Kitchen Skills to Go

So, what’s cookin’?

That’s a familiar question at the HomeChef Kitchen Store & Cooking School in Fashion Island Newport Beach. The shop sells cookware, cutlery, tools, spices and other stuff. But its chefs also give pointers on how to prepare foods--everything from tamales to sushi--to the dozens who enroll in the classes.

Students arrive with varying skills.

Many know their way around a recipe but want to hone their culinary talents with a pro, such as Orange County chef-instructor C. Tracy Davis. Others admit they’re hopeless or have little experience in the kitchen but have always wanted to be handy with a wok or whisk.

The courses are always hands-on, says Loren Lipsitz, a spokeswoman for HomeChef. Makes sense; how can you cook without getting intimate with all those veggies, meats and spices? During a recent class, students were up to their wrists in dough, whipping up some from-scratch pasta.

Courses are held regularly. The 12-week “Essential Cooking” series costs $389, with individual courses for $45. Information: (949) 718-0114.