This program provides quality care in a fun, safe and caring environment.
Baklava is a traditional Greek layered dessert pastry made with phyllo, chopped nuts, other secret ingredients, and bathed in dreamy syrup. Spanakopita, on the other hand, is a Greek savory pastry, consisting of a filling made of spinach, cheese, and other secret ingredients, which is then wrapped in delicate sheets of phyllo pastry.
Tess grew up in a Greek home where Baklava and Spanakopita were made and enjoyed throughout the year, but especially for any and every holiday. She too joined in the tradition of creating these delicate pastries ever since she was roughly 6 years old. Now, MANY years later, she has decided to share this tradition and her secrets with participants of this online cook-along class.
During this class, Tess will guide you through the process of creating one of her versions of Baklava she calls ‘Baklava Rolls.’ Tess will also guide you through the process of creating her spanakopita triangles.
Each step of the way, participants may involuntarily begin to dance The ZORBA as these crispy, delicious Greek Phyllo wonders awaken taste buds and the ‘inner Greek’ with just one bite! Talk about mouthwatering goodness!
Remember, Tess is only making her SECRET recipes available to those who REGISTER for this class. They will be asked to keep these secrets SECRET as Tess has done so for almost 50 years!
Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class with enough time for shopping and prep. Participants will also receive a professionally created PDF packet of the instructor’s personal recipes
This class will take place on Zoom, free online software. Participants will receive instructions on how to access the class prior to it starting.
Have your questions answered by the instructor, and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking-along is loads of fun, it is optional.
If friends are participating together, each friend must register separately.
Note: One registration fee for this on-line virtual interactive class can include immediate family members living full-time in the same home ONLY. If children are participating, adult supervision is required. If friends, adult children, or extended family members are gathering for a fun night together, EACH household must register SEPARATELY even if participating together.
Tess Georgakopoulos, also known as "Chef Tess--Culinary Artist," has been cooking and baking for well over 45 years since she was roughly 6 years old. Born into a Greek family, the art of cooking traditional meals using one's senses rather than recipes and measurements was passed on from one generation to the next. Her father was also a trained chef who brought the magic of food to life in another form on the weekends as they cooked elaborate family meals together. Food prepared from the heart, with one's own hands and creativity was, and continues to be an expression of love in her home. As an accomplished cook and baker, Tess enjoys creating original recipes for her family and friends. Sweet, savory, or doughy, she enjoys experimenting and creating in the kitchen daily.
Tess is proficient and experienced in creating classes and curriculum for conventional cooking, baking, pressure-cooking, air frying, pizza making, Mediterranean cooking, bread baking, and meal preparation as well. A Culinary Artist, indeed!
She has been teaching both in-person and online cooking classes through community education for a number of years, having successfully worked with just over 50 public school districts in and around the Twin Cities, in many corners of Minnesota, in addition to school districts in Wisconsin, Missouri, New York and Arizona. Through her teaching, Tess has helped people of all skill levels increase their confidence and expand their skills in the kitchen, reaching heights of their own personal creativity that they never knew existed!
Always working towards expanding her culinary repertoire, Tess enjoys spending much of her free time in her test kitchen, creating new recipes and reinventing traditional ones using traditional cooking methods and new cooking appliances, such as the Instant Pot and Air Fryers too.
Tess has recently started writing her first cookbook, and her food blog is also in the works! Some of her creations can be seen on her Facebook page, "Dish it up Good, or on her Instagram feed.
Tess Georgakopoulos
