Fermentation Fundamentals & Knife Skills: Master the Art of Flavor!

🔪 A Hands-On Culinary Experience🥬
Discover two of the most valuable skills every home cook should master—professional knife techniques and the ancient art of fermentation.
Join Chef John Alunni for this exciting hands-on class where you’ll sharpen your knife skills while learning how to safely create flavorful, probiotic-rich fermented foods from scratch. Whether you’re looking to elevate your cooking, improve your prep work, or explore the health benefits of fermentation, this class is packed with practical techniques you’ll use for years to come.
You’ll begin by learning professional knife handling, precision cutting, and proper maintenance before putting those skills to work preparing fresh vegetables for a variety of delicious fermented creations. Chef John will demystify the science behind fermentation and show you how simple ingredients can develop into incredibly flavorful foods with just time, salt, and patience.
Every guest will prepare their own fermentation projects in a group environment to take home and continue the fermentation process in their own kitchen.
🥬 On the Menu
🥒 Traditional Dill Pickles
Create crisp, crunchy naturally fermented pickles flavored with fresh dill, garlic, black peppercorns, and spices.
🌶️ Authentic Sauerkraut
Learn the classic European method of transforming fresh cabbage into flavorful, probiotic-rich sauerkraut.
🥕 Spicy Kimchi
Prepare Korea’s iconic fermented vegetable dish using Napa cabbage, daikon, carrots, garlic, ginger, scallions, and authentic seasonings.
🥕 Italian Giardiniera
Create a vibrant blend of cauliflower, carrots, celery, peppers, onions, garlic, herbs, and spices—perfect for sandwiches, antipasto, and charcuterie boards.
🧄 Fermented Garlic Honey
A surprisingly simple and delicious fermentation combining fresh garlic and raw honey that’s perfect for cooking, marinades, dressings, and immune support.
🔪 Knife Skills Workshop
Before fermentation begins, you’ll receive a professional knife skills lesson covering the techniques every great cook should know. Then you will practice your new cutting techniques while preparing all of the vegetables used throughout class.
🎓 What You’ll Learn
By the end of class, you’ll have the confidence to safely ferment foods at home and dramatically improve your knife skills.
🔪 Knife Skills
✅ Proper knife safety and handling
✅ Choosing the right chef’s knife for the job
✅ Honing and caring for your knives
✅ Correct grip and body positioning
✅ Julienne
✅ Batonnet
✅ Brunoise
✅ Small, medium, and large dice
✅ Chiffonade
✅ Bias cuts
✅ Uniform cutting techniques for even cooking and beautiful presentation
🥬 Fermentation Skills
✅ The science behind fermentation and beneficial bacteria
✅ Food safety and sanitation best practices
✅ Salt ratios and proper brine preparation
✅ Dry fermentation vs. wet brining
✅ Choosing the best vegetables for fermentation
✅ How to prevent mold and spoilage
✅ Understanding fermentation timelines
✅ Proper storage and refrigeration
✅ Flavor development using herbs and spices
✅ Troubleshooting common fermentation problems
✅ Equipment recommendations for home fermentation
✅ The health benefits of naturally fermented foods
🏠 Take Home
Each guest will leave with a jar of:
🥒 Naturally fermented dill pickles
🥬 Homemade sauerkraut
🌶️ Authentic kimchi
🥕 Italian giardiniera
🧄 Fermented garlic honey
📖 Fermentation recipes and instructions to continue your projects at home
🍷 Full-Service Bar
Our full-service bar will be open throughout class, featuring craft cocktails, premium wines, domestic and imported beers, hard seltzers, and non-alcoholic beverages, all available for purchase.
Enjoy your favorite beverage while sharpening your knife skills, preparing fresh vegetables, and discovering one of the world’s oldest culinary traditions.
👨‍🍳 Instructor
Chef John Alunni
👐 Format
Hands-On & Demonstration
Perfect for beginners, gardeners, home cooks, food enthusiasts, and anyone interested in preserving fresh produce while learning professional culinary techniques.
🥬🔪 Leave with sharper knife skills, a deeper understanding of fermentation, five delicious projects to continue at home, and the confidence to preserve fresh ingredients like a professional chef!