Let’s talk about this weekend’s adventures. There were highways, gas stations and bridges. I might have a made friends out of strangers although there was too much wine to be clear on that. Aaaaand! I taught my first cooking class. In Sonoma. That happened.
Take a peek!
I spent an evening in and around San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge. It chokes me up. It makes me a little teary eyed. It’s just a bridge. Why would a bridge make me want to cry? Weirdo.
I stayed at a lovely resort tucked just behind the Golden Gate Bridge. I got lost trying to find it. So lost. But look at this place? Doesn’t it look like where you’d want to fall in love with Ryan Gosling if you were Rachel McAdams?
Long grass. It’s got character.
Birds. Boats and buildings.
I spent the rest of the evening in the city without my camera. If you are two of the three women that were with me that night… you should be glad I didn’t have my camera. I’m just sayin. Wow. Wine. Wow. We all have our ‘too much wine’ moments. I remember mine: in front of The Pioneer Woman and Steamy Kitchen. Oops.
I made my way to Ramekins in Sonoma. Above is James. He was my hype man. He said nice things and introduced me to the class. Awesome. Thank you.
The kitchen at Ramekins is gorgeous. My kitchen is never this organized.
Nor does it ever have this many people in it.
Cameron is making Creme Fraiche Quiche. She’s a dear.
Jessica is peppering some biscuits. Rad.
Danielle is cutting biscuits. Nice form.
Jessica brought Tom. He’s the silent type. He got his hands dirty.
Everyone gathered ’round the griddle making pancakes for themselves. I’m pretty sure I’ve found heaven.
Meet Annie. She’s the most dear, lovely and gracious lady I’ve ever met. Annie, thanks for your endless help and support with this class. Thanks for the hospitality and for loving macarons enough to stop a taxi. You’re great.
And… this is what the drive home after a crazy weekend looks like…
… but this is what if feels like. And. Yes. I did sing every Fiona Apple song I know on the drive home. I also ate a cheeseburger. And chocolate.
Thank you to all of you shining people who came out to Ramekins for my first baking class. Big hugs of appreciation to the fine folk at Ramekins who made my class run like an absolute dream. I’ll be back. April.
{ 82 comments… read them below or add one }
awesome…what a great experience!
i know this is a selfish thing but…
when will you come to nyc…jealous…very…
:)
Looks like you had an amazing weekend! We are sure there are loads more to come!
Congratulations on your first class Joy! It’s great that you’re doing so well, we’re rooting for you.
Joy,
Congratulations on the class! And I’m so glad you had fun in the Bay Area (the bridge really is one of the most beautiful things in the world!). I’ve been a reader/fan for a few months now. And I’ve been meaning to send you a big thank you for the no-roll pie crust – it really saved me at Thanksgiving. I look forward to your posts.
How cool! It looks like your class was a success. Classy lady teaching classes and stuff.
AND where you stayed DOES look like a dreamy notebook falling in love type place and wavy grass? Count me in.
Congrats on your class! Looks like a great turnout!
Wow, looks like fun! We are so PROUD of you. We need to do something like that down here in L.A., don’t ya’ think??
Keep up the good work!
Next stop … Charlotte, NC!
Congrats, Joy! I bet it was a fantastic class!
I would love to be in that class. Congrats to you girl. I’m sure it was fantabulous. :)
Congrats on your first class! I’m glad you had a great weekend :D
if you ever want to do a cooking class in VA, I’ll be there! Looks like so much fun.
And a long drive with a burger + Fiona Apple sounds like the perfect ending to me.
Thank you so much for the wonderful class yesterday! Everything was delicious and I had such a great time. I now know how to brown butter and I cannot wait to make each and every one of the recipes at home. :-)
I might need to come back in April!
wish i could have made it!! it looks like it was much fun!
It WAS a great cooking class. The pancakes, oh the pancakes. Thanks for making it so much fun. Glad you made it home safely. Come back soon!
Will you be back in August?? Because that’s when I’ll be in SF!! :(
Oh wow – the place, the food, everything looks amazing! Care to come start some cooking classes in Alabama? I’ll take over once you teach me everything you know! :)
Congrats on your first class Joy!! :))
I would like some of that creme fraiche quiche!!
I bet it was an awesome class. I would love to take a baking class from you! Let me know if you ever want to expand into michigan ;)
Joy,
You live a charmed and dremy life. Every time I read a new blog post I can’t help but smile, because I know that you live such a fulfilling life. Or maybe I should put it this way, I think that I would be fulfilled by your life. Your catering business seems awesome and now you are teaching people how to cook awesome things? You are definately at the very top of my list of food bloggers I want to meet in person. You seem very real, with just that perfect amount of fantasy.
Congrats Joy! Looks like your first class was a huge success. If I could ever make it to one of your future classes I totally would :)
How fun! Wish I could have been there taking that class! Also, boo on not having pictures of your wine night..pictures like that are THE BEST!!
That place looks so beautiful!! I love the grass, i would even say that it’s magical! Looks like an amazing weekend!
Congrats Joy! I wanted to take this class so bad! However I am a broke college graduate. :( It looks like it would have been an awesome time though!
I’ve seen the resort you stayed in on the TV before. It looks like the place that dreams are made of:D San Fran is such a wonderful city. I would be ecstatic if I had an endless budget and could live there.
Looks like your class was pretty rockin.
Awesome! So jealous but so excited for you. Cheers to the wine! I love wine…sometimes I love it too much.
That looks like a magical place to take a class! What a fun weekend.
Hi Joy
Let me tell you the class was awesome!!! Tom enjoyed it! He talked non-stop about the quiche…I know weird, but he really does talk I promise. The biscuits were to die for! Thanks for making my 1st cooking class experience a blast…And for all you fans of Joy she ROCKS!!, but of course you all know that already!!!
Jessica
Joy, I wish I could have been there. My sister lives in Yuba City, and I’m hoping to one day convince her to find a class you’re teaching and attend, the three-hour drive not withstanding. I’m so excited to see that your class turned out so well, and all the food looked delicious. Bravo, lady!
mmm now I want to make quiche and biscuits!
I’ve never been to San Francisco but I once saw a really depressing documentary about the scary large number of people who commit suicide off that bridge every year. Maybe that’s why it made you want to cry? :(
Congrats!!! Hope it’s the first of many!
SO cool! Looks like a lot of fun. I’ve never been to a cooking class but always look at courses with a little bit of jealousy — if you ever came to Chicago I’d be first in line!
You were so close to where I live…..I wish I could have come to the class….maybe in April!!! San Fran is definitely an awesome town….I absolutely ADORE Sonoma & Napa!
Congrats on your class being such a success!
congratulations joy, this looks like you had a great time! im happy for you! =) biscuits and pancakes… this class definitely sounds like its all you, love it!
Hi Joy! The Butter + Cream girls will be at your dessert class in April! We both grew up in Napa, so if you’re interested in “too much Napa wine”, we’ll show you the ropes! Can’t wait!
Do you think it would be possible for you to teach a class at “Kitchen On Fire”? It’s right next to Chez Panisse in the heart of Berkeley’s “Gourmet Ghetto.” I would LOVE to take one of your classes if you did one :)
Congrats Joy! If I was in SF, I would sign myself up too!!
oh, and by the way, what is the name of that resort that you stayed in? It’s beautiful! I’d love to check it out for a possible place for family to stay when they come visit.
Congratulations it looks like it was a success. Did you feel it went better than expected? What recipes did you share with your class? Way to tackle the tiger.
Lovely photos. Oh how I wish you were in the midwest so I could take some of your classes! Cheeseburger, chocolate and Fiona Apple- sounds like a perfect drive home:)
I love Cavallo Point. My parents live in sausalito and its just a magical area.
glad you had a great time!
I, too teach cooking classes. It is my passion and I am so blessed to have finally found how to share my love of food and sharing with anyone who will listen! Best of luck with this new experience.
So jealous! I wish I could have been there. It looks amazing. I don’t suppose you’re planning on coming to Alberta anytime soon?
I imagine you teaching that class would be the equivalent of me (someday, a big someday) teaching a writer’s class at a SCBWI conference.
That would be drumroll big.
Congrats to you. Pass the cheeseburger & chocolate!
Please put the Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Valley area on your cooking class circuit, Joy…looking forward to it!
Will you ever teach a class in L.A.??? Pleeeeeease? You’ll save a lot more on gas =). Pretty please?…with a cherry on top? mmmmm…cherries.
i have just found your blog… it is simply amazing… have a lovely week xx
I love reading your stories! Hilarious! And that grass, that long grass, took my breath away :)
Must say I’m getting envious, I bet you all had a great time cooking together. You’re not thinking of coming to Italy, are you?
XXX
Well done, any chance you would come out to Munich? It’s not that far from Italy (check out commentor above)!