June Taylor marmalade class.

[soyarra]

I took this class this past weekend in Berkeley and I have to say it was one of the most delightful, informative experiences I've had in my culinary career. Ms. Taylor is an artist and a terrific, generous teacher, and her Still Room kitchen is a marvel - bright, beautifully organized and a pleasure to work in. She takes the class through the entire process of making an artisanal marmalade out of organic fruit and sugar, from very precise prep through jarring the product. In between each step she regales the students with the history of marmalade and with anecdotes about her career, her relationships with local citrus growers and the genesis of some of her products.

The class takes five hours and was worth every penny and the drive north from LA. She includes tastings of commercial and small-kitchen produced marmalades, including her own (for comparison's sake, and none measure up to her level) and some of her other amazing products (infused syrups, fruit cheeses, candied citrus peel, etc.). It was so great to watch such an artist in action, someone who obviously loves what she does and is committed to crafting some of the best marmalades and conserves in the country, using the best ingredients available and combining them into unusual and delicious flavors and textures.

Be warned: at the end of the class you'll want to spend tons of money on her products (she does give a 10% discount to those taking the class). Everything is highly addictive, particularly the Seville orange marmalade, which is literally the best I've ever tasted, hands down (tart, sweet, slightly bitter, highly aromatic, and literally the essence of fresh orange).

I can't wait to take her summer conserve classes!

June Taylor Still Room
2207 4th Street
Berkeley CA 94710
510-548-2236
junetaylorjams.com

[rabaja]

I took her jam making class last summer and enjoyed it just as much.
June is a serious joy to be around.
I had really wanted to take this marmalade class as well, but it snuck up on me and I missed it!
I will have to go pick up some of the seville marmalade to make it through until next year, thanks for the reminder.
Did you try any of her fruit cheese?
I also love the snacks she put out, makes me want to have candied peel everytime I have cheese and bread now.

[soyarra]

Yes, she put out the quince cheese. Seriously terrific with the blue cheese wedge she had out for snack time. Very concentrated and somewhat unlike Spanish membrillo, but delicious.

Now I wish I'd bought four of the Seville orange marmalades instead of the six flavors I bought - all great, but the Seville orange is beyond sublime (June calls it the "queen of marmalades").