel Sauce, Thanksgiving Soup (Chicken Stock, Rice, Escarole, Little Meatballs, Carrots, Parmesan Cheese). So Good! Stuffed Roast Chicken with American Bread Stuffing and a Wild Mushroom Gravy; Perfect White Bread Workshop (Working with Yeast) Lasagna Pastitsio; Fresh Spinach; Sicilian String Beans with Plum Tomatoes; Delicious Chocolate Syrup Cake; Best ever Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberry & Pineapple Glaze; Crisp Pie Crust, Fluting, Blind Baking, and a Double Crust Apple Pie Workshop and a sensational Vanilla Bean Souffle with Chantilly Cream.

New !  Italian Bread ~  1 Lesson ~ March 16 ~$65

Miracle though it may be, there is no mystery to making bread. Allow yourself the luxury of time to enjoy the process. A festive Easter Bread From Naples ( rich Bread typically made with Lard, with lots of black pepper, cheeses, and pork), Focaccia al Pomodoro e Ricotta made with Golden Semolina Bread, with Ricotta, Tomato strips, Olives & Caciocavallo Cheese.

New !  New Orleans Best Gumbo and Soups ~ 1 Lesson ~ March 23 ~ $65

“You go Messin” with my Mama’s Gumbo, You gonna get Hurt.”

Gumbo Ya - Ya (“gumbo ya-ya referred to the chattering of women while they cooked in 19th century New Orleans). This is one of the best-selling gumbos in New Orleans, consisting of Roast Chicken and Andouille Sausage, Shrimp, Tomato and Corn Bisque, this bisque is such a treat and Cream of Garlic Soup (Garlic and onion, caramelized and pureed, are the components that give this bread-thickened soup a lot of character). Strawberry Granita, to refresh your palate.

New !  Thai Home Cooking ~ 1 Lesson ~ March 30 ~ $65

The energy and excitement of Thai Cooking in your own kitchen. My answer is a no-frill approach that sidesteps culture, introductions, and explanations, directing its attention to cooking only--home cooking. Chicken and Potato Balls, Spicy Beef Soup, Stir-Fried Greens with Oyster Sauce, Red Curry with Shrimp and Pineapple, Thai Style, Pork Fried with lots of Garlic and Black Pepper, with Coconut Rice, Crispy Fried Noodles (Mee Krob) and Fresh Ginger Ice Cream with Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce.

New !   Italian Antipasti ~ 1 Lesson ~ April 6 ~ $65

Sunday family dinner at my mother Mary’s house in Brooklyn began with a delicious array of Italian appetizers. It was our favorite part of the ever ending marathon of food. Grilled Eggplant with Feta & Oven Roasted Tomatoes, Lamb Meatballs stuffed with Goat Cheese, Asparagus a La Parmigiana, Rock Shrimp with Cannellini Beans, Calamari Marinated with Harissa, Chickpeas and Celery and Grilled Country Bread. Wine will be served.

New !  Fabulous Finger Food from India ~ 1 Lesson ~ April 13 ~ $65

The key to successful Indian Cooking lies in the art of blending Spices and Herbs, rather than sophisticated cooking techniques. Curried Lamb Samosas )Filo pastry is perfect for making Samosas), Spiced Potato Cakes with Spicy Chickpeas, (This is a typical Mumbai street snack; the kind locals would happily eat) Quick-Fried Prawns with Spices (These spicy prawns are stir-fried in moments to make a fabulous appetizer) Chicken Tikka (This extremely popular Indian first course is quick and easy to cook), Goan-Style Mussels (Mussels make a marvelous appetizer). Serve them in a fragrant Coconut Sauce. Beer will be served.

New !   Let The Grilling Begin ~ 1 Lesson ~ April 20 ~ $65

Take it outside! Argentine Grilled Provolone, Grilled Mussels and Potato Salad, Chicken Sate with Peanut Curry Sauce, Grilled Shrimp Remoulade, Grilled Stuffed Flank Steak, Grilled Corn with Queso Fresco and Lime-Tarragon Butter, Grilled Pound Cake with Mexican Chocolate Sauce and Tropical Fruit; Sangria with Grand Marnier

My Sicilian Family Recipes ~ 1 Lesson ~  April 27 ~ $65

My Mother Mary and my Father Alfonso, loved family, and delicious food. Every Sunday my mother cooked for 20 people. How I miss those Sundays. Stuffed Artichokes, slowly braised in white wine, lemons and fresh herbs, Eggplant Parmesan, Carol’s Marinara Sauce - A classic at Carol’s Café; Spaghetti with Lamb, White Wine, Fresh Herbs and Tiny Peas, Chicken Rollatini with Prosciutto and fresh Mozzarella and Lemon Ice with Lemoncello.

Summer Barbecue (For Parent & Child)

Special Time: 6:30 - 9:00 PM ~ 1 Lesson ~ May 3 ~ $65

What better way for a child to learn the joy of barbecuing, than at the side of their parent. A Perfect Cheeseburger on a Toasted Bun with all the Fixings; Chicken Kabobs; Barbecued Shrimp, and for dessert - Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Bananas & Pretzels

Irresistible, delicious pizza, it is one the world’s favorite foods. Carol’s delicious Pizza Dough. Thin Potato and Grilled Pepper Pizza - Thin Potato Slices sautéed with Garlic, Rosemary, & Fresh Roasted Peppers; Pizza with Broccoli Rabe, Fontina Cheese & Caramelized Onions; Grilled Eggplant, Tomato, Arugula & Mozzarella Pizza; White Clam Sauce Pizza; and Grilled Chicken with Pesto & Parmesan Cheese Pizza.