When Michele Schulze was 4½ years old, she visited a now-closed restaurant in Manhattan — coincidentally named Michele’s — with her family.
“Our waiter, after we were done eating our lunch, said, ‘How is everything?’” Schulze says. “And I said to him — not coaxing from my mother — I said, ‘Please give my compliments to the chef.’”
The server went to grab Chef Michele, who asked 4½-year-old Schulze if she wanted to take a tour of the kitchen.
“That experience, and growing up with a mother who was a fabulous home cook, really instilled a love for food and that we show love through food,” Schulze says.
Fast-forward many years and Schulze, with business partner Miriam Nickerson, opened a cooking school this month in Tucson — a longtime dream of Schulze’s.
Flying Aprons Tucson offers cooking and baking classes taught by local chefs hailing from Tucson’s many beloved restaurants.
“Having been one who goes out to eat often, I felt like I knew the chefs through the food, but I didn’t know them,” Schulze says. “But being a curious person and a former journalist, wouldn’t it be great if you could take a class from Ryan Clark or Carlotta Flores or Brian Smith? From chefs we know to new chefs.”
Schulze says the school is “fun-first learning,” with a chance that “we don’t currently have in town to interact with these fabulous chefs.”
Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino del Sol, teaches couples how to cook a three-course meal. Flying Aprons classes are held at Cook Tucson, a community kitchen at 1702 N. Stone Ave.
Instructors on the roster for February and March are: Annie Berube of CopCake Cakery; Ryan Clark of Casino Del Sol; Jim Murphy and Marianne Banes of Kingfisher; Kyle Nottingham of Prep & Pastry, August Rhodes Market and Commoner & Co.; Brian Smith of Maynards Market & Kitchen; Maria Mazon of BOCA Tacos y Tequila; Carolyn O’Connor of Ceres Pasta + Bread; and Kayla Draper of Prep & Pastry.
The school will highlight other Tucson chefs as future class schedules roll out.
“We started with chefs we admire and have contributed in very unique ways — each in their own way — to the vibrant foodie scene that has evolved in Tucson,” Schulze says. “I think there are chefs like Carlotta Flores, Jim Murphy and Marianne Banes who really started to set the tone for Tucson to become a (UNESCO) City of Gastronomy.
“They might not refer to themselves as legends, but Janos Wilder and Jonathan Landeen — these people who really taught us about fabulous food in Tucson — they’re still working on their craft and are a vibrant part of what’s happening in Tucson.”
Flying Aprons Tucson — which offers classes at Cook Tucson, a community kitchen on North Stone Avenue near East Elm Street — also has a James Beard award winner on board with the addition of Culinary Director Jennifer English.
Classes are offered to adults and children as young as 7.
Stephanie Bretzer whisks a vinaigrette while her husband, Joel Adams, adds olive oil to the mixture during a class taught by Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino del Sol.
“I think when you learn about how to eat healthy and learn where your food comes from and the joy behind making food for people you love — we’re hoping that sets kids and teens on an important path,” Schulze says.
The school plans to offer boot camps, which Schulze describes as “deep dives” into specific subjects, like gluten-free baking or how to braise meat. She expects boot camps to run two to five days, working with the same chef.
Special events, parties and team building exercises can also be booked. And kids summer camps are in the works.
Classes are about 2½ hours long and priced at $69 per person. Couples classes cost $130. Classes for kids and teens are $130, set up for one adult and one teen or child. Each additional teen can cook for $50.
Visit flyingapronstucson.com to register.
Photos: Tucson's new cooking school Flying Aprons Tucson
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Allie Cruce, left, laughs with her husband Britton Cruce after giving him a bite of their Ice Cream Profiteroles during a couples cooking class, taught by Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Stephanie Bretzer, left, whisks the vinaigrette while her husband Joel Adams, right, adds olive oil to the mixture during a couples cooking class, taught by Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Chef Ryan Clark, center, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, teaches couples how to cook a three-course meal during a couples cooking class, taught by Clark, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Chef Ryan Clark, left, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, helps participants Jessica Scott, center, and Allie Cruce add Thyme and Mint to their salad dish during a couples cooking class, taught by Clark, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Chef Ryan Clark, right, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, teaches Cade Stephenson a cooking trick during a couples cooking class, taught by Clark, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Chef Ryan Clark, right, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, teaches couples how to cook Surf and Turf during a couples cooking class, taught by Clark, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Jeremy Gill, left, and his wife Shelley Gill, pick off pieces of thyme during a couples cooking class, taught by Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Patti Ota places pieces of fruit on top of her salad during a couples cooking class, taught by Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, pours while wine into the crab risotto during a couples cooking class, taught by Clark, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Joel Adams, center, fills his plate with Surf and Turf during a couples cooking class, taught by Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Jeremy Gill makes an Ice Cream Profiteroles for him and his wife Shelley Gill during a couples cooking class, taught by Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Shelley Gill places an egg mixture on top of a tartlet her and her husband, Jeremy Gill, made during a couples cooking class, taught by Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
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Joel Adams grills steak during a couples cooking class, taught by Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
Flying Apron Cooking Class
Updated
A mixture of blueberries, raspberries, black berries and sugar cook on the stove during a couples cooking class, taught by Chef Ryan Clark, executive chef at Casino Del Sol, at Cook Tucson, 1702 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on February 11, 2020. Couples made Humboldt Fog Cheese Tartlet, Surf and Turf and Ice Cream Profiteroles during the couples cooking class.
