Like a favorite recipe that had been stuck on the shelf, the Historic Artcraft Theatre is bringing back a popular event from its past and giving it new flavor.
The theater will host the Artcraft Cooking School at 7 p.m. Thursday, bringing talented local chefs to the stage to showcase their skills. Guest chefs Brian Mendenhall, a culinary arts instructor at Central Nine Career Center, and Charles Bryant, executive chef at Grafton Peek, will be fixing impressive yet approachable dishes live, while offering tips and suggestions for updating your own kitchen. Proceeds from ticket sales go to benefit the Artcraft.
A VIP experience gives attendees a chance to meet the chefs, as well as receive exclusive swag, while a raffle will be available to win a quarter cow of beef and a freezer to store it in.
“We were looking at how much people used to cook at home, and then we got away from that for a while,” said Dave Windisch, director of marketing for the Historic Artcraft Theatre. “It feels like we’re back at a culture that likes to cook a lot again. Why not give an opportunity for a bunch of people to enjoy themselves and learn some recipes.”
The Cooking School is a throwback to a longtime tradition at the Artcraft. In the early and mid-20th century, the theater would often host live cooking schools, sharing tips with local housewives while offering the latest appliances to help in their own homes.
An ad from the Franklin Evening Star on Feb. 23, 1929, declared, “The lecture and demonstrations are conducted by Marybelle Dobbins, a nationally known home economics instructor. You will find the school highly entertaining and instructive.” The same ad touted an offer from Maytag offering free trials of their washing machines.
Another newspaper article on Nov. 19, 1938, described the record-breaking crowd at a cooking school, as about 1,300 women attended.
“Cooking schools were a common thing in the ’30s and ’40s, not just here but across the country,” Windisch said. “Retailers would pair up with auditoriums and theaters to show off their products.”
The Artcraft cooking schools made a comeback in the 2010s, in a series of events partnering with the Taste of Home organization. Expert chefs shared cooking tips while demonstrating step-by-step recipes on stage.
But when Taste of Home transitioned to more virtual events, Artcraft organizers moved in a different direction.
“We wanted to bring it back. It was really popular and we had a lot of fun with it,” said Krista Linke, a member of the Franklin Heritage board who helped organize the event. “We decided to follow that format and do it on our own.”
Organizers reached out to Mendenhall and Bryant to bring their personal flair to the stage, while sharing their own expertise in the kitchen.
“I’ve seen the recipes, and they don’t look intimidating. You see the pictures, and think there’s no way you can make that. But then looking at the steps, you realize you can do it,” Windisch said.
Prior to the event, a VIP experience starting at 5 p.m., including a meet and greet gathering at Main & Madison Market Cafe with the chefs, preferred seating at the Artcraft, an event t-shirt, lanyard, and popcorn/drink voucher at the event.
Plus, the raffle for a quarter-cow and a freezer will hopefully generate some excitement.
“It’s a different kind of event. You can bring your friends, bring your family. You get the program, you get the recipes,” Linke said. “It should be a lot of fun.”
IF YOU GO
The Artcraft Cooking School
What: A one-night event featuring chefs Brian Mendenhall and Charles Bryant preparing food on stage and offering tips for attendees in their own kitchens.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: The Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St., Franklin
Cost: Advance tickets are on sale $30 public, $25 for Franklin Heritage/Artcraft members. Day-of-event ticket prices increase to $35 public, $30 for Franklin Heritage/Artcraft members. All attendees will receive the Cooking School recipes from the chefs — plus a bag filled with great local goodies.
Other attractions: A VIP experience costing $75 starts at 5 p.m. and includes a meet and greet gathering at Main & Madison Market Cafe with the chefs, preferred seating at the Artcraft, an event t-shirt, lanyard, and popcorn/drink voucher at the event. A raffle will also be held, with one winner will win a quarter cow and a freezer.
Information: historicartcrafttheatre.org/cookingschool23