Sitka Lutheran Church

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Learn to make ratatouille with Alaska flavors in Sitka workshop

A workshop in Sitka will teach participants how to make a classic French dish — with a Southeast Alaska flair. 

Chef Jayme Schroeder said ratatouille is his favorite dish, and this version will include fresh ribbon kelp and abalone. The class is a collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. 

Schroeder came to Sitka in 2011 and fell in love with the region’s biology and ecology. When he’s not working as an anesthesiologist, he is diving in the waters around Sitka. The workshop also will include a presentation of underwater photos showing the kelp and abalone in their natural habitat. 

The workshop will be 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at the Sitka Lutheran Church kitchen, downstairs at 224 Lincoln St. Please use the back entrance to the church located on Harbor Drive, as the front door will be locked. The entrance is located down a one-way alley, and parking is limited. Please use on-street parking and don’t park behind the church.

The cost is $35 and includes all materials. Register online at https://bit.ly/SitkaRatatouille. Registration is limited to 12 participants and closes at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 4.

Youths younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Contact Jasmine Shaw at jdshaw2@alaska.edu or 907-747-9440 for more information. 

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five days in advance to Shaw.

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UAF Cooperative Extension Service hosts kimchi soup cooking class with Andrew Jylkka

Andrew Jylkka, owner of SE Dough Co., will teach a kimchi soup with handmade noodles cooking class, in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service.

The class takes place from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12, in the kitchen at Sitka Lutheran Church (downstairs, use entrance from alley off Harbor Drive, please use street parking and not the back church parking lot). The class cost is $35, which includes supplies. This class is at the former location of the Sitka Kitch.

Students can register and pay at https://bit.ly/SitkaKimchi. For more information, contact Jasmine Shaw at 907-747-9440 or jdshaw2@alaska.edu.

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UAF Cooperative Extension Service hosts Cajun cooking class with Geof Goudeau

Geof Goudeau, a chef in the U.S. Coast Guard originally from Louisiana, will teach a Cajun cooking class, in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service.

The class takes place from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, in the kitchen at Sitka Lutheran Church (downstairs, use entrance from alley off Harbor Drive, please use street parking and not the back church parking lot). The class cost is $30. This class is at the former location of the Sitka Kitch.

Students can register and pay at https://bit.ly/CajunRedBeans. For more information, contact Jasmine Shaw at 907-747-9440 or jdshaw2@alaska.edu.

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UAF Cooperative Extension Service to host ‘Sitka Salmonganza’ classes on using salmon

SitkaSalmonganza

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will host its “Sitka Salmonganza” on Sunday through Tuesday, July 30 to Aug. 1, at various locations in Sitka.

Classes about how to use and preserve will be taught by Sarah Lewis, a Juneau-based Cooperative Extension agent. Preregistration is requested so we have enough ingredients and supplies for everyone. Register at https://bit.ly/salmonganza

Sunday, July 30, 1-7 p.m. Salmon Social: Sitkaʼs summer parties require salmon and salmonberries. In this hands-on workshop you will learn to safely pressure can salmon and waterbath can berry syrup. Youʼll also learn ways to use canned salmon for party dishes and make salmonberry soda. All experience levels welcome, all ingredients and supplies included. Sitka Lutheran Church kitchen (224 Lincoln St., enter from back of church but use street parking), Fee: $35 per person. Free for Southeast tribe members and youth under 16 (attending with an adult).

Monday, July 31, Noon-1 p.m. Salmon Nutrition: Discover the healing benefits and uses of salmon, seeds, and oils. The discussion will include a variety of topics including inflammation, omega fatty acids, and cooking oils. We will be using videoconferencing technology to tie-in instructor Audra Henderson but meet as a group in person. Sitka’s Harrigan Centennial Hall. Free.

Monday, July 31, 5-7 p.m. Family Meals with Canned Salmon: In this hands-on workshop you will learn to cook creative family dishes with delicious and healthy canned salmon. All ages and experience levels welcome, all ingredients and supplies included. Blatchley Middle School Home Ec Room. Fee: $20 per person. Free for Southeast tribe members and youth under 16 (attending with an adult).

Tuesday, Aug. 1, Noon-1 p.m. Smoking and Canning Salmon Basics: In this class you will learn basic techniques for smoking fish at home and how to safely pressure can it for delicious meals all year. Sitka Public Library. Free.

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 5-7 p.m. Saucy Pickled Salmon: In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to pickle fish and make a few sauces. Impress your friends and family this summer with fancy fish dishes, no need to tell them how easy it was! Blatchley Middle School Home Ec Room. Fee: $20 per person. Free for Southeast tribe members and youth under 16 (attending with an adult).

For more information, contact Sarah Lewis at sarah.lewis@alaska.edu or call 907-455-2010.

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UAF Cooperative Extension Service to host Scrappy Cooking 101 class with Jennifer Nu

Learn how to make your own vegetable stock, bone/fish broth, and pectin with Jennifer Nu from Ecotrust and the Sustainable Southeast Partnership in a “Scrappy Cooking 101” workshop.

This event takes place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7, at the Sitka Lutheran Church kitchen (downstairs behind the church, please use street parking and not the lot behind the church). The workshop is free, but registration is required.

Jennifer will also lead a focused discussion on what happens to food waste in Sitka, how to start composting, and tips and tricks for reducing food waste in your household.

To register or ask questions, contact Jasmine Shaw with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service at jdshaw2@alaska.edu or 907-747-9440. 

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UAF Cooperative Extension Service to offer Extension Workshops in Sitka with Sarah Lewis

Sarah Lewis of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service Juneau District Office will be in Sitka later this month to offer Extension Workshops.

The Extension Workshops include a five-hour class on Canning New Year Soups, and three lunchtime Cooking For Brain Health classes — Get Pickles, Spice It Up, and Go Nuts.

The Canning New Year Soups class is from 3-8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22, in the downstairs kitchen of the Sitka Lutheran Church (the location of the Sitka Kitch). Please enter from the alley behind the church, and park on the street and not in back of the church. This class for all skill levels costs $25.

The three lunchtime classes take place from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Jan. 23-25, in the Gus Adams Meeting Room at Sitka Public Library. They cost $10 each, or you can take all three classes for $20.

The registration deadline for these classes is Saturday, Jan. 21. To register, go to http://bit.ly/SitkaJan2023 (scroll down) or click on the highlighted class titles above. For more information, contact Jasmine Shaw at jdshaw2@alaska.edu or 907-747-9440.

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Sitka Kitch to host Cooking With Culture class on how to make tortilla soup with Nalani James

Are you a tuxedo corn lover? Join the Sitka Kitch as Nalani James teaches our first in-person class since March 2020 on how to make tortilla soup as part of the Cooking With Culture class series. This class takes place from 4-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, at the Sitka Kitch community commercial kitchen, located in the basement of the Sitka Lutheran Church.

Summer is here and house-made tortilla soup is a good way to keep your soup bowls on the table. Summer is corn season and tuxedo corn is coming to the party. This soup has a beautiful array of colors to electrify your senses. Nalani chose this because she loves tuxedo corn from the Southwest. Corn has a short season and should be celebrated. There will be vegetarian and dairy-free options as well. Note: this is not a “grain-free recipe.”

Nalani has offered many classes in Sitka and has been successfully teaching to the community special dishes to her soul. This is the second year of her Cooking With Culture class series.

The class cost is $40, and we need at least eight people registered to make the class happen. Ingredients are provided in the registration price. Students may want to bring a container for leftovers.

This is our first in-person class indoors since the start of the pandemic (we did hold a couple of campfire cooking classes last year). With Covid-19 still being around, we are monitoring Sitka’s Covid-19 risk levels. Right now, Sitka has a Medium/Moderate risk level, which means face masks are encouraged in the kitchen but not required. If our risk level goes back to High, we will require masks in the kitchen.

Current (paid) members of the Sitka Food Co-op are now able to attend the online classes for $30 each (the co-op will cover the other $10 of your class fee). Please use the Sitka Food Co-op ticket when you register and  email  sitkafoodcoop@gmail.com letting them know you’re in the class. (NOTE, Only one person per Co-op household may use the Co-op discount per class. Please name that person when you register so the name can be checked against the Co-op membership list.)

The registration deadline is 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6. Space is limited, so register early to secure your place in the class. You can register and pre-pay using credit/debit cards or PayPal on the Sitka Kitch EventSmart online registration page, http://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com (click on class title). For those wanting to pre-pay with cash or check, please call Kylee Jones at Sitka Conservation Society (747-7509) to arrange a payment.

For more information about the class, contact Jasmine Shaw at 747-9440. We occasionally offer one scholarship spot per class for people with limited incomes, provided we still have enough students registered to make the class happen. Contact Jasmine or Kylee at SCS for more details about the scholarship.

The Sitka Kitch is supported in partnership by Sitka Conservation Society with UAF Cooperative Extension Service. This class is a fundraiser for the Sitka Kitch community rental commercial kitchen.

Students should enter the Sitka Lutheran Church downstairs through the back entrance (through the alley off Harbor Drive by the old Bev’s Flowers and Gifts location). The door on the right should be open for students to enter. Please do not park in the church’s back parking lot. Please use the public parking lots off Harbor Drive.

The Sitka Kitch also has a new class cancelation policy. If you register for a class, then find out you can’t attend, please email us at sitkakitch@sitkawild.org and we may be able to help fill your slot through our waiting list. If you cancel from the class at least five days in advance (eg, by Wednesday the week before for a Monday class), you are eligible for a partial refund of your class fee, minus $5 for processing (in this case, $35 or $25, depending on if you are paying full price or getting the Sitka Food Co-op discount). If you need to cancel with less than five days advance notice, there is no refund.

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Sitka Kitch launches Outdoor Cooking Series with Cooking Over The Campfire — Pizza and Dessert class on Nov. 16

sitkakitch.org

The Sitka Kitch community rental commercial kitchen will host its first in-person class since the COVID-19 outbreak started in March, but this will be part of a special Outdoor Cooking Series and not at the Sitka Kitch itself.

The Cooking Over The Campfire — Pizza and Dessert class will be taught by Greta Healy and Meredith Redick from 5:30-7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16, at the Halibut Point Recreation Area large shelter. The class also will feature a short demonstration of Dutch oven cooking. Students will need to arrive early enough to pay for parking at the Halibut Point Rec.

This class will be taught with strict COVID-19 safety protocols. All students will be screened for symptoms before being allowed to participate, and masks are required except when students are eating apart from each other. Hand sanitizer will be available. Due to the need to maintain social distancing, this class will be limited to seven students, so register early to guarantee your spot.

Greta has lived in Sitka for five years and currently works for the Sitka Conservation Society’s Conservation Corps. She said, “I love camping and cooking and making elaborate campfire dinners. I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned about camp cooking with you!”

Greta Healy

Meredith has lived in Sitka for four years. She currently runs the statewide Alaska Fellows Program, tutors science at University of Alaska Southeast Sitka Campus, and sometimes hosts the morning news on KCAW-Raven Radio. She likes camp cooking because it requires creativity, and because everything tastes better after you’ve hiked up a mountain. She especially likes finding ways to add wild foods to camping dinners (bonus points if you find them at your campsite).

The cost of this class is $40, which includes all food supplies. The class registration deadline is 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13. This class is a fundraiser for the Sitka Kitch. This is part of our new all-inclusive fee system (you no longer have to pay a class fee to register, then a separate food/supply fee). You can register and pre-pay using credit/debit cards or PayPal on our EventSmart page, http://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com (click on class title). For those wanting to pre-pay with cash or check, please call Chandler O’Connell or Clarice Johnson at Sitka Conservation Society (747-7509) to arrange a payment.

Meredith Redick

Current (paid) members of the Sitka Food Co-Op are now able to attend the online classes for $30 each (the co-op will cover the other $10 of your class fee). Please use the Sitka Food Co-Op ticket when you register and send an email to sitkafoodcoop@gmail.com letting them know you’re in the class. (NOTE, Only one person per Co-op household may use the Co-op discount per class. Please name that person when you register so the name can be checked against the Co-op membership list.)

Students will need to bring some cooking equipment, which includes a bowl for the dough (lid optional) large enough so you can use your hands to mix the dough inside the bowl, a large pan for the pizza (such as a large skillet or pizza pan), and a spatula for flipping.

For more information about the class, contact Jasmine Shaw at 747-9440. We do offer one potential scholarship spot per class for people with limited incomes, so long as we have enough students registered to make the class happen. Contact Chandler at SCS for more details about the scholarship. This class is a fundraiser for the Sitka Kitch.

The Sitka Kitch also has a new class cancelation policy. If you register for a class, then find out you can’t attend, please email us at sitkakitch@sitkawild.org and we may be able to help fill your slot through our waiting list. If you cancel from the class at least five days in advance (eg, by Wednesday the week before for a Monday class), you are eligible for a partial refund of your class fee, minus $5 for processing (in this case, a refund of $35). If you need to cancel with less than five days advance notice, there is no refund.

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Sitka Kitch to host Winter Baking Series class ‘Dumplings With Serena Tang’ on March 24

Learn how to make Asian-style dumplings in the sixth class of the new Winter Baking Series at the Sitka Kitch. The Dumplings With Serena Tang class takes place from 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at the Sitka Kitch community commercial kitchen.

Come learn about the really broad history of dumplings.  Once you understand the basics of how to make your very own dumpling wrappers — the world is your oyster.

In this class you’ll learn how to 1) make dumpling dough, 2) make wrappers, 3) make dumpling fillings, 4) fold different styles of dumplings, 5) cook dumplings in different styles (boiled, steam, pot stickers, etc.). and finally 6) how to make different sauces to accompany your dumplings. We’ll also go over standard East Asian flavor profiles and the locavore reasoning behind why different spices/flavors are in different cultures.

If you have any dietary restrictions or other preferences, let us know.  Dumplings are super versatile, but for learning’s sake we’ll be focusing on Chinese-style cabbage-and-pork dumplings (which can easily become vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian, etc.).

Serena, who works as a law clerk for the Alaska Court System, has a pretty broad culinary background. Growing up in Texas with Chinese-Malaysian parents, Serena has always been curious about the history of food and the reason why certain things are the way they are.  Serena’s been making dumplings with her parents since she was a little kid. She taught a similar class to the Sitka Spruce Tips 4-H program.

The registration deadline is 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. Space is limited, so register early to secure your place in the class. We need at least eight students to register and pre-pay to make this class happen. The class costs $40, which is part of our new all-inclusive fee system (you no longer have to pay a class fee to register, then a separate food/supply fee). You can register and pre-pay using credit/debit cards or PayPal on our EventSmart page, http://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com (click on class title). For those wanting to pre-pay with cash or check, please call Chandler O’Connell or Clarice Johnson at Sitka Conservation Society (747-7509) to arrange a payment.

Current (paid) members of the Sitka Food Co-Op are now able to attend the classes for $30 each (the co-op will cover the other $10 of your class fee). Please use the Sitka Food Co-Op ticket when you register and send an email to sitkafoodcoop@gmail.com letting them know you’re in the class. (NOTE, Only one person per Sitka Food Co-op household may use the co-op discount per class. Please name that person when you register so the name can be checked against the co-op membership list. If you register with the discount and can’t attend the class, the person who uses the ticket should be a co-op member or agree to pay the $10 discount difference.)

For more information about the class, contact Jasmine Shaw at 747-9440. We do offer one potential scholarship spot per class for people with limited incomes, so long as we have enough students registered to make the class happen. Contact Chandler at SCS for more details about the scholarship. This class is a fundraiser for the Sitka Kitch.

Also, the registration deadline for the fifth class in the Winter Baking Series, Brioche (and Pizza) With Andrew Jylkka, is 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, at the Sitka Kitch. This class takes place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, at the Sitka Kitch. Details on other classes in the series will be posted as they become available.

In addition, the Sitka Kitch is hosting a vegetarian Indian food buffet fundraiser and silent auction from 5:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, at Beak Restaurant. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the silent auction closes at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited for this event, so register early. The cost is $40, with all proceeds going to the Sitka Kitch to promote new classes.

Students should enter the Sitka Lutheran Church through the back entrance (through the alley off Harbor Drive by the old Bev’s Flowers and Gifts location). The door on the right should be open for students to enter. Please do not park in the church’s back parking lot. Please use the public parking lots off Harbor Drive.

The Sitka Kitch also has a new class cancelation policy. If you register for a class, then find out you can’t attend, please email us at sitkakitch@sitkawild.org and we may be able to help fill your slot through our waiting list. If you cancel from the class at least five days in advance (eg, by Wednesday the week before for a Monday class), you are eligible for a partial refund of your class fee, minus $5 for processing (in this case, $35). If you need to cancel with less than five days advance notice, there is no refund.

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Scenes from the Sitka Kitch’s second Winter Baking Series: Sourdough Bread With Carolyn Rice class

Students learned how to make make sourdough bread during the fourth class of the Sitka Kitch‘s Winter Baking Series, Sourdough Bread With Carolyn Rice (Take Two), on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Sitka Kitch rental commercial kitchen. This was the second time Carolyn taught the class, after several people weren’t able to get into her first class on Jan. 14.

Carolyn is an Alaska Fellow working with the Sitka Conservation Society and USDA Forest Service, and her class taught how to create and feed a sourdough starter, as well as how to bake sourdough bread using a variety of bread flours. She also explained why she named her sourdough starter Xavier and why others should give their starters a name. Students were able to take home a small bit of Xavier so they could build their own sourdough starters, and they each took home a ball of bread dough to proof overnight and bake the next day.

The next class in the Winter Baking Series will be Brioche (and Pizza) with Andrew Jylkka, who just moved to Sitka from Wrangell and bakes for Beak Restaurant. This class will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. (note earlier start time) on Tuesday, March 17, at the Sitka Kitch. The class costs $40 ($30 for Sitka Food Co-op members who are current on their dues, only one discount per family), and the registration deadline is late night on Sunday, March 15.

After that, the next class in the series will be Dumplings With Serena Tang, from 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at the Sitka Kitch. Serena, who is of Chinese-Malaysian descent, will teach Asian-style dumplings (probably cabbage and pork) that can be modified for people with different dietary needs. The class costs $40 ($30 for Sitka Food Co-op members who are current on their dues, only one discount per family), and the registration deadline is late night on Sunday, March 22.

More classes in the series will be announced as their information is finalized.

Also, the Sitka Kitch is hosting a vegetarian Indian food buffet fundraiser and silent auction from 5:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, at Beak Restaurant. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the silent auction closes at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited for this event, so register early (this event is starting to fill up and will close soon). The cost is $40, with all proceeds going to the Sitka Kitch to promote new classes.

A slideshow of scenes from the sourdough bread class is posted below.

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