Nibble: Tasty Westchester Food Events for Week of February 2-9

The Westchester Italian Cultural Center in Tuckahoe regularly holds cooking classes for all ages. On Monday, February 3 at 6:30 pm, learn how to make focaccia following a simple recipe to impress your guests. Focaccia is similar in texture and style to pizza dough, and can be used as a side, appetizer, sandwich bread, a snack, the list goes on! Pre-registration is required by clicking here. Fee is $65 for WICC members, $75 for non-members.

On Tuesday, February 4 at 6 pm, learn how to make fresh pasta at the Zwilling Cooking Studio in Pleasantville. In this class, three dishes will be prepared by participants after making pasta dough, practicing various pasta shapes both by machine and by hand, and learning tasty sauces to go along with them. Register by clicking here under the “Homemade Pasta” class, at $89.99 per person.

Second Mouse Cheese Shop in Pleasantville regularly holds “Cheese 101” events that can sell out fast! Be sure to register for the next class on Wednesday, February 5 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. Over a curated selection wines and cheeses, get a crash course in the history of cheese, its four main ingredients, the five major types, and the best way to enjoy it with shop owner Ivy Ronquillo.

Have fun with fondant in a cake making workshop hosted by local mom Manon Bartels at the Rye Square House on Friday, February 7 from 10 am to 12 pm. After a short introduction, participants will then color fondant and get started on creating topping for cakes. All materials will be provided, and you can take your cake home with you at the end. Click here for more information on how to register and pay the $35 fee. This class is for adults only, and space is very limited.

Get a taste of authentic craft limoncello at Corx Wine & Liquor in White Plains on Friday, February 7 from 5 pm to 8 pm. Jovis Limoncello comes from the Sorrento Peninsula in Italy, where the the lemons that make this liqueur get their name from. This 100-year-old beverage gives you a strong lemon flavor without the bitter or sour taste from straight lemon juice. Try the Jovis brand, and learn about the unique lemons and how to make a drink or two from the Corx staff. 

Enjoy a girls’ night out with a cause a week before Valentine’s Day. The Westchester Medical Center Health’s Heart & Vascular Institute is hosting an event on Friday, February 7 starting at 5:30 pm at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains. Enjoy boutique shopping, prize baskets, get pampered in a beauty suite courtesy of Bloomingdale’s, and end the night with a delicious dinner while celebrating Heart Heroes. Click here to support the cause and to buy tickets at $125 per person. Red attire is encouraged. 

Check out this unique program: learn about how Native Americans who once inhabited the county made succotash stew at the Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers on Saturday, February 8 from 11 am to 12 pm. There will also be a discussion on hunting, fishing, gathering, and more. Pre-registration is required by calling the preserve at 914-968-5851 as space is limited.

Test how much heat you can stand by taking part in Hell on the Hudson spicy eating contest at the River Outpost Brewing Co. in Peekskill on Saturday, February 8 from 5 pm to 8 pm. This is a five-course eating contest, where daring participants will test their tolerance with wings, empanadas, pizza, tacos and pasta bolognese. If you survive, you will be immortalized on a Wall of Fame, cop a limited t-shirt and get a bottle of the River Outpost’s homemade hot sauce. The fee is $30 per person when registering for the event here. 

The Hudson River Museum in Yonkers is hosting a Lunar New Year Festival on Sunday, February 9 from 12 pm to 5 pm. There will be a workshop where you can create a craft using your Chinese zodiac animal, a traditional lion dance performance, calligraphy, origami, a tai chi demonstration, and more. Admission is free, and doors open at 11:30 am.

Local Chef Via Melissa will host a winter detox presentation and cooking class on Sunday, February 9 from 1 pm to 3:30 pm at Yogi Life in Tuckahoe. Learn about how food can help with detoxing your body (especially after the holiday season) and get hand-on in a cooking class while Via teaches you how to make massaged kale salad, curried chicken salad and homemade Nutella –– all items will be dairy-free, gluten-free and soy-free! Click here to register at $60 per person.