It's not as if I needed another reason to enjoy all that Chateau Elan Winery & Resort has to offer, but after completing a cooking class in the culinary studio at the resort with my wife I now have another reason to visit.

I'm not a professional chef in anyone's estimation. My specialty dishes often are limited to a hearty pot of taco stew and maybe grilled burgers or chicken, so when my wife and I were offered the opportunity to participate in a class taught by a professional chef at Chateau Elan, I began to drift out of my comfort zone. I could just imagine myself burning to a crisp every dish given to me to prepare, dropping a sharp knife into my foot or actually setting the chef on fire. Thankfully, none of those occurred and I soon learned these cooking classes are impeccably organized, professionally executed with nothing left to chance.

The steps in preparing the dishes are well detailed and easily understood, even for a South Georgia boy like me. Each student has their own cooking station equipped with a single-burner gas stove, a pan, cooking utensils and all of the ingredients needed to prepare their dishes. Each class is led by a professional chef with several years experience in the field of culinary arts. Our teacher was Winery Sous Chef Jimmy Ellis, who had passion for Louisiana flavors, evident in the Thanksgiving dishes we prepared.

The cooking was both fun and educational, indeed, and the atmosphere was jovial. The culminating victory came when we all sat down at the table with other novice chefs and seasoned gourmands alike, and sampled our own culinary creations. Sifting through my mind was the inevitable question, "Did I really cook this meal?" It was delicious.

As if the experience wasn't enough, we each took home some great parting gifts, including a chef's hat, an embroidered apron, cutting mats and recipe cards with step-by-step instructions for preparing the very same meal we had just created. I shared my experiences and even some of the recipes we prepared at Chateau Elan's Culinary Studio with my associates at Points North. Apparently, I'm not the only one on staff who recommends the cooking class, and we're certain you'll enjoy it too.

To book a cooking class, call reservations 678-425-0900, ext. 41
Corporate classes also are available.

Chateau Elan Winery
100 Tour De France
Braselton, Ga. 30517
678-425-0900
www.chateauelan.com