Now that the reality of a quick financial fix has gained dreamlike qualities, we need to brush up on our cooking skills. Cooking classes have been filling up quickly, but here are a few opportunities to combine the homefront with restaurant dining. You take a class from a restaurant chef and leave armed to tackle the stove you neglected during the boom years.

The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm in Lovettsville has a few reservations open for the “Cooking and Pairing with Wine” class on Saturday the 31st and the “Classic Sauce” cooking class on Saturday, February 21. In addition Chef Christian has several classes for children. Breakfast in bed, anyone?

Or head over to Fossett’s at Keswick Hall in Charlottesville

credit: Patowmack Farm

and get in the mood for Valentine’s Day with a cooking class on February 7th where you’ll learn how to prepare spice doughnuts, chocolate decadence, and oysters. Or wait until March 14th and hop aboard the Orient-Express as Chef Hartman prepares dishes from a number of sister properties in his tour of the gastronomic world.

Check the blog for new cooking class entries as more restaurants bridge the gap between dining in and dining out.