Upon arrival at the 42nd Food & Wine Classic this past weekend, my first impression was how stunningly beautiful Aspen is. The manicured ski hills of summer are so green and meticulously groomed, they look like a vertical golf course and a walk down Main Street is a gardener’s delight with planter boxes overflowing with plump hydrangeas and a walkway lined with peonies. And here I thought these flowers only existed at Trader Joe’s!
Hands down, Aspen is the cleanest city I’ve ever visited with the freshest air imaginable. No garbage, no graffiti, no … tent cities. One could argue the price point of Aspen dictates this high standard of living and that is undeniably true, but something else stood out to me above everything else – pride.
Whether a barista, landscaper, valet, bartender, concierge, waiter, or bus driver, everyone I encountered, every task completed by this service-centric population, was executed with pride. In the way Aspen(ites?) communicate with customers, how they carry themselves, and how they perform their jobs, they did so with pride.
Now that the backdrop has been set, (can you picture it?), add-in culinary sessions with world-renowned chefs and Grand Tastings, where hundreds of food and wine experts compete for attention by distributing culinary treats and cocktails over an acre of tents – it’s truly a Disneyland for adults.
Not only did I have the opportunity to watch and learn from masters in the field of food and wine (including Food Network stars, James Beard winners, best-selling cookbook authors, and acclaimed restaurant owners – some being all the aforementioned!), I got to meet them and ask questions. Every one; approachable, kind, and generous with their time and knowledge.
To be 100% transparent, I am not besties with any of these culinary masters (yet!), but I didn’t feel like a cheesy fan-girl asking for selfies either – even though that is EXACTLY who I am.
I am beyond excited to share what I learned with Antsy Nancy customers. We are introducing a 7-week cooking class lineup, inspired by the chefs and recipes introduced at Food & Wine Aspen 2025. These classes will be Wednesday nights: August 6-September 17 and an extension of our Celebrity Chef series that include recipes from Gordon Ramsay, Julia Childs, Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse, and Daniel Boulud.
If you love food and cooking, you will love learning the culinary skills and recipe trends showcased at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Here’s the upcoming lineup:
August 6: Giada De Laurentiis Cioppino and Orange Olive Oil Cake
August 13: Nyesha Arrington Corn Gnocchi with Tomato-Corn Chili Crisp
August 27: Tyler Florence French Denver Sole and Bananas Foster
September 3: Andrew Zimmern Singapore Chile Crab
September 10: Ayesha Nurdjaja Moroccan Spiced Tagine and Jeweled Couscous
September 17: Stephanie Izard This Little Piggy and Disco Fries
September 24: Martin Yan Wonton Soup and Dan Dan Noodles
About Antsy Nancy LLC:
Antsy Nancy provides “how to” skills classes for home, health, and happiness.
Master skills classes are designed for beginners with new DIY projects offered every month. Categories include Arts & Crafts, Cooking & Entertaining, Gardening & Landscaping, Holiday Projects, Home Decorating, and Health, Wellness & Beauty.
Expert instruction, tools and materials are all provided. Each class results in a new skill learned and a successful project for students to share with family and friends.