The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA) is helping holiday hosts spend more quality time with friends and family by offering their popular Holiday Dinner To-Go Packages and offering exclusive classes and events for all ages events to get merrymakers into the holiday spirit.
The full lineup of festive-themed activities and events offered by PICA throughout December and into the New Year includes:
HOLIDAY COOKIE DECORATING CLASS
Sunday, December 10
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Renowned ‘Cookie Queen’ and Chef Michelle Born — who has been featured on CTV, Global News, The Food Network and BC Living Magazine — returns to PICA to host a special holiday cookie decorating class that will teach guests tricks of the trade and learn how to employ professional techniques like flooding, lining, quilting, marbling and more as they decorate their own Christmas Cookie Ornaments.
A limited number of tickets to the Holiday Cookie Decorating class are available for $159 per person plus tax here. All supplies and equipment needed for the class will be supplied as well as well as an apron and recipe booklet to recreate masterpieces at home.
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN – HOLIDAY COOKIES
Saturday, December 16
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
PICA Chef and Baking & Pastry alumnus and former K-7 teacher and school principal, Chef Stephen, will lead this fun, hands-on cookie class that will teach kids from 8 to 12 how to read a recipe, properly measure ingredients, how to be safe in the kitchen and cook different types of cookies for the holiday season to share with family and friends.
During the class, each child will learn how to make and bake Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal and Double Oatmeal, Butter and Sprinkle Cookies and bring home their own apron as well as 12-18 cookies in a decorative tin to enjoy. A limited number of tickets to the class are available for $109 plus tax here.
HOLIDAY DINNER TO-GO PACKAGES
$135 per package (feeds two)
Available for pre-order until Friday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m.
Returning once again this festive season is PICA’s popular and perennially sold-out Holiday Dinner To-Go packages. Available now for pre-order via the PICA website, each package is $135 plus tax and features a ready-made feast with generous portions for two hungry adults with all the trimmings in addition to traditional sides and dessert.
PICA BLUE HAT BAKERY-CAFÉ
HOLIDAY DINNER TO-GO PACKAGES
$135 per package plus tax, serves two people
Rosemary-Citrus Roasted Turkey Breast
Kale & Butternut Squash Salad
Buttermilk Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans Almondine
Honey-Brown Butter Carrots & Golden Beets
Sage & Caramelized Onion Stuffing
Traditional Turkey Gravy
Orange-Cranberry Sauce
Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
Holiday Dinner To-Go pre-orders will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. or when quantities are sold out, with pick-up times set for Saturday, Dec. 23 and Sunday, Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pickups will be available at the northeast entrance at 1505 West 2nd Avenue just off Anderson Street. Complimentary parking is available in the adjacent building on 2nd Avenue. Orders not picked up prior to closing time (4 p.m.) will be stored for pickup on Boxing Day, Tuesday, Dec. 26.
Please note: Substitution requests will be politely declined, and dietary restrictions unfortunately cannot be accommodated for Holiday Dinner To-Go menus. As limited quantities are available, pre-ordering well in advance of pickup dates is strongly recommended.
FLOUR + WATER: A PASTA MASTER CLASS
Saturday, January 13, 2024
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Imagine the Pastabilities! During this class, PICA Chef Phyllis will help attendees take their pasta game to a whole new level by detailing the theory and practice when one mixes flour and water with fresh eggs and oil and explore the technique of pasta lamination and how to create beloved styles like linguine, fettucine and pappardelle.
Attendees will also learn how to make stuffed pastas like ravioli, tortellini and more as well as tips and tricks used by the pros to create delicate, pillowy, plump stuffed pasta, how to properly blanch and toss pasta in a variety of sauces that will be prepared to enjoy during the session. A limited number of tickets to the event are available for $175 per person plus tax here and include an apron and recipe booklet to take home.
