Sure NYC has prestigious cooking schools, Hyde Park has the CIA but why look any further than your own backyard. Right here in Saratoga Springs you can take a number of cooking classes. Now granted most of them are demonstration cooking classes like the ones held by Price Chopper and Taste of Home Cooking show but they still offer lots of information and prizes. But for me there's nothing like a hands-on cooking class. Right on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs there is such an opportunity at Forno Bistro where you can learn from a real Italian Mama- Theresa Viva.

Recently I took a class on ravioli making from "Mama" Theresa.  Who knew that there was a quality, hands-on cooking class right here in Saratoga Spring?.  Mama Theresa isn't a graduate of the CIA or a professional chef but she is a great teacher.  She came to this country from Italy at the age of 5.  She learned  pasta making from her mother and grandmother.  During the class she shares tips she learned from them, including how to use an old key to crimp a ravioli. 

 After Mama gives you some basic information and lots of useful tricks then it's time to make ravioli.  Sheets of pasta dough are handed out and lots of fillings are available for you to make one of a kind ravioli.  Nothing limits you but your imagination!  Want to get the feel for a pasta machine?  Go ahead and try it out.  What to make a heart shaped ravioli that would be perfect for Valentine's Day?  Mama  has a cookie cutter to use in that shape and lots more.  Want a foolproof method for sealing your ravioli so that it won't open in the water?   You'll learn that and so much more from Mama.

The classes are informational, entertaining and most important of all - hands-on!

After you create your one of a kind ravioli (actually you will create at least 4 but I think we did a lot more than that) they will be taken to the kitchen, cooked and topped with Mama's own marinara sauce.  The dining room is then set and the feast begins!  Platters of tender, savory ravioli, fresh baked bread and wine! 

 So if you're looking for a hands-on cooking class with an excellent teacher who will teach you tips and tricks to authentic Italian food with some out right hilarious anecdotes then you must check out the cooking classes at Forno Bistro.

Forno Bistro is located at 541 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.  Give them a call for classes and schedules and tell them you saw it on The Saratoga Traveler!

I'll be taking a ravioli making class tomorrow at Forno Bistro at 541 Broadway here in Saratoga Springs. I'll be learning all the secrets from a real Italian Mama, so don't forget to check back for all the photos and info!!

The Victorian Social Club will be hosting "Setting Sail on the Titanic" where you will learn the social expectations, fashions of the Victorian era through one of the greatest ships ever to sail. Just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Titanic. This program will be held at The Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa from 2 pm -4 pm on Sunday April 15th, the admission is $5.00 per person.

Spring is here. Awakening us from our Winter slumber and beckoning us to come outside.  It's true that the Saratoga area is dotted with lakes and streams that offer lots of activities but nothing really compares to Lake George.  Not only does Lake George offer great fishing, boating and swimming in it's crystal clear waters but it also boasts a quaint downtown with shopping galore plus designer outlets and restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining. The village of Lake George is a major tourist destination in the Summer so why not take in some shopping, eating or recreating before the crowds.  The village may still seem a little sleepy this time of year but you can be sure to get a lakeside seat at a restaurant or find an amazing deal at the outlet mall.

We have a family member who owns a lake house on the "quiet side" of the lake which offers us the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate after a dreary, cold winter. If you're not as fortunate as us to have a lake house at your disposal then there are lots of opportunities to rent one or a cottage or camp near the lake and even on an island IN the lake.  Labor day starts off the summer season at Lake George so now is the time to plan.  Take a drive to the area and scope it out.  Then make your plans on where you want to stay and what you want to do.

Oh yeah, and by the way.... the fishing is incredible!!!

The weather is getting better and better. This weekend is not only St. Patrick's Day but Maple days continue. In the little town of Salem (about 30 miles east of Saratoga Springs on Rte 29) Dry Book Sugar House will host their celebration of all things maple. Learn how sap is turned into maple syrup, how maple candy is made and even pick up your own maple syrup to experiment with.

Horse drawn carriage rides will be available, pancakes will also be served for $6.

If you're looking for little more of a day trip you can head to Dutchess County. The Department of Public Works Park Division in Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls will be having demonstrations on March 18th from 12-4 pm.

Upstate New York is known for many things -- apples, horses, quaint small towns and maple syrup. This past weekend I spent a day in one of those quaint towns, Thurman New York learning all about what makes New York maple syrup some of the best in the United States. The tour started at Toad Hill Maple, an 800 acre sugarbush run by The Galusha Family, the largest maple producer in Warren County. The operation is impressive with over 3,700 trees, high efficiency evaporator and reverse osmosis machine. The entire operation is automated, including the gathering of the sap itself.

March means one thing in the North Country -- maple syrup. I'll be heading out soon to travel to Thurman NY for their celebration of the golden, sweet syrup.

I'll be visiting a number of sugarhouses where I'll see the operation from start to finish, and sample everything that can be made from maple syrup. It's not just for pancakes. The weather is clear, although cold and it should be a fun time. So be sure to check back for the complete story with lots of photos and maybe even a recipe or two.

During the month of March there will be other maple sugaring activities all around the region. So if you miss it this week there will be others.

Next time: Maple Days and Restaurant week.

February is winding down so I thought I'd give you a preview of what is happening in and around Saratoga in March.

March 2nd through the 4th will be the Saratoga Home and Garden Show. It's a great opportunity to see all the latest innovations for your home and garden and will be held at the City Center. Cost is $6 for adults. There will be over 120 exhibitors, door prizes and a grand prize of a 46" HDTV. So get your creative juices flowing and meet some of the top people in the field of landscaping, kitchens, baths and other home improvement professionals.

It's no secret that I love the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls. It's an amazing museum and a not-to-missed destinations for anyone visiting the area. So when they have a special event I think it needs to be shared. In March they will be hosting a collection of Toulouse- Lautrec prints. The exhibit will be there from March - May so there will be plenty of time to fit it into your sight seeing itinerary. The Hyde Collection is an amazing museum with works by masters spanning centuries. The admission was by donation but will be changing to $8 for adults. Well worth it for a world class museum in your own backyard.

One of my favorite events is shaping up to look like an amazing one plus a great deal for all those foodies out there! Saratoga Restaurant week will be held on March 15th-25th with over 40 restaurants participating. You'll be able to get a 3 course meal at some of the best restaurants in the area for only $20.12! It's the perfect time to visit an old favorite or to try something completely different. A list of restaurants and menus will be coming soon.

The weather is getting nicer, although Winter isn't over yet. So why not take advantage of the nice weather and plan a day trip? Need some suggestions?
For Museums:
Hyde Collection in Glens Falls
Cooperstown NY - Baseball Hall of Fame
Adirondack Museum

For Sports:
Lake Placid
Skiing at Whiteface, West Mountain or Lake Placid

For History:
Saratoga Battlefield
West Point

For Shopping:
Lake George Outlets
Manchester (VT) Outlets
Sharon Springs

For Amazing Scenery
Poughkeepsie - Hudson River Bridge Walk
Saratoga North Creek Railroad
Drive along the Schoharie Valley

For Small Town Charm
Indian Lake
Sharon Springs
Glens Falls

Those are just a few suggestions. There are tons more things to do and places to go with a day's drive. In the next few weeks I'll be highlighting more.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Cooperstown is having their Winter Carnival. Even though it's suppose to snow (an inch or 2), it would the perfect day trip. The weather should clear up on Saturday and Cooperstown is only about an hour from Saratoga. Among the things to do... how about meeting a couple of celebrities? The Fabulous Beekman Boys (from Sharon Springs) will be there selling their goat cheese and selling and signing their new cookbook!

Cooperstown also offers tons to do in and around town, of course the main attraction is the Baseball Hall of Fame.

So check it out an tell Brent and Josh I said HI!