After working with a cast of characters at Walt Disney World’s Resort and partnering with the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu, chef Darin Sehnert has now made himself a home at the Mansion on Forsyth Park’s 700 Kitchen Cooking School. While epicureans of all skill levels can take an in-depth class on culinary creation, he gave South a few tips on how to put the soul in soul food.

Cooking 101

• Always have a sharp knife available.

•Heat your pan before you pour oil or any other fat you’re using into it.

•When following recipes, read through them entirely before proceeding. People often don’t read all the instructions before cooking. The number one mistake I see  is impatience.

Biggest Misconception about Cooking

When it comes to eating and cooking healthy, one common misconception is that this involves a lot of specialized techniques and ingredients. Also, you don’t need to have a lot of fancy equipment to cook great food. People often confuse having equipment with getting the skills necessary to cook a great meal.

Personal Philosophy

Knowledge of techniques + ingredients = success. Cooking between the lines is key. You have to understand the background of your recipe and understand how to apply those techniques. Rather than learning the recipes, people should focus on technique.

Advice for New Cooks

Don’t be intimidated. The worst-case scenario is that you try again. Recognize that it takes patience. And with knife skills, it comes down to a lot of practice.

Take a Class

Classes range from French Bistro to Low Country Cuisine to Chocolate Workshop Weekends. Classes are $90 per person (unless noted otherwise) and reservations can be made at 912.238.5158. For more information, visit mansiononforsythpark.com

TripAdvisor.com rated the cooking school the #1 activity to experience in Savannah!

Photo by Tim Johnson