During times when I’m not able to travel, be it domestically or internationally, the wanderlust kicks in and I start to look for ways to stay culturally connected – whether that involves planning my next trip, reading travel-themed books/articles or site-seeing in my local area.
Culinary classes, such as those offered by local retail stores, can also be a great way to fill the gap between trips, while giving you the opportunity to learn something new in the process.
During the height of the pandemic, I, like everyone else, was trying to find ways pass the time during non-working hours, given most activities outside the home were put on hold. I was also looking for ways to feeling culturally inspired knowing that international travel was not possible at the time.
After doing a bit of research, I stumbled upon virtual classes offered by Williams Sonoma and found one that not only sounded fun, but it also directly fed into one of my European-inspired passions – espresso! More specifically, the course focused on how to create latte art by providing instruction on how best to foam the milk, pour it and how to tilt the glass or mug just right to achieve your desired artwork. The cost was minimal (~$20) so I gave it a try. While I did not become an expert at latte art overnight, I did have a lot of fun learning about how to do it and also really loved the real-time interaction with the expert barista.
Now, I know full well that home and housewares stores that offer classes like these often do so with idea they want you to buy their merchandise. But, honestly, I did not feel that the class overly promoted the merchandise and I definitely did not feel pressured into buying anything. Actually, it was quite the opposite, given the class fee came with a free barista kit which likely retailed for at least $50.
Furthermore, while the espresso techniques featured in the class do favor the use of the Breville machine, I felt that the basic techniques I learned could be applied to any higher-end espresso machine, such as Nespresso, a BistroChic favorite!
Williams Sonoma offers several in-store and virtual classes related to cooking, baking, grilling, cocktail creations, and of course, all-things related to espresso drinks. Although many of their classes have a fee, the cost is minimal (~$20), but they also have free classes. In fact, WS’s Coffee Club currently offers several free courses related to espresso/latte making as well as latte art. Free registration is now available for classes through June.
Obviously, taking a virtual or even in-store class will never fully replace the inspiration you feel while traveling, but it’s an easy, low-cost way to temporarily satisfy wanderlust, a feeling that seasoned travelers know all too well.
Ciao!
Jennifer
