Chocolate Master Class with Alexandra Whisnant

Valentine’s Day is approaching, which means you have a choice: turn to the same old store-bought chocolate, or learn to make customized, homemade works of art for yourself and the people you love. In this hands-on class taught by professional chocolatière Alexandra Whisnant, we will dive deep into the art and science of chocolate, from choosing ingredients to hand-dipping each finished piece. You will learn the techniques and instincts required to make flawless ganache—without relying on a recipe—and how to cut, form and hand-dip personalized bonbons. You’ll get comfortable tempering chocolate without a thermometer and understand the magic of rich yet airy chocolate mousse. In addition to technique, you’ll develop your tastebuds through a series of tastings that reveal the importance of focusing on freshness and starting with high-quality ingredients. You will walk away with the chocolate skills necessary to make your own chocolates and chocolate mousse for your Valentine—and a collection of your own fresh bonbons that put grocery store chocolates to shame.

Alexandra Whisnant is the owner of gâté comme des filles, a tiny artisanal chocolate shop in Bow Market in Somerville, Massachusetts. Alexandra fell in love with chocolate while studying at Le Cordon Bleu; after completing an undergraduate degree in physics, she returned to Paris to intern at Ladurée and was subsequently a pastry cook at Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse. After earning an MBA from Cornell, she launched gâté comme des filles in Paris in 2012. Following two years selling her chocolates in California, she returned to her hometown of Cambridge, where she sold bonbons at Formaggio Kitchen, ran pop-ups at Oui Millie and Neiman Marcus, and transformed Lizzy’s Ice Cream in Harvard Square into a chocolate boutique for two winter seasons. After seven years of making bonbons, Whisnant opened her first brick-and-mortar shop in Bow Market and now manages a team of chocolatiers.

FAQs

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Parking garages:

• Boston Harbor Garage (known as the Aquarium Garage)
• 75 State Street

Trains

• Aquarium stop on the Blue Line
• State Street on Blue and Orange Line
• Government Center on the Blue and Green Lines
• Haymarket on the Orange and Green Lines, and multiple bus lines

Bus Lines

• 4, 92, 93, 352, 354 

The entrance to our school is directly across from 49 India Street.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

cookingschool@177milkstreet.com

Is my registration/ticket refundable or transferrable?

Yes. Tickets are refundable up to seven days before an event and transferable to another student at any time. Within seven days of the event, we do not offer refunds.

Is this a hands-on or demonstration event?

This is a hands-on cooking class.

Is dinner included?

No. We will taste, experiment and eat plenty of chocolate during this class, but the event does not include a full meal. 

Are children allowed?

Children 11-17 are allowed to participate if they attend and cook with an adult parent or guardian. The minor and the adult must each have a ticket to the class.