Out and About in Sevierville

I noticed a cooking class offered at KaTom Chef Supplies in Kodak and knew that I had to go when I saw that David Pinckney, Executive Chef for Cherokee Country Club, was doing the presentation. Long interested in the KaTom company since it arrived here, I picked up the phone and made a reservation. I set my GPS to that address and found it easily past Bass Pro Shop. What a pleasure it was to experience not only the store, but the recipes from possibly the top chef in Knoxville.

The drive is easy and there is plenty of parking.

If you like Williams Sonoma then you will go crazy in KaTom!

David Pinckney, Executive Chef for Cherokee Country Club.

There were eleven of us sitting at tables with a  full view of the kitchen demonstration area from an overhead mirror reflecting each step of the recipe. Everyone received water and you could bring your own beverage to enjoy with dinner.

Everyone receives a copy of recipes for the three course meal. Write notes as needed. The atmosphere is relaxed and enjoyable. At my table, I met a retired couple from South Knoxville. The lady worked at the University of Tennessee. She said that they had attended these classes many times. Also at my table were two ladies who lived in Kodak, in the Grandview subdivision. Everyone seemed to know cooking basics, but you don’t need to in order to enjoy these classes.

Dessert takes more work so we saw that recipe first.

Chocolate Pate (Pa- tay) is gluten free and moist, almost compact like a brownie. I am a choco-holic so this was most anticipated. It must have been one of the best chocolate desserts that I have ever tasted.

Voila! Perfection on a plate!

Lobster Salad with Truffle Pommery Vinaigrette.

Pistachio Crusted Salmon.

With purple ‘sticky rice.’  I had never tried Norwegian Steelhead Salmon. It was divine!

 

Chef Pinckney first apprenticed at the Orangery Restaurant in Knoxville and was part owner for years. Then, he went to the Sunspot, another lcoal favorite. Chef Pinckney has been at Cherokee Country Club for the past 10 years. I have long wanted to try his creations so this was a wonderful opportunity to do so.

KaTom has offered cooking demonstrations for about two years. This was Chef Pinckney’s fourth visit for presentations.

Before the meal is ready, attendees have a change to browse the store and shop. I bought a few birthday gifts for someone.

Here are some things that I also liked on the showroom floor.

 

If I win the lottery then I will buy this for the Sevierville Primary School teacher break-room. Then one for SCHS. Then for the other Sevier County Schools!

This must be incredible! However, I should have asked Chef Pinckney how to use it.

Every color of KitchenAid mixer that you could ever want!

Cake pops!

The biggest selection of Zoku popsicle/ice cream products that I have ever seen.

 

Make your own cotton candy!

The cooking classes start at 6:00 and end no later than 8:00 p.m. To be honest, they are half the price of classes in Knoxville. It is rather unbelieveable.

To keep informed, simply look for the listings in the Knoxville News Sentinel, or even better, ‘like’ KaTom on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/KaTomRestaurantSupply/?fref=ts

Click on the events there.

I am a follower of Barbara Tenney who is doing a demonstration on Wednesday, July 27th. Love her!

Jeff Ross, from Blackberry Farm, will demonstrate on August 9th.

In conclusion, this is an incredible opportunity in our own backyard to enjoy recipes and learn from leading chefs in East Tennessee. The store is fabulous and at least three times larger than Williams Sonoma. I thought that only chefs could shop there, but it is open to everyone. When I mentioned that to the store clerk, she replied “arrive a shopper, but leave as a chef.”

I believe that Chef Pinckney is a world class chef and we are lucky to have him in East Tennessee demonstrating what he knows. In fact, he was the perfect person to introduce me to the  cooking demonstrations at KaTom Chef Supplies store in Kodak. His menu was perfect and the results were exquisite. I even think that I could try to make them myself after watching his presentation.

If you like to cook, or eat, then KaTom cooking demonstrations are a great way to enjoy a late afternoon meal while you are out and about in Sevierville. 

See you at the table!