How about a culinary passport to the cuisines of the Middle East, Asia, Europe, or Africa?

The Culinary Institute at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, beginning January 21, will offer the community a series of international cooking classes to explore the fare of eight countries. The classes will run through March 10.

Chefs skilled in the countries’ particular cuisines will teach participants how to use ingredients and cooking techniques from those nations. Participants also will learn about the countries’ culture, customs, and native foods. They will then prepare a meal and experience it in the traditional manner of those countries.

The Saturday classes are $99 each and will be taught at the institute, 2712 Neyland Dr., from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The institute is inside the UT Visitors Center.

Participants may sign up for individual classes.

Cuisines to be explored are:

January 21: Persian/Iranian, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
January 28: French, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
February 4: Korean, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
February 11: Italian, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
February 18: Irish, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
February 25: Liberian, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
March 3: Japanese (Sushi), 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
March 10: German, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

For more information or to sign up, call 865-974-0150 or visit http://culinary.utk.edu/international.html.

The Abundant Life Kitchen Culinary Arts Training Program of Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) graduated its 16th class on Friday, December 16, 2011 at 10 a.m. in the KARM Chapel at 418 N. Broadway.

Three students were recognized by their peers and community leaders during the ceremony. Tracy Hicks, Director of Business and Community Development at KARM, opened the ceremony with a warm introduction. Burt Rosen, CEO and President of KARM addressed the students and introduced Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett who gave the keynote address.

Abundant Life Kitchen graduates completed the 16 week, 600-hour curriculum, worked in a four week internship with a local food services business, passed the ServSafe ® sanitation and food safety certification exam, and gained foundational food preparation and specialty culinary skills. In addition, they have trained in life skills, relationship management, time management and other practical topics. The ultimate long-term goal of the program is employment and self-sufficiency.

The Abundant Life Kitchen Culinary Arts Training Program is a partnership between Knox Area Rescue Ministries and Second Harvest Food Bank, and is designed to give men and women in need an opportunity to improve their lives by training for employment in the food services industry. Food service is one of the fastest growing categories of employment growth nationally. Graduates of the ALK program are employed throughout East Tennessee in some of the area’s finest restaurants, seven area hospitals, the University of Tennessee, the Knoxville Convention Center and more.

KARM serves an average of 1,000 meals daily to the area’s poor and needy. In addition, over 400 men, women and children sleep at KARM every night. In addition to the Abundant Life Kitchen culinary arts program, KARM also offers other innovative job training programs that help lead people to healthy and independent lives and begin to restore hope to those who need it most.

To learn more visit www.karm.org.

For more pictures from the event CLICK HERE.