Kim Krol, editor in chief, and I decided to spend Super Bowl Sunday in the kitchen instead of in front of a television. We booked a cooking class at Sur La Table with a wine and cheese-inspired menu — perfect for a girls night out.

We selected our class from the schedule at the location in Quakerbridge Mall, though there are several locations within driving distance. The menu was filled with indulgent dishes: crostini with melted brie and roasted grapes, watercress salad with Champagne vinaigrette, poached salmon beurre blanc and mimosa sorbet. We suited up and took our places at our cutting boards. There were eight women total in our class, which gave space for individual attention from our friendly chef instructor. Work was split evenly among the participants, from cutting shallots to assembling the vinaigrette. As each item required a different amount of time to prepare, we sampled our work in stages.

My favorite bite was the crostini. I was blown away by the flavor and ease of the recipe. Each dish we prepared was simple and highlighted bold ingredients to deliver a unique flavor combination. The dishes were so simple, in fact, that I’ve already recreated the poached salmon at home.

A variety of cooking classes are available at Sur La Table, and I look forward to discovering new dishes and culinary inspiration at another class soon.

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director