Convivium Cookbook Club: Salt, Acid, Fat, Heat

Join Chef Cena as she explores how balancing key ingredients is the secret to great cooking!

“Cooking is about teaching yourself how to feel, not just how to follow instructions.” In this session of Convivium’s Cookbook Club, we’ll gather in the kitchen to cook, learn, and share a meal together using recipes from Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat. This class is led by Convivium Urban Farmstead’s Culinary Resource Director, Chef Cena. As a group, we’ll prepare and enjoy a shared meal inspired by this modern classic, exploring how balance and technique shape great cooking. Instruction, ingredients, and recipes are provided; participants are welcome to bring their own copy of the book, though it is not required. Designed for cooks of all experience levels, this class emphasizes intuition, confidence, and the pleasure of cooking and eating together.

MENU

FAT: Ligurian Focaccia and Basil Pesto

SALT: Cacio e Pepe

ACID: Bright Herb Salad and Persian-ish Rice

HEAT: Buttermilk-Marinated Roast Chicken

Instructor Cena Sharp, Convivium Urban Farmstead’s Culinary Resource Director*, is a talented chef and a true force of nature. Whether she’s leading one of her many cooking classes, processing harvests in the training kitchen, or gearing up for her next Lunch and Learn, Cena brings energy, enthusiasm, and a passion for sharing everything she knows about food.

She began her culinary career at the age of sixteen and went on to serve as executive chef in two kitchens. Along the way, she also earned a bachelor’s degree in history—a field she loves to intertwine with food in her engaging Lunch and Learn presentations.

Cena is an avid traveler, having explored Italy, Greece, France, and many parts of the U.S. Her travels continually inspire her creativity and deepen her appreciation for global cuisine. When she’s not at Convivium, Cena enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their four children: Dominic, Fiona, Evolette, and Sylvia.

*Culinary Resource Director position funded in part by a grant from the DRA.

SLIDING SCALE

Convivium is a nonprofit committed to helping increase accessibility to the tools and knowledge of how to grow and prepare your own food. As part of this commitment, and in pursuit of a more wholesome and secure food experience for all, Convivium is now offering most of our classes on a sliding scale.

The sliding scale system allows for classes to be obtained at multiple price points, based on the circumstances of the participant. It allows folks who may otherwise be priced out of something to have the chance to take part in it.

How it works

When completing your registration, please self-select from the following three payment levels:

• Contributor: The contributor level is a pay-what-you-can option that allows you to do just that – pay what you are able to for the class, at this time. Please note there is a $5 minimum per the Eventbrite platform. If this minimum, or paying with a credit card, is a barrier, please call us at 563.557.2900.
• Supporter: The supporter level is the normal ticket price of this class. It covers all the supplies and materials needed, as well as the instructor fee.
• Sustainer: The sustainer level is a buy-one, give-one model that covers the complete cost of your class plus a small donation that helps supplement the cost of a Contributor level participant. By choosing this level, you are ensuring we can continue to offer this class in a way that is accessible and affordable to all – thank you for your generosity.

REFUND POLICY

Convivium Urban Farmstead has a no refund policy for all classes and workshops. If you are unable to participate in the class after you registered, your fee will be donated to our pay-what-you-can sliding scale level, which helps to ensure our classes are accessible and affordable to all. However, if Convivium cancels or reschedules a class for any reason (weather, instructor illness, etc.), participants will be notified as early as possible by email and their registration will automatically be refunded by Eventbrite. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your cooperation.

Minimum Enrollment Policy

If fewer than six participants are registered for an event, Convivium reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the event.

The cut off time for cancellation due to low attendance will be one day before the scheduled date of the class. We will email and post cancellation notices on Facebook.

Inclement Weather Cancellation Policy

We will refer to the State Police website and road condition designations: https://511ia.org/. If the majority of the roads in Dubuque are designated “Travel not advised” (purple) or worse, we will cancel class.

The cut off time for cancellation will be one hour before the start of each class. We will email and post cancellation notices on Facebook.