A fun, hands-on class that will introduce you to some easy, versatile and delicious fresh summer appetizers and sides that can be put together in a snap. Perfect for beginner cooks, this workshop will teach you how to make three tasty side dishes or starters using fresh and local ingredients that are the perfect complement to any summer BBQ or seasonal meal. Joanna Marie Nicholson will also share lots of practical tips for choosing the best seasonal ingredients from your farmers’ market or grocery store.

Watermelon salad
Juicy watermelon and cool cucumbers are tossed with tangy feta cheese to make this simple and colourful summer salad. A few leaves of fresh mint, olive oil and lime juice help tie all the flavours together.

Roasted yams and harissa chickpeas
It’s the year of the pulses and harissa chickpeas are the star of this dish. Plated on top of roasted sweet yams and fresh parsley, this easy side is a vegetarian, gluten-free crowd-pleaser with a spicy kick.

Mango prosciutto skewers with goat cheese
These one-bite wonders are the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Succulent mango and goat cheese are wrapped in prosciutto, then drizzled with balsamic glaze.

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$50 +HST

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Joanna grew up surrounded by family, friends and plenty of good food. She quickly learned that a meal is more than what sustains us—it’s the heart of many fond memories. Joanna’s life-long passion for food led her to complete George Brown College’s culinary arts program after being immersed in the working world. Here, she was able to hone her cooking style, with a flair for transforming seasonal ingredients into simple dishes with full-on flavour. Joanna enjoys sharing her passion for cooking with others—whether it’s teaching people how to make delicious dishes, sharing recipes or throwing a dinner party. Her cooking philosophy embraces simplicity, local ingredients, taste and fun. She spends her days working in the corporate communications and public relations field in downtown Toronto. When she’s not in the kitchen, she can be found cycling, running, dancing, writing, exploring places near and far and sharing good laughs with friends and family.

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Every Monday, The Depanneur invites TO’s best culinary talents to lead fun, hands-on workshops.