Jeff and Heather Pennypacker
The Sweet and Savory Classroom, a cooking classroom owned by the husband and wife culinary team of Jeff and Heather Pennypacker, is set to open this December at 45 East Main Street in downtown Chattanooga’s Southside district.
With over 40 years of combined culinary experience, the Pennypackers trained at top programs in the nation. The duo settled on Chattanooga after traveling the country for several months in a motorhome. The Sweet and Savory Classroom will be Chattanooga’s only exclusive cooking classroom (for the public) and will offer scheduled classes and private events.
“We’ve found that everyone loves food, yet most people don’t know how to achieve the results they dream of in the kitchen,” said Mr. Pennypacker. “The Sweet and Savory Classroom exists to help individuals, couples or small groups sharpen their cooking skills, and learn some new tricks, all while having a fun night out,” said Ms. Pennypacker.
The classroom will have a full schedule of classes, including sweet classes, savory classes, and kids classes. Most classes are open to cooks of all skill levels and a special assistants program is available for students who wish to gain additional knowledge by participating in class instruction. “If you have had little experience in cooking, then there is no fear. We walk you through the process,” Mr. Pennypacker said.
“Participants can learn to make everything from Thai food to homemade apple pie, with a hands-on learning environment and individual work stations,” he said. “Savory classes provide enough food for a full meal, while sweet classes provide enough pastries or cookies to take home and enjoy,” Ms. Pennypacker.
Before starting this new venture, Ms. Pennypacker taught in the pastry industry and held positions at the Historic Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate. mr. Pennypacker previously served as a chef at the Biltmore Estate for seven years and was the founder of Masterpiece Ice Sculptures, a successful small business in Asheville, N.C.
Beyond managing the classroom, the Pennypackers hope to give back to the community by running cooking programs for at-risk youth.
For more information about The Sweet and Savory Classroom, including a listing of available classes, visit the classroom website at sweetandsavoryclassroom.com.