The Sweet and Savory Classroom, a cooking school located in Chattanooga’s Southside run by Jeff and Heather Pennypacker, is using video conferencing to continue offering cooking classes during ‘stay home’ safety guidelines.
When the Coronavirus began to spread and social distancing was encouraged, the Pennypackers got creative to continue teaching and connecting with the community. After closing their Southside classroom location in March, they began using Zoom to offer interactive cooking experiences right in participants' own homes.
The couple’s first class received an outpouring of support from Chattanoogans, as well as from friends across the country. About 90 people joined to learn the art of New Orleans cuisine. The Sweet and Savory Classroom’s Chef Joe responded to chat questions in real time.
“During the virtual class, you could see me, along with all other participants, and the result was fun, intimate and extremely interactive,” said owner and chef, Jeff Pennypacker. “It’s something that’s great for the whole family, especially right now when many activities are limited. People are learning and engaging while they’re hanging out at home.”
The Sweet and Savory Classroom’s next virtual class will take place on Saturday from 5-7:30 p.m. making handmade from scratch Authentic Italian Pasta, Chef Jeff’s “famous” marinara sauce, pancetta and asparagus cream sauce, and classic braised vegetables. Friends and family are invited to join nationwide.
Options are available to purchase ingredients independently, or to pick up pre-bought ingredients from The Sweet and Savory Classroom.
Also, for the locals, the Pennypackers are offering family meals to-go with curbside pick-up. Check sweetandsavoryclassroom.com and Facebook for new menus and dates.
The Sweet and Savory Classroom’s mission is to bring the art of food close to home allowing all who join to learn how to perfectly execute their culinary passions in the palm of their own hands.
For more information on The Sweet and Savory Classroom and to sign up for upcoming classes, visit sweetandsavoryclassroom.com. Follow The Sweet and Savory Classroom on Facebook for news and updates.