For a scrumptious, hands-on culinary knowledge, get cooking at the Westin Copley Put

A single of my beloved things to do through the shutdown was losing myself in cooking/journey displays.

Stanley Tucci’s “Searching For Italy,” stands out. It wasn’t just that he was in a fascinating location savoring fresh new, extraordinary food stuff. It was that he acquired to dive ideal into the cooking encounter.

Guaranteed, I could try cooking individuals dishes at dwelling, and I did. I could also uncover identical goods on menus of great dining places once we obtained out once more, which I did as nicely. But currently being capable to enter the shiny kitchen area of a gifted chef to chat about how the meal is built and what it means, all though sipping a glass of excellent wine — that’s the stuff of Hollywood.

Except if, that is, you discover a scrumptious Boston key. I’m speaking about the Westin Copley Place’s “Interactive Culinary Experience,” an night of arms-on discovering, cooking and feeding on all peppered with socializing and signature cocktails.

My husband and I headed in from the South Shore on a wet June Wednesday and decided to invest the night. Even though it’s not a requirement for the Culinary Practical experience, we made a decision to make it an city escape.

To start with, the lodge. The Westin Copley Place (10 Huntington Ave., https://bit.ly/3NAIGOJ), even though regarded as a terrific occasion/conference spot, is at its core a welcoming place. Shared spaces are bright and open up you generally are a few techniques from a comfy spot to sit.

Our room, on a large floor, appeared out on Charles River, Cambridge and even the Citgo indicator in Kenmore Sq..

The Club stage location and food stuff support is worth the up grade, and the workout room has all the merchandise — like Peloton.

This wet working day, the hotel’s walkways to other places like the Copley Plaza and the Prudential Centre labored just proper. We wandered all-around, shopped a bit, and then headed again for the key event.

The Culinary Experience is headed by The Westin’s Senior Foodstuff and Beverage Functions Supervisor, Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Roy Kaler.

Kaler does not get to invest as significantly time with his palms in the genuine blend now that he oversees so a great deal, so these situations are a joyful excursion back again to the place he enjoys — and it shows.

We meet up with initial for incredible appetizers and signature cocktails (with edible bouquets) in a non-public space tucked just behind the hotel’s Bar 10.

We head down into the coronary heart of the hotel’s huge and spectacular commercial kitchen. When it was a quiet night time in our section, as we wound by staging places and earlier large shiny soup vats, I felt like Karen in “Goodfellas” when Henry winds her as a result of the kitchen area of the Copa on their to start with date. Amazing.

A cooking station is set up for each individual pair. My partner and I were  joined by yet another couple, two function pals on a night time out and a few singles who are teamed up with some others.

We’re making two courses this evening — lobster tortellini and a chocolate lava cake.

Chef talks us by every action, describing method, correcting us as we check out, serving to us discover the tricks of producing anything “just suitable.” What’s even far better is that this can all be replicated in our residence kitchens.

Once we’re finished, we head again up for our food. Our creations are the next and fourth study course of a delicious line up. Wines — and cocktails — are paired and the team bonds.

Just after dinner it is just a handful of methods into Bar 10 wherever we have a night time cap and enjoy the are living acoustic new music. Even on weeknights, Bar 10 has some great entertainment.

We are just a brief elevator ride away from our place. There, the lights of the town twinkling down below, I really feel like I lived that guiding-the-scenes dream.

The lessons are held regularly, with all forms of themes and classes to make. (You can see the present line up listed here: https://bit.ly/3NFfiGV)  Just like Tucci, I suspect I’ll have a time two.