While art historians postulate that any emotion can be read into the Mona Lisa's mysterious smile, scientists have identified the glint in her eyes as simple lust for dairy products. Learn to artfully tantalize palates with today’s Groupon: for $87, you get a three-hour gelato-making class from Canady Le Chocolatier (a $175 value). Classes run at 1 p.m. every day except Wednesday.
Canady Le Chocolatier schools sweets lovers in the decadent art of fashioning the Italian alternative to ice cream during a three-hour gelato-making class. Led by owner Michael Canady, a class of five to seven chocolatiers-in-training dive into the course, learning the skills of modern gelato production as well as how to recognize and harvest it in the wild. After a discussion on techniques and a tasting, students get hands-on experience in the class kitchen, fashioning traditional gelato as well as gelato cakes and other desserts. After the course, students take home creations, giving friends and family members the chance to taste treats as decadent as a chocolate-covered model of Versailles.
Canady Le Chocolatier
Rich dark, milk, and white chocolates filled with ganaches, soft caramel, and fondant lie nestled inside Canady Le Chocolatier's gift boxes, and their hand-made thai parchment paper wrapping—imprinted with an orchid and soft-green leaf design—ensures that eager fingers unwrap the decadent chocolates with care. Once they're free of their delicate packaging, truffles and bonbons prepared for special occasions, such as holidays and gourmet food fights, flood mouths with creaminess.
Those who are too eager to wait for the treats to emerge from their wrappings can venture into the shop, where owner Michael Canady whisks together his own gelato with fresh fruit and natural ingredients and griddles a selection of sweet and savory crêpes. Canady even teaches people how to replicate his confections at home during hands-on classes for small groups.