When Michele Schulze was 4Β½ years old, she visited a now-closed restaurant in Manhattan β€” coincidentally named Michele’s β€” with her family.

β€œOur waiter, after we were done eating our lunch, said, β€˜How is everything?’” Schulze says. β€œAnd I said to him β€” not coaxing from my mother β€” I said, β€˜Please give my compliments to the chef.’”

The server went to grab Chef Michele, who asked 4Β½-year-old Schulze if she wanted to take a tour of the kitchen.

β€œThat 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 β€” 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.

β€œHaving 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. β€œBut 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 β€œfun-first learning,” with a chance that β€œwe 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.

β€œWe started with chefs we admire and have contributed in very unique ways β€” each in their own way β€” to the vibrant foodie scene that has evolved in Tucson,” Schulze says. β€œI 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.

β€œThey might not refer to themselves as legends, but Janos Wilder and Jonathan Landeen β€” these people who really taught us about fabulous food in Tucson β€” they’re still working on their craft and are a vibrant part of what’s happening in Tucson.”

Flying Aprons Tucson β€” which offers classes at Cook Tucson, a community kitchen on North Stone Avenue near East Elm Street β€” 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.

β€œI 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 β€” 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 β€œdeep 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 2Β½ 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.


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Contact reporter Gloria Knott at gknott@tucson.com or 573-4235. On Twitter: @gloriaeknott