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Ever been inspired by Top Chef or Gordon Ramsey's show to try your hand in the kitchen or broaden your culinary talents? This season you're in luck. If you're looking for inspiration on what to prepare for your holiday feast, consider enrolling in the cooking brunch series at Water and Wall at the Andaz on Saturday morning. Starting at 11 am the cooking class begins with a walk through the Andaz Farmers market to pick out the class ingredients and then its total immersion in the open air kitchen. By working alongside the executive and sous chefs, students are broken into smaller groups of 3 to prepare five delectable dishes created by Executive Chef Maximo Lopez May in a “hands on” environment where you do all the prep work, learn to cut, cook and bake. At the end, you reap your reward as you sit down together and feast on your homemade creations paired with wine. You even get to take home your recipe binder. Held once a month on Saturday, every month is a different theme, and the next class in December is Holiday baking.

$65 per person. For more information 212-699-1700

If you ‘d rather sip, taste and listen, try the Sake and Sushi 101 classes at Sushi Samba, held once a month on Mondays at 7 pm. During the first part of the class, the sommelier will walk you through the basics of choosing a sake, while explaining its main ingredients. You’ll learn how sake is made, when to drink sake (when it’s very young) and how to taste different grades and types of sake such as Junmai, Ginjo, Daiginjo and Honjozo - which all has to do with the polishing of the rice grain. Guests are then treated to beautifully prepared dishes that are expertly paired with each type of sake, from braised cod to tempura, as well as a mixed sushi platter that pairs better with dry sake, nigori unflitered or sparkling sake. For the second part of the class, the sushi chef explains the origin of sushi from Japan and teaches you how to prepare and cut your own rolls. The final test is creating your own sushi roll and getting to eat it. If only all classes were this fun!

$65 per person. For more information on the next class, please visit www.sushisamba.com