Menlo Park has long been one of the hot spots on the Bay Area’s food scene. At Connoisseurs’ Marketplace, Menlo Park’s popular festival of the arts, July 18-19, visitors will have the chance to improve their own culinary skills by attending cooking demonstrations at the prestigious Draeger’s Cooking School. The 30-minute classes will take place both days of the event beginning at noon, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.

The school’s resident chef-instructors will alternate between demonstrating how to make an Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho with Basil Oil and a Thai Brown Rice Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette. The gazpacho class will showcase peak-of-the-season tomatoes in a refreshing dish ideal for midsummer entertaining. The rice salad lesson will introduce a California spin on traditional Thai food — using the whole grain rather than refined white rice, and adding the punch of citrus. Samples of the food will be offered after each demonstration.

Draeger’s Cooking School is located on the second floor of Draeger’s (1010 University Drive, at Menlo Avenue). It has been nominated as one of the top cooking schools in the country by the International Association of Culinary Professionals and been featured in Gourmet, Bon Appetit and The New York Times. The school hosts restaurant chefs and cookbook authors from around the country and offers innovative programs such as wine education, culinary movie nights and a symposium on sustainable agriculture.

“Draeger’s has been a big part of the Menlo Park community for more than 50 years,” said Fran Dehn, President/CEO of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce. “Their participation will bring the festival another exciting attraction for food lovers.”

For information on Draeger's Cooking School, please visit http://www.draegers.com.