Taste of Home Cooking School in Fort Scott Oct. 26

By Jason E. Silvers

Herald-Tribune

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Culinary skills will be on display when the Taste of Home Cooking School returns to Fort Scott on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

During the interactive two-hour event, which is sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and The Fort Scott Tribune, attendees will be able to watch Jamie Dunn, a top culinary expert and member of the Taste of Home Cooking School staff, will demonstrate 10 new recipes that can easily be recreated in the home, including sweet and zesty apricot beef stir fry, cookie dough truffles, and many others.

"She prepares the dishes right there," event co-organizer Becky Tourtillott said.

Doors to the show open at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 6 p.m. The event will take place at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

Armed with new culinary tips and techniques, attendees will surely be able to impress family and friends with sophisticated yet surprisingly easy-to-make dishes, according to a news release.

Tourtillott said the event should be beneficial for people who want to learn some cooking tips as well as how to make some unique dishes at home.

"I think what people will get from it is how easy it is to make great homemade dishes," she said. "There will be some good ideas on how to make great things at home with ingredients you can find locally, don't use anything exotic, and make some great homemade dishes for your family."

Attendees will also have opportunities to shop as a variety of vendors will be on hand to display their products and services. And not only will attendees leave the event with new recipe ideas, they'll also go home with a valuable gift bag which includes an assortment of products and coupons, including two Taste of Home magazines. Several door prizes will also be given away during the event.

In past years, the event has taken place at Memorial Hall but has been moved this year to a venue that organizers said could be better suited for an event of this type.

"Every seat has a great view of the stage, we've got expanded room for all the vendors to set up in the lobby of the fine arts center," Tourtillott said. "We didn't have a lot of space for those folks at Memorial Hall, which is another reason we made the move, so that it would be comfortable for people to watch the show and comfortable for them to shop and for the vendors to have a good display space."

Tourtillott added, "We certainly have appreciated the use of Memorial Hall, but the Ellis provides more comfort certainly in seating and better vendor space."

The event's location alternates each year between Fort Scott and Nevada.

"This year is Fort Scott's year to host," Tourtillott said.

Tickets for the event are on sale now at the chamber office, 231 E. Wall St., the Tribune, 12 E. Wall St., Life+Style, 22 N. Main St., all in Fort Scott, and the Nevada Daily Mail, 131 S. Cedar, Nevada. General admission tickets cost $10. Reserved seating VIP tickets cost $25 and include a backstage meet-and-greet with Dunn, two special cookbooks, advance shopping times, and other extras. A limited number of tickets are available for the event.

Tourtillott said the show has sold out in the past so it is recommended to purchase tickets as soon as possible.

"We encourage people to get them early because once those seats are gone, they're gone and we can't add anymore," she said.

For more information, call the chamber at (620) 223-3566.