Causing a Stir in the South End
Travel and Culture Editor Mary Jo Manzanares recently passed along an article about Boston-based American Chef Barbara Lynch and her unique South End venture Stir (102 Waltham Street, Boston, 617-423-STIR).
Officially called a “demonstration kitchen and cookbook library” on its website, Stir opened last fall. The combination cooking school, culinary bookstore, and eatery aims to educate patrons about the best approaches to cooking techniques and ingredients in order to maximize individuals’ experiences in the kitchen.
To achieve that goal, Lynch and her colleagues offer a number of options to both the general public and private parties. They include regular cooking classes and demonstrations, as well as the ability to make reservations for special functions.
On Mondays, Stir hosts seminars on beer, wine, and spirits. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are set aside for cooking demonstrations. All of the events are led by top teachers in the industry, as are the culinary courses that range in price from $85 to $165 each. The most recent addition to the course calendar is February 23rd’s Classic Bistro Cuisine Chez Stir, which costs $125.
Every one of the other classes held this month is already sold out — such as February 18th’s World of Pinot Noir and February 26th and 27th’s Breads of the World — indicating just how popular Stir’s attractions are. In fact, interested attendees are required to register beforehand with a credit card due to space limitations (the 300-square-foot space has just ten seats).
To be honest, all of this is a little upscale for me. Wine is something I drink when I want to go to sleep, and I’m perfectly happy eating only those foods with names and ingredients I can pronounce correctly without having to guess. There’s definitely no harm in craving fine food, though, and a little instruction from pros beforehand, either by class or by book, can’t possibly hurt.
Read more about Stir and owner Barbara Lynch in Clara Silverstein’s informative Misstropolis article “Barbara Lynch Stirs Up a Gem.”
And, if you’d like to browse the bookstore area of Stir, it’s open Monday through Wednesday from 12pm to 6pm EST and Thursday through Sunday from 12pm to 8pm.
Comments Off