In-Person Class: The Eastern European Bakery with Polina Chesnakova

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What’s on the Menu:
Oreshki (Walnut-Shaped Shortbread Cookies with Dulce de Leche Filling)
Trubochki (Pastry Horns with Plombir Buttercream)
Rogaliki (Flaky Crescent Cookies)
This baking season, you could make same-old sugar cookies, chalky shortbreads and sticky caramels. Or you could join bona fide baking expert Polina Chesnakova for a hands-on class that situates some of your favorite holiday treats—rugelach, shortbreads and more—in the context of Eastern European baking. An expert in Russian-Georgian culinary history, Polina couples history, stories and culture with baking skills at this hands-on cooking class at our beautiful cooking school in downtown Boston. And the list of baking skills is long. You’ll learn to make a light, tender shortcrust cookie dough that becomes beloved rogaliki, a crescent-shaped cookie that’s a culinary cousin to Jewish rugelach. We’ll practice preparing a basic pastry cream—one of the most essential parts of a confident pastry chef’s repertoire—and then cover how to transform it into an airy crème diplomat and a lush crème mousseline variation that calls for an under-rated pantry ingredient. These get stuffed into impressive pastry horns called trubochki. Finally, you’ll learn the ins and outs of using an oreshnitsa, the cast iron griddle that allows us to make charming walnut-shaped cookies stuffed with a homemade whipped dulce de leche filling.
Though you’ll spend your class baking, we’ll still sit you down to a simple family-style dinner to enjoy at the end of this evening’s event. Bring a cookie tin, because you’ll be going home with a lot of goodies!
About Polina: Polina Chesnakova is a Providence-based cookbook author and cooking class instructor whose work has been featured in Culture, The Washington Post, Saveur, and The Kitchn. Her next book, Chesnok, is an exploration of life and cooking in the Post-Soviet diaspora through her family's recipes and stories. It will be released in September 2025 with Hardie Grant North America.

Our hands-on cooking classes are capped at 14 attendees. Students work in pairs of two at fully equipped stations. Each attendee requires their own ticket.
This class is vegetarian and is appropriate for nut-free diets; it is not suitable for gluten-free diets. Please note that Milk Street is not an allergen-free space. If your allergy is severe, please get in touch before registering to understand if this event is a good fit for you.
Thank you to the 2025 Annual Sponsors of the Cooking School who make our events possible:

• , whose Oleavia Extra-Virgin Olive Oils are made with olives that are harvested early, hand-picked and cold-pressed to ensure impeccable flavor. Use code MILK STREET to get 20% off your first order: https://www.coccinellastore.com/oleavia-evoo
• , which makes battery-equipped induction ranges that power premium cooking experiences and store renewable energy — without the need for complex, expensive electrical upgrades. Learn more: t.ly/cU1pO
• . With 80+ years of Japanese craftsmanship and heating innovation, they craft thoughtfully designed cast iron cookware that inspires chefs of all levels. Use code COOKLIGHT for 10% off their products at the Milk Street Store: t.ly/mu01T
• , which makes sharpening products that are fast, easy to use and work every time. Find their products on the Milk Street Store and use code SHARPSMART for 10% off: t.ly/SSsSz
• and . Together, Wulf’s and Savenor’s provide premium seafood and gourmet meat to chefs and home cooks across the country. Use code MILKSTREET for 20% off orders from Wulf’s (t.ly/REVSO) and Savenor’s (t.ly/CRwjA).
  

FAQs

Is this an in-person event?

Yes. This event will take place in person at our location at 177 Milk Street in Boston. Expect plenty of hands-on cooking - not just a demonstration! If you are looking for a livestream cooking class, you can find our upcoming virtual class calendar here.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Parking garages:

• Boston Harbor Garage (known as the Aquarium Garage)
• 75 State Street

Trains:

• Aquarium stop on the Blue Line
• State Street on Blue and Orange Line
• Government Center on the Blue and Green Lines
• Haymarket on the Orange and Green Lines, and multiple bus lines

Bus Lines:

• 4, 92, 93, 352, 354

The entrance to our school is directly across from 49 India Street. Our entrance doors have two bowties on them.

Is my registration ticket refundable?

No. We do not offer refunds for in-person registrations. However, your ticket is fully transferable to another person for this event on these dates. You are responsible for finding someone to use your ticket, arranging reimbursement, and for sending us the new attendee's full name, contact information, and any special dietary requests.

Is a meal included?

Yes. Our team will prepare a simple family-style dinner for you to enjoy at around 8:00 pm. Light snacks will also be provided to keep you fueled while you bake!

I have an allergy or dietary restriction. Can I still come?

We work hard to accommodate as many allergies and dietary needs as possible. You are welcome to write us at [email protected] to get more detailed information on whether this event is a good fit for you.

Are children allowed?

Children 11-17 are allowed to participate if they attend and cook with an adult parent or guardian. The minor and the adult must each have a ticket to the class.

How many people does one ticket cover?

One ticket covers one attendee.

How early do I need to arrive?

You are welcome and encouraged to arrive up to 15 minutes before the event begins.

I'm an Insider. Do I get a discount to the in-person classes?

Yes! Insiders get 15% off their ticket. To access your discount, please send a message to [email protected].

This date doesn't work for me. Will this class be offered again soon?

We offer in-person events on a limited basis. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that this class will be offered again soon.

Where can I contact the organizer with further questions?

Write to us with any other questions at [email protected].

Host or Publisher Milk Street Cooking School