A Night in Spain… in Denver
The Tax Retreat was such a blast! One of the highlights of the #TaxRetreat is that on the first day, we all select from a list of different restaurants and get paired with other people who selected that restaurant. This time, we added a cooking class for dinner. I have to say, it was very fun and I can’t wait to do it again next year. So, after a full day at the Tax Retreat in Denver, a group of us decided to swap spreadsheets for spatulas and headed to Cook Street School of Culinary Arts for their Culinary Date Night: Spain class.
Our crew included Kevin Roberts-Roppa, Laura Crean, Elizabeth Ruh, Sharon Harvey, and me. Cook Street paired everyone up at stations of two. Since we had five, I was partnered with another guest who wasn’t part of our group. She was there with her daughter and son-in-law—and, as it turned out, she was also from Austin! We hit it off immediately, spending the evening cooking, laughing, and trading stories about food back home.
Learning the Ropes
We kicked things off with a demo from the teaching chef, who was not only skilled but also really entertaining. He walked us through how to trussle and sear pork on all four sides. After we each gave it a try, the kitchen staff whisked the pork away to finish roasting while we enjoyed a drink.
Next up: croquettes. We were told to make them any size we liked, but we all settled on about six each—perfect for three generous bites apiece. Sitting down to enjoy them felt like a little Spanish tapas moment before the main course.
The Meal
The pork came back out perfectly cooked, juicy, and full of flavor. Paired with the croquettes, it felt less like a class and more like a dinner party where we got to do some of the cooking ourselves.
The Experience
What I loved most wasn’t just learning to make new dishes—it was sharing the experience. Laura and Kevin teamed up, Elizabeth and Sharon were partners, and I got the chance to connect with a fellow Austinite over food. We laughed, swapped cooking stories, and learned a few tricks we can bring back to our own kitchens.
It was the perfect reminder of how food brings people together—whether you’re at home, traveling, or at a tax retreat in Denver.
Cheers!
