We all welcome soup season! Come and learn how to make this velvety, hearty tomato soup with airy and cheesy gougères (French cheese puffs) which are not only delicious to dip into soup but also wonderful on their own.

Fee includes cost of materials/food. 

Acadian Arts Asian Fusion Cooking Retreat 

The Willows York Beach 

October 12-15  1 PM Thursday -  1 PM Sunday

$495 includes workshops and meals

Your instructor, Chris Toy is the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. Cooking students will learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created.

Retreat to The Willows, a beautiful Victorian home with architecture that echoes the rich tradition and elegance of the 1800s. York Beach is just a short stroll to breathtaking views of the sand, surf, and rocks. A modern updated kitchen awaits the cooks.  There is a spacious dining room and gracious living room with comfortable seating for all participants to relax, socialize and make new friends. All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops.

Day students are welcome.

For special weekend accommodations call Chris at 207-653-3163 or email him at christoy.net@gmail.com.

Comments from recent Acadian Arts Retreats participants,

“I learned so much that Chris taught me, and the recipes were attainable.”

“We became extended family.

COVID note: For everyone’s comfort and safety we suggest doing a COVID test 24 hours prior to arrival. We will be following CDC guidelines according to location and dates.

Your instructor, Chris Toy is the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. Cooking students will learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created. 

Retreat to The Willows, a beautiful Victorian home with architecture that echoes the rich tradition and elegance of the 1800s. For the painters, York Beach is just a short stroll to breathtaking views of the sand, surf, and rocks.There is a spacious dining room and gracious living room with comfortable seating for all participants to relax, socialize and make new friends. All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops. Day students are welcome. For special weekend accommodations call Chris at 207-653-3163 or email him at christoy.net@gmail.com.  This is an in-person retreat.

Comments from recent Acadian Arts Retreats participants: 

“I learned so much that Chris taught me, and the recipes were attainable.”  “We became extended family.”

COVID note: For everyone’s comfort and safety we suggest doing a COVID test 24 hours prior to arrival. We will be following CDC guidelines according to location and dates.

Your instructor, Chris Toy is the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. Cooking students will learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created. Retreat to The Willows, a beautiful Victorian home with architecture that echoes the rich tradition and elegance of the 1800s. For the painters, York Beach is just a short stroll to breathtaking views of the sand, surf, and rocks.There is a spacious dining room and gracious living room with comfortable seating for all participants to relax, socialize and make new friends. All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops. Day students are welcome. For special weekend accommodations call Chris at 207-653-3163 or email him at christoy.net@gmail.com. Lodging is not included in the course price.

Regrettably, this weekend event has been cancelled.

Enjoy a weekend with your instructor, Chris Toy, the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. Learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created. 

Retreat to The Willows, a beautiful Victorian home with architecture that echoes the rich tradition and elegance of the 1800s. For the painters, York Beach is just a short stroll to breathtaking views of the sand, surf, and rocks.There is a spacious dining room and gracious living room with comfortable seating for all participants to relax, socialize and make new friends. All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops. Day students are welcome. For special weekend accommodations call Chris at 207-653-3163 or email him at christoy.net@gmail.com.  This is an in-person retreat.

COVID note: For everyone’s comfort and safety we suggest doing a COVID test 24 hours prior to arrival. We will be following CDC guidelines according to location and dates.

Learn the ABC’s of hand pulled mozzarella in this one-night workshop. Your pizza will never be the same after this. It is fast and easy and oh so good. You will learn how to create your fresh mozzarella, then you learn how to “pull” your fresh curds. You will create a new “habit” of always having fresh mozzarella on hand to kick up your favorite recipes and impress your friends. This recipe takes very few, easy to find ingredients and you will take home approximately 2 pounds of cheese from your one gallon of milk. You will learn the basics of cheese making and the specifics of Mozzarella curds. Class is limited so sign up early. *Starter kit included.

Learn how to make one of Poland's traditional dumplings from scratch. Similar to Italian gnocchi, we start with leftover mashed potatoes, incorporate our other ingredients, cook them and then learn how to finish the dish off to perfection. Sue will share her tips and tricks as we roll, form, cook, serve, and eat these tasty morsels of comfort food. Careful! These are addictively delicious.

Please bring containers to take home what we create.

Sue learned to cook authentic recipes by taking notes while her mother and aunts cooked. Sue loves to cook and share recipes, techniques, and best practices.

Cheese making is so mysterious because it starts by turning a liquid into a solid. Cheese making also takes A LOT of time: usually a day of work just to get the initial stage of fresh cheese, then weeks/months/years of aging to change a bland white chalky lump into something completely different. In this hands-on workshop, local cheese maker Eric Rector -- from Monroe Cheese Studio -- will summarize 10,000 years of cheese making and show you how to make a quick and tasty cheese in an effort to describe milk’s “leap toward immortality.” All supplies will be provided and you will have the opportunity to sample the cheese you’ve made before the end of the class. (and bring home any leftovers!).

Instructor Eric Rector is a cheesemaker, Maine Cheese Guild member, and owner of Monroe Cheese Studio.