It never seizes to amaze me when I hear people tell me that they simply can’t cook. Anything. For them, boiling water is a mystery. Of course, I absolutely don’t judge and fully understand that not everyone loves cooking as much as I do. This is where Simple Gourmet comes in. The name kind of says it all, right? It’s cooking classes for anyone with any skill level. Just step up to the plate.

Surfa’s Gourmet Kitchen supply store has been hosting the folks at Simple Gourmet for the last couple weeks in a series entitled, “Culinary Fundamentals.” The series takes on all the basic cooking methods and general rules, breaking them down into easy-to-digest three-hour classes.

The classes range in theme, including things like: braising, dry heat versus moist heat, grilling, sautéing, poaching, steaming, knife skills, kitchen prep, and much more. The three-hour class additionally highlights proper food preparation, as well as choosing the right proteins and vegetables for different cooking methods.

Often times cooking classes can be decidedly ho-hum because the focus is never on the art of cooking. Instead the instructors concentrate heavily on exact measurements, precise time-honored French techniques, and the like. What sets the Simple Gourmet classes apart is their emphasis on the creative process. They encourage you to understand food intuitively. The instructors explain the many properties of different proteins and vegetables, enabling you to make your own judgments, thus inspiring creativity.

The end goal in any cooking class is to garner new skills, to effectively cook something you’ve never cooked before, and to leave with a couple new recipes in your arsenal. These classes do that plus much more. With the emphasis on overall food knowledge and a comprehension of cooking in general, you’ll leave with a greater understanding of how to cook, not just how to read a recipe.

The five-part series continues into October with the next three classes taking place on October 4, 11, and 18. See the schedule and more in-depth class descriptions here. You can book you seat by calling Surfa’s at 310-559-4770 or by visiting them online. Surfa’s is located at 8777 W. Washington Blvd. in Culver City. Also check out Simple Gourmet online.