Convivium Cookbook Club: The Joy of Cooking

In this installment of Convivium’s Cookbook Club, we’ll gather in the kitchen to cook, learn, and share a meal together—no required reading, just hands-on cooking. Each session explores a timeless cookbook through recipes prepared as a group and enjoyed around the table. This class is led by Convivium Urban Farmstead’s Culinary Resource Director, Chef Cena, and features recipes from The Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker. Instruction, ingredients, and recipes are provided; you’re welcome to bring your own copy of the book, but it’s not required. Suitable for both novice and experienced cooks, this class emphasizes practical skills, approachable techniques, and the joy of cooking and eating together.

Instructor Cena Sharp, Convivium Urban Farmstead’s Culinary Resource Director, is a talented chef and a true force of nature. Whether she’s leading one of her many cooking classes, processing harvests in the training kitchen, or gearing up for her next Lunch and Learn, Cena brings energy, enthusiasm, and a passion for sharing everything she knows about food.

She began her culinary career at the age of sixteen and went on to serve as executive chef in two kitchens. Along the way, she also earned a bachelor’s degree in history—a field she loves to intertwine with food in her engaging Lunch and Learn presentations.

Cena is an avid traveler, having explored Italy, Greece, France, and many parts of the U.S. Her travels continually inspire her creativity and deepen her appreciation for global cuisine. When she’s not at Convivium, Cena enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their four children: Dominic, Fiona, Evolette, and Sylvia.

Convivium is a nonprofit committed to helping increase accessibility to the tools and knowledge of how to grow and prepare your own food. As part of this commitment, and in pursuit of a more wholesome and secure food experience for all, Convivium is now offering most of our classes on a sliding scale.

The sliding scale system allows for classes to be obtained at multiple price points, based on the circumstances of the participant. It allows folks who may otherwise be priced out of something to have the chance to take part in it.

When completing your registration, please self-select from the following three payment levels:

• Contributor: The contributor level is a pay-what-you-can option that allows you to do just that – pay what you are able to for the class, at this time. Please note there is a $5 minimum per the Eventbrite platform. If this minimum, or paying with a credit card, is a barrier, please call us at 563.557.2900.
• Supporter: The supporter level is the normal ticket price of this class. It covers all the supplies and materials needed, as well as the instructor fee.
• Sustainer: The sustainer level is a buy-one, give-one model that covers the complete cost of your class plus a small donation that helps supplement the cost of a Contributor level participant. By choosing this level, you are ensuring we can continue to offer this class in a way that is accessible and affordable to all – thank you for your generosity.

Convivium Urban Farmstead has a no refund policy for all classes and workshops. If you are unable to participant in the class after you registered, your fee will be donated to our pay-what-you-can sliding scale level, which helps to ensure our classes are accessible and affordable to all. However, if Convivium cancels or reschedules a class for any reason (weather, instructor illness, etc.), participants will be notified as early as possible by email and their registration will automatically be transferred to the date of the rescheduled class. In the case that the participant cannot make the rescheduled class date, Convivium will issue a gift card in the full amount of the class that can be used toward any future class. This gift card can be mailed to the participant or picked up at Convivium (2811 Jackson St. Dubuque, IA 52001). We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your cooperation.

We will refer to the State Police website and road condition designations: https://511ia.org/. If the majority of the roads in Dubuque are designated “Travel not advised” (purple) or worse, we will cancel class.

The cut off time for cancellation will be one hour before the start of each class. We will email and post cancellation notices on Facebook.

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