The DMV Cooking Circle

Cook together. Learn from each other. Eat very well.

There's no shortage of foodie groups in the DMV, but most are about eating out. This group is about cooking at home, together, in the kitchen.

We're a small circle (10–15 members) of home cooks who love the craft of cooking: the technique, the ingredients, the traditions behind a dish, and the satisfaction of getting it just right. You don't need to be a professional. But you should be comfortable in the kitchen, and ideally you'll have a specialty you'd enjoy sharing: a regional cuisine, a family tradition, knife skills or a technique you're particularly proud of ... anything you've spent time getting good at.

How it works
We meet about once a month, starting as soon as we have a quorum of members. Each gathering centers on a dish or cuisine, usually led by a member who knows it well. We plan the menu together, with one 'star' dish, then divide up the cooking, and work side by side. Along the way we swap techniques, stories, and tips. Then we sit down and enjoy what we made.

Where
We'll start in my home kitchen in Bethesda, which is large and well equipped. Members with suitable kitchens are welcome to host too. Addresses are shared with confirmed attendees only.

A bit about me
I'm Frank, and I write Memorie di Angelina (memoriediangelina.com), a blog about traditional Italian home cooking with a focus on Rome and southern Italy. I love sharing what I know, but I'm even more excited to learn from cooks with expertise in other cuisines and techniques!

This group is a good fit if you:
Cook regularly and confidently, and love doing it
Enjoy both teaching and learning
Like cooking as a shared, hands-on activity, not just a meal
Are happy to pitch in on planning, shopping, and cleanup

Note: Members with dietary restrictions are very welcome. We cook across all cuisines and traditions, and some menus will inevitably include meat, fish, dairy and eggs. We'll share each menu in advance so you can decide which gatherings suit you. And some sessions, including those you might want to host, will naturally be meatless.

Joining
Because we're keeping the group small and hands-on, we ask prospective members to answer a few questions about their cooking. There are no wrong answers. We just want to get to know you and make sure the group is a good match.

I'm reviewing each request personally, since I'd like to build a group with a good balance of experience and interests, so approvals may take a little time. Please don't read a delay as a lack of interest. I'm glad you're here and will get to everyone as soon as I can!