Tracy Schuhmacher

@RahChaChow

Wegmans has held its last class at the Menu Cooking School in its Pittsford store.

Since 2005, the kitchen has served as both a part-time cooking school and a place where Wegmans' chefs develop recipes and new products, said Jo Natale, vice president of media relations for Wegmans. In recent years, the demand for cooking classes has leveled off, while the company's need for a full-time culinary development kitchen has grown, she said. It will serve as a full-time development kitchen.

People interested in learning cooking skills will continue to have other opportunities under the Wegmans umbrella.The Pittsford store continues to offer pan searing and grilling classes for teens and adults; call (585) 249-0275 for details. Amore, at the East Avenue store, offers a series of Eat, Drink and Learn events. Cooking with Kids classes are also held in various stores; the classes are usually advertised in the stores and posted on the Wegmans web site.

Even with the loss of the Menu Cooking School, there are many cooking classes offered in the Rochester area. They include:

• The New York Wine and Culinary Center holds hands-on and demonstration classes for all ages at 800 S. Main St. in Canandaigua; (585) 394-7070.

• Tops Friendly Markets offers classes and camps for all ages at its store at 3507 Mt. Read Blvd. in Greece; (585) 663-5449.



• The Rochester Brainery at 176 Anderson Ave. includes cooking classes among its offerings. (585) 730-7034.

• The Seasonal Kitchen is in its 45th year of offering cooking classes from a home kitchen in Mendon. Some classes are taught by guest chefs. (585) 624-7295

• Food, Fun & Friends is a hands-on, interactive cooking school for kids ages 9 to 15. Mary Stachowski runs it from her home in Pittsford. (585) 261-8170.

• Small World Food offers cooking classes at its location at 90 Canal St. (585) 563-9018.

• Town recreation departments and libraries may offer cooking classes.

TRACYS@Gannett.com

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