I first met Mayumi (pronounced My-you-me) at a cooking class I took through Learning Exchange. In…read morecase you haven't heard of it, there are classes you can take in a variety of subjects for your own or your child's personal enrichment. I had long given up on ever learning to cook. I assure you I can follow the directions on a Mac and Cheese box, a package of Top Ramen, or cake mix recipe. But besides that, I was pretty lost in the kitchen. I know it sounds pretty pathetic to some, but in this fast paced world we live in, I just never got those lessons from my parents before I left home. Eating out all the time can be pretty fun, but after awhile you crave a good home cooked meal. I've been fortunate enough to have people in my life that always knew how to cook. But it never felt right to put that kind of burden on the other person to always be the one to cook all the time. So I decided to it was time to reverse the course of my life and start taking cooking classes. After meeting Mayumi though Learning Exchange, I was intrigued to find out she also offered personal cooking lessons. So, I signed me and my eldest son up (whose 13 years old). Mayumi will come to your house (pretty much anywhere in the greater Sacramento area-including El Dorado hills and Roseville). And she will teach you (and up to a party of 6) how to prepare and cook four recipes. She also covers what's good to keep in the pantry, how to save money on groceries, and what are the best cooking items to make sure to have on hand. I was thoroughly impressed. I love her style of teaching lessons. She keeps things as simple as possible so that even beginners like me feel like it's something not impossible to learn. I can now stir fry meat, cook pasta with shrimp and veggies in it, the best mashed potatoes you've ever had, and make a delicious Greek salad to go with it. My son did an awesome job. We will be making these recipes again soon so that he'll really be able to do these on his own as well. I suddenly feel a new inspiration in me to try new recipes that I never had before. I feel more confident that the kitchen is not a place to fear but a place to bring people together and make happy memories. If you haven't heard of Fork & Knife Creations I highly recommend checking out the website and reading up on all the wonderful things Mayumi has to offer. It's definitely worth the investment of time and money!

Mayumi is a wonderful chef and you will love her classes and fabulous food. I have taken most of…read moreher classes through the LEx and Whole Foods and hope to organize a group for private lessons someday. She is knowledgeable and expert at her craft and always organized and well-prepared. She has a pleasantly engaging manner of delivery. Out of her classes, I have collected some of my favorite recipes such as mac and cheese, heirloom tomato soup, Asian ribs, strawberry shortcake, casseroles and tarts and way too many more recipes to list here. She is really so versatile, you will be hard pressed to choose. You absolutely have to sign up for classes with her! The quality of your cooking will improve exponentially. Sharon C.

I have been cooking for almost 2 decades I have been sous chef and even executive chef and helped…read moreopened restaurants all over the country. I learned how to cook at this school. This was the single best decision I have ever made. Thank you for giving me a life a future and a career I love. I think about this place everyday!

Our cake was exactly what we envisioned - simple, elegant, and delicious. The rum crème filling was…read morea huge hit with our guests, and the design perfectly matched our inspiration photos. The tasting process was easy and fun, and communication was seamless from start to finish. Couldn't have been happier!

Made my moms 60 th birthday cake full sheet was gone not one piece left was made fresh , decorated…read morebeautifully service was on time and correct

So sometimes they have meetings at this branch of the Yolo County Library in Davis. They have…read morecooking workshops, as well as some lectures (which are usually accompanied by a bite to eat) and field trips to a local Asian market- 99 Ranch in South Sac. Also available are lectures on tea and last night I sat through a presentation titled "Chinese Flavors--Dining in China: Etiquette and Beyond." Having grown up one half Chinese, some of the teachings of stereotypes of the Chinese were confirmations of what actually happens. For instance, the part of dining out when the bill comes was almost verbatim what comes out of the mouths where I've eaten. The lectures are informative enough that I'm going to continue to attend them. At one workshop I was taught about steamed bao, including the tasty parts where I assembled and ate them. I look forward to sitting in on a tea lecture, as that's been (and still is) a huge part of dining out. My grandparents have been desensitized to my American methods of eating Chinese food, but I learned that even though quite effective, one should not stab his/her food with chopsticks in order to obtain it. And resting your chopsticks on the plate is a no-no as well. They go where a fork would go, on a rest if available. Overall, I find these lectures to be more interesting than anything else because I learn a fair amount about why I've done what I've done for the last 36 years as well as some of the reasons behind those actions. Next up: tea.

Just took my second cooking class at Whole Foods' Salud! cooking school, and it was awesome. They…read morewere both really great, and a fun way to spend a weekday evening. Classes are $40-70 typically, and last almost 3 hours. Seems kind of pricey at first glance, but you actually end up eating a full gourmet dinner there, and drinking as much wine or beer (depending on the class) as you want. As far as good deals go - you might spend $50ish going to a nice restaurant and ordering a couple of glasses of wine anyway - making this a good value, because it's entertainment, and you end up with all the recipes. The first class i took was Beer & Bratwurst, and last night was a Filipino foos cooking class taught by a few different people, including Tina Macuha from Good Day Sacramento. And last night, Honig winery in Napa sent wine, and their rep talked briefly (and not annoyingly) abotu ti and then just poured it all night for us! These classes happen in a demo kitchen inside a separate room in the store - it's a state of the art facility, the classes are laid back and fun, and especially fun for a group of friends. Most classes are demonstration with certain parts being hands on. You'll leave full and happy, too!

An organization that gets kids to eat their vegetables and LIKE IT?!!! Nah. This must be a dream,…read morebut wait. I'm wide awake!! Growing up, I was like every other kid when it came to vegetables. "I hate them!" As an adult cooking my own vegetables, I now realize it wasn't the vegetables that I didn't like. It was the way they were prepared. Now, I eat spinach everyday! Kids eating their vegetables is the coolest thing in the world. The Food Literacy Center is fighting to make sure that happens through food education and you know I'm all about the food. I mean the kids. All about the kids!!

Decided for our divisional holiday gathering to do something more hands-on and interactive that…read moreeveryone could enjoy and we had an absolutely incredible experience at Napoli Culinary Academy for our event! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by the welcoming staff who made us feel right at home. The cozy and inviting atmosphere created the perfect tone for an evening of fun and learning. Chef Hassi was phenomenal--his lively and engaging demonstration kept everyone entertained while teaching us the art of making authentic pizza, stromboli, and calzones. His passion for cooking was contagious, and he made the entire process approachable and enjoyable for all skill levels. The ingredients provided were nothing short of amazing--fresh, abundant, and full of flavor. It was clear that quality is a top priority at Napoli Culinary Academy, and it truly elevated the dishes we created. This experience was not only educational but also a fantastic way to bond as a team. We left with full stomachs, big smiles, and new culinary skills to show off at home. If you're looking for a unique, fun, and delicious team-building activity, Napoli Culinary Academy is the place to go. Highly recommended!

Don't buy the cannolis!! They only fill the sides up and not the center! Total scam!!…read more First time going and I thought it would be more hands on cooking class. We made French onion soup(onions already cooked), ratatouille just cut the vegetables lined them in a pan and french pastries which only the cream was to be made.

The good: Food was excellent, server was polite & knowledgeable. Facility grounds were lovely…read more The bad: Timing of food service. 6 adults - took approximately 10 minutes from first person served to last - etiquette suggests that all wait until all served, so first served food was cold. Check included 23% "surcharge", with gratuity expected in addition. Why not just add 23% to menu prices?

Not sure why I didn't know this existed but so happy it does. The 'CIA' is walking distance from…read moreOxbow Market so me and my daughter just decided to walk in. The outside area was so nice we agreed that we'll have to return in Spring to enjoy it. Inside there's a CIA store with so many kitchen items. I spoke with the employee there and she shared her knowledge of the two CIA facilities, there in Napa and the other in St Helena. She was super friendly and it was nice to meet her. We ventured into the museum which for me, someone who enjoys and appreciates food and cooking, I loved. This culinary collection was amazing. We also got to view the long wall of viticulturist which was interesting. Take a look at my photos to view CIA's testing kitchens. Very cool. This facility also has a restaurant, The Grove and an open area to rent for special occasions. Since the restaurant was closed, when I'm in Napa again, I'm definitely going to try it.

Adorable little student restaurant right in the middle of the campus. It's a bit hidden, but well…read moreworth searching for! I took my son who is a student here so we could spend a little time together one day between his classes and I was absolutely amazed. The service was so friendly! The decor is nice with linen table cloths and napkins; you feel like you've been whisked away to a little 5 star restaurant. The prices are more than reasonable and everything we ordered was delicious! Many looked like little works of art. There were a few issues with organization, time management, etc of course but that is to be expected in a learning environment. I am so glad we found this little gem and I can't believe it wasn't packed full of people. I guess the secret's not out yet. I will be back the next chance I get!

This is the unsung jewel of Stockton! (My little private oasis)…read more These students cook their hearts out. There's white linen tablecloths. There's light music. There's even a few outdoor tables complete with a sun-umbrella. Sometimes you get a novice server but they're never rude. The food is a leap of faith: sometimes they knock it out of the park and on a few occasions it was average. But I've always LOVED something (or more than a few) things on my plate. They are much more accomodating regarding dietary restrictions, the veggies are fresh and so are the desserts! The desserts are to die for...you MUST leave space for dessert or else you'll hate yourself as you drool over something about to be devoured at another table. Last week I had a great chicken tagine and for the sweet stuff - chocolate lava cake with raspberry drizzle...OMG it was LUSCIOUS! Also, I took a friend to lunch here and as it was her birthday I asked the servers to sing "Happy Birthday" when they brought her dessert out. They did one better, they sang and wrote "Happy Birthday" on her plate in chocolate! You are NOT going to get this kind of food value in Stockton, I guarantee you. Hey - tip well, these students pool their tip $$$ for an end-of-the-school-year trip to the Bay for a culinary tour. INSIDERS TIP: They have a Student Chef Hot Plate Express inside the cafeteria. For $5.50, you get a hot entree with a carb and veggie - the most bang for your buck! Again, I've never been disappointed. They also have a cold counter where they have sandwiches and salads. No - they haven't paid me off. They deserve all the accolades and then some! Here's a link to the menu, but if you take my corner table by the window I'll have to kill you. Slowly. I'm just kidding. Well, not really. :) http://www.deltacollege.edu/dept/foodservice/student_chef/menu.html

I recently stopped here with my son for a quick instrument repair and the staff member who helped…read moreus was nice and accommodating. The issue was stuck mouthpiece, and he fixed it pretty quick and didn't charge us for it. Despite being a small shop, the store has an impressive selection of instruments and is noticeably clean and well organized compared to other music stores we've visited. They also offer music lessons, rentals, and more, so I definitely recommend checking them out for any of your musical needs.

Rented a cello for my son for his school's music class from Kline and I have to say they have such…read moregreat customer service! The shop is full of instruments! All kinds! And plenty of them! .. they sell and rent .. we rented and it was so easy. You let them know what you need and they bring it out.. helps you inspect everything and give you a contract to sign. The rented price is decent and it goes towards the full price of the instrument if uou decide to buy it after. Highly recommend if you need to purchase or rent.