This holiday season, Gervasi Vineyard is adding excitement and joy to celebrations with family, friends, and co-workers. Each week leading up to Christmas, we’ll share a new idea for experiencing Gervasi with your loved ones.
Executive Chef at Gervasi Vineyard Shares His Techniques for Preparing Exquisite Meals for the Holidays
Do your holiday meal plans this year include smaller intimate get-togethers or are you planning slightly larger scale holiday gatherings? Either way, it is a great year to offer family and friends a meal to remember.
To help make this holiday season memorable for more reasons than the pandemic, join Gervasi Vineyard (GV) for a series of cooking demonstrations to learn ways to make your holiday meals extraordinary.
Join GV Executive Chef Jerry Risner to watch and learn his professional yet easy techniques for preparing meals that will amaze your family at upcoming holiday gatherings. You will learn the secrets to making some of the favorite upscale Tuscan-style meals prepared and served at Gervasi Vineyard’s award-winning restaurants.
The cooking demonstrations will be held in the ballroom inside The Villa Grande Event Center. The Cucina at Gervasi Vineyard offers fun and inspiring educational experiences marked by delicious food and memorable wines.
Two new types of demonstration cooking classes are led by Chef Jerry. Study his techniques as he prepares several enticing dishes and taste his creations along with a glass of wine (cash bar also available). You’ll receive a recipe packet to help you recreate your Cucina experience at home.
“Our goal is to provide an educational, fun experience for our participants,” Chef Jerry said. “The cooking demonstrations are another way for us to safely bring people together to learn some cooking techniques and make new friendships. Persons of all cooking levels will enjoy the menus I’ll be demonstrating; the recipes are for meals that anyone can make for their family and friends.”
Chef Jerry will have a mirror over his demonstration station so that everyone can see his every move. The demonstrations will also be projected digitally on a large screen for an up-close view of each meal as it is prepared.
Starting as the executive chef at Gervasi Vineyard over 10 years ago, Chef Jerry has been with the destination winery resort from the very beginning. He knows his way around a kitchen having worked in his earlier years at every station in a restaurant kitchen and as a sous chef. He and his family have traveled around the country and through Italy, where he has watched and learned numerous cooking techniques that he will be sharing with participants.
“Having worked at all stations in a kitchen makes me appreciate that everybody’s job is important. It has added to my philosophy of treating everyone with respect and to care about what you are doing,” said Chef Jerry. “I know I work at a special place and I care about the job I do and that everyone does. And I, along with everyone at Gervasi Vineyard, care about the customer experience.”
Participants can select from two categories including:
Sample & Sip: Chef Jerry prepares three dishes and participants will enjoy small samples of each one with a glass of wine.
Plan to stay for lunch at one of Gervasi’s restaurants after the demo. The Bistro, The Crush House Wine Bar & Eatery, and The Still House offer a variety of menu options for those who love fine wines and gourmet foods. (Reservations recommended for The Bistro.)
Wine & Dine: Chef Jerry prepares four dishes during this enhanced dining event. Enjoy a generous portion of each course, accompanied by a glass of wine. You won’t go home hungry after this delectable demo!
DEMONSTRATION CLASS SCHEDULE for November and December
All Demonstrations held at
The Villa Grande at Gervasi Vineyard
1700 55th Street NE
Canton, OH 44721
November 10, 6 p.m. – Class Type: Wine & Dine Thanksgiving Made Easy $59
Menu: Roasted Turkey and Old School Stuffing
Haricot Verts with brown butter and toasted almonds
Cranberry and Blood Orange Relish
Corn Pudding
November 22, 11 a.m. – Class Type: Sample & Sip Hearty Winter Soups $39
Menu: Minestrone
Chorizo and Beef Chili
New England Clam Chowder
December 6, 11 a.m. – Class Type: Sample & Sip Holiday Samplers $39
Menu: Turkey Skewers
Beef Wellington
Crispy Asparagus and Ham Pomegranate Compote
December 16, 6 p.m. – Class Type: Wine & Dine Bistro Favorites $59
Menu: GV Iceberg Salad
Tuscan Beef Short Ribs
Pasta Bolognese
Flourless Chocolate Torte
Bonus! If you already have a Cucina gift certificate, you may use it toward any of the demo classes.
Note: Gervasi is not currently offering interactive, hands-on Cucina classes due to COIVD-19 restrictions and regulations. To ensure the safety of our guests while observing social distancing guidelines, tables for the demo events will be sold in blocks of 6-10 tickets.
