Olive Oil 101 with Jean-François Bizalion of Bizalion’s Fine Food

“Olive oil brings life, dimension and depth to vegetables, meat, fish, fruit and cheese. It is the better parent in vinaigrette, aioli, anchoiade, pesto, tapenade and marinades. Olive oil turned to be one of the most extraordinary achievements of our civilization.” So wrote Jean-François Bizalion, and we could not agree more.

Extra-virgin olive oil (or EVOO) is a staple in many cuisines and an oil that is too often misunderstood or not properly used. In this essential demonstration class Jean-François will demystify olive oil and show how to use it best in dressings, sauces and spreads created in the Bizalion family kitchen for decades.

What you’ll learn:

• The secrets for roasting vegetables with olive oil
• Sauteing greens and frying techniques
• How to make Bizalion’s classic vinaigrette
• How to make perfect Aioli and more

The class will begin with an olive oil tasting so each student can learn and discuss the glorious nuances of this precious oil. Then Jean will show and share how to maximize flavor in your dishes by using EVOO in a way the respects its ability to enhance your culinary experience. Come prepared to ask questions and leave with an expanded view on how your dishes can improve when you use olive oil with knowledge and confidence.

This demonstration class is limited to 10 people.

NOTE: ALL participants must be vaccinated for Covid 19 in order to attend this class. Read our Covid 19 protocols below before signing up for this class.

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About Jean-François Bizalion

Jean-François grew up in Arles, a city founded by Ancient Rome in 123 BC and known for its rich food culture heritage. After a stint at the Université of Aix en Provence, he moved to Paris to continue his liberal arts studies at La Sorbonne. During that time, Bizalion interned at Le Matin to eventually become the New. York correspondent of the daily newspaper from 1984 to 1988.

A keen Interest in fashion led him to work at GQ, the New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine and as a stylist, producer and fashion director for labels such as Armani, Valentino and Nautica, influencing style and images though advertising, fashion shows and design.

While immersed in the glamour of fashion he never lost his childhood interest in food, small scale farming and the outdoors. An inescapable urge to leave the city prompted him and his wife Helen to open a café and small specialty food store in Great Barrington with an emphasis on French charcuterie and cheese, a light menu of salads and sandwiches and carefully sourced artisanal olive oils from Mediterranean bordering regions. Jean-François’ roots led him to develop an international olive oil trading post centered in Great Barrington. Eighteen years later, Bizalion’s olive oils can be found in kitchens in Vancouver, LA, Dallas, Miami, Boston and, luckily for us, in the Berkshires and Hudson Valley.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING OUR COVID19 PROTOCOLS:

This will be a live, in-person class limited to ten attendees. Masks will be optional. In order to attend, all students must be fully vaccinated for Covid19. Your registration for this class is a confirmation that you are vaccinated, but, you must also bring proof of vaccination on the day of the class in the form of a NY State Excelsior Pass (printed or on App) OR, a CDC Covid Vaccination Record Card. You will receive emailed reminders about this before the class. If you arrive without your vaccination documents you will not be admitted into the class, and we will be unable to offer a refund. So please, bring your documents on class day! It’s very important to us that all attendees feel safe and comfortable.

The instructor and assistant will be vaccinated and may or may not be masked. It is your choice whether to remain masked during the class.

Cancellation policy: We do not offer refunds on purchased tickets. Persons who notify us at least seven (7) days in advance that they cannot attend will receive credit and may register for another class of equal value held within the subsequent two months.

Notes: Cooking class attendees receive 10% discount on kitchenware purchases on class day.

HGS Home Chef is a member of TheWorkshopExperience.org, a group of friends who produce exceptional experiential learning through classes and workshops on a wide variety of topics in and around Hillsdale, NY – at the crossroads of the Hudson Valley and Berkshires.