Cooking Class - Handling Fresh Seafood in the Kitchen

I had a great time with my first Cozymeal and cooking class with Chef Bahr! The chef was knowledgeable, patient and had a great sense of humor. We learned to make chocolate custard shuck oysters, sliced fresh raw Branzino fish for carpaccio, made Salmon poke, and watched how Chef Bar prepared paella before it went to the oven for us to share a perfect end to the night. Chef Bahr was personable and made us feel welcome. Since it was a small group (of 7) prepping at one table, it allowed us to be intimate and it was just like having friends over at your home, cooking, and having great conversations over wine and beer. (It’s BYOB! Although you can get drinks at the bar). Great vibe and energy amongst the group. The class on was hand-ons and we learned a lot of helpful tips and tricks on handling seafood, food shopping and we all shared our love of food and favorites eats around the city. The recipes were easy to follow. The food was fresh, delicious and plenty for everyone – we practically licked everything off the plate! With the time allotted, the class was well organized – we created a 5-course meal in 3 hours and we got to eat it! And best of all it was a relaxed experience – no pressure to rush through and to finish on time. In fact, we lingered after just chatting and friending each other on Facebook! I came alone and had a memorable experience. And of course it’s great for dates and having fun with a friend. I can’t wait to get those recipes from Chef Bahr! Thank you!

Chef Bahr is a fantastic host chef, offering a relaxed and open kitchen lesson within a cozy setting. Questions can be asked at any time and Chef Bahr's tips from sourcing the freshest seafood down to slicing techniques were all highly valued. My confidence in attempting different seafood recipes at a top tier restaurant quality has increased immensely. Looking forward to the next Cozymeal experience!

Loved how interactive the chef and staff was. The explanations and debunking myths around seafood was very helpful. Overall a great experience with great people.

Chef Bahr was the perfect combination of host and instructor. Clearly explained and demonstrated everything while encouraging a fun atmosphere. Great venue for a beautiful late summer evening with windows/doors open, would be cozy in cold weather. Techniques learned will be useful in the future. He also discussed different varieties of oysters, types of fish to use for the various recipes, how to choose an oyster shucking knife, what to look for when buying fresh seafood, etc. Took "Handling Fresh Seafood" and will take another class soon.

Was a great teacher and provided a nice atmosphere for total strangers to come together and collaboratively cook and learn together in a fun environment - oh yeah and the recipes and food we produced were great too! Well done chef thanks!

Chef Bahr was absolutely amazing. Such a kind and patient person who made me and my date feel so special. The ultimate date night event!! Thank you Chef Bahr. Food was amazing too!

Wonderful! I'm a foodie, but have only basic experience in cooking. Chef Bahr was unfailing patient and good-humored, and took time to explain each step and technique. As for the menu, it was not only tantalizing to read, but proved absolutely delicious! This was my birthday gift, and I was so happy with the whole experience-thank you!!

A wonderful experience start to finish for a birthday gift. Chef Bahr had the right mix of hospitality, demonstration, hands-on participation by us, appealing/accessible menu, inviting atmosphere. His colleagues were very helpful too. The dishes turned out as delicious and ample as we could imagine. He set the agenda early and stuck to it. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who wants to create a memorable experience for themselves or others. MT

Incredible experience from beginning to end. Chef Bahr was lively, fun and interactive, but also very helpful. The Catalan cuisine was delicious. Would highly recommend!

A great time was had by all! We learned a lot, ate a lot and met new friends. What more could you ask for? Thank you Chef Bahr, you were a wonderful teacher, witty and charming. Can't wait to see you next year when we return to NYC!

Knowing that we were going to prepare a Paella dish, one of my favorites, but also knowing how involved it is, I was a little apprehensive at first. Chef Bahr thoroughly explained the classic preparation, but then proceeded to demystify the dish to make it more approachable. The end result was a delicious pan of Paella, that if not for the street sounds of NYC, you would have thought you were in Spain. Chef Bahr is an excellent teacher. Very knowledgeable about his dishes, approaches cooking thoughtfully, not only to make it fun, but also to maximize time.