If you're interested in having Pastoral teach a private or off-site class event, please e-mail catering@pastoralartisan.com

Here is an example of last year's classes

Cheese 101 (Lakeview)
Tuesday, April 13: 7:30 PM, $40 per person
Do you want to know more about cheese? Does a visit to the cheese counter make you dizzy? Then join resident cheese expert Alison Olewnik as she covers cheese basics. Learn about the different milk types, styles, and cheese regions of the world. You will develop a vocabulary to make every visit to the cheese shop a success, and all your cheese plates a show stopper.

Advanced France (Loop)
Saturday, April 17: 6:30 PM, $45 per person
To many, Pastoral is a Francophile’s dream come true. This is because France is often referred to as the spiritual home of cheese and wine. Join resident fromager Cesar Olivares as he takes France apart by region. Travel from Champagne to Burgundy, from Burgundy to Bordeaux and over to the French Pyrenees, and discover the classic cheeses and wines of this country while getting to the bottom of what the French call "terroir".

Craft Beer, Charcuterie & Cheese (Lakeview)
Tuesday, April 20: 7:30 PM, $45 per person
At Pastoral we are always asked, "What pairs well with this?” It’s time we share our secret that beer is much easier to pair with meat and cheese than some wines. Don’t get us wrong, we love wine too, but for this class we give you another option for your perfect pairing needs. Beer buyer Xian Choy will walk you through the beer varieties of the world and the cheeses and meats that love them.

A Match Made in Heaven (Loop)
Saturday, April 24: 6:30 PM, $45 per person
There are many well-known pairings in both the traditional old world and in exciting newer regions. Join resident sommelier Jamie Kluz as she showcases some of these beloved pairings. Analyze the relationship between Sancerre and goat cheese, Port and Stilton, and many more. Get answers to your frequently asked questions. How did these pairings come to be? Why do they work? What are successful alternatives if one or the other is unavailable or too expensive? You’ll know after attending this class.

Goat Cheese & Wine (Lakeview)
Tuesday, April 27: 7:30 PM, $40 per person
Goat cheese got a bad reputation during the 70's due to the lack of quality product on the market. Now we have access to goat cheese in every style. Did you know that goat cheese can be creamy, crumbly, aged, a cheddar, or a blue? Join fromager Cesar Olivares as Pastoral welcomes the first fresh goat cheeses of the season. Taste through goat cheeses from all over the world and the wines that make them shine.

Made in the USA (Loop)
Saturday, May 1: 6:30 PM, $45 per person
What do Virginia, Idaho, Nebraska, and Indiana all have in common? They are home to some of the finest cheeses made in the country. Food culture in the United States has changed so much in the last 20 years that we have quality cheeses and wines being made by hand all over the country. Join fromager Cesar Olivares as we venture out of California and Wisconsin to discover some of the artisan gems in the great U. S. of A.

Bubbles, Cheese & Chocolate (Lakeview)
Tuesday, May 4: 7:30 PM, $45 per person
Who doesn’t love sparkling wine, cheese, and chocolate? Explore some of the most coveted foods in the world and learn how they all came to be so well known and loved. Resident fromager Cesar Olivares will take you on a world tour of some of the best producers of these sinful treats. Just in time for an early Mother’s Day celebration, hint hint.

Artisans of the Midwest (Loop)
Saturday, May 8: 6:30 PM, $40 per person
The Midwest has carved a great place for itself as a producer of artisan cheese. In the last eight years the American Cheese Society has named five Midwestern cheeses the best cheeses in the United States (5 out of 8 is pretty darn impressive). Join resident cheese expert Alison Olewnik as she features some of our favorite artisans in our own backyard.

For the Love of Pinks & Whites (Lakeview)
Tuesday, May 11: 7:30 PM, $40 per person
By this time in Chicago we have made it through some pretty rough weather. It is now time to embrace the heat and enjoy some easy summer sippers. The spring and summer are when white wine lovers flourish and people who "only drink red" might not be as happy. At Pastoral, we challenge you to look past the red. Join resident sommelier Jamie Kluz as we dispel the myth of "white zin" and explore the famous white varietals enjoyed all over the world.

Wine 102 (Loop)
Saturday, May 15: 6:30 PM, $40 per person
So you know your light bodied reds from your full bodied reds, your oaked whites from your crisp light ones, and now we invite you to take it a step further. Join resident sommelier Jamie Kluz as she explains the top six grapes grown in the world: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Learn the spiritual origins of these varietals, where they are being grown, and all the shapes and forms they can take today.

Beer 101 (Lakeview)
Tuesday, May 18: 7:30 PM, $40 per person
Do you know your ales from your lagers, and your saisons from your stouts? Quality beer has taken center stage in recent years, and here at Pastoral, we are embracing it with open arms. With a history that takes us from the monks of ancient Europe to the micro breweries all over the United States, join beer buyer Xian Choy as he takes us through the ancient art of beer, and taste what’s brewing in the kettles of American craft brewers and small breweries all over the globe.

Pairing 101 (Loop)
Saturday, May 22: 6:30 PM, $40 per person
Some folks understand a little about wine and some folks know a bit about cheese, but the intersection of the two is vexing to many of us. One of our customers’ favorites, this class provides you with the rules of thumb for successfully pairing cheese and wine. Is there such thing as a bad pairing? Find out in this experimental and informative class taught by resident cheese expert Alison Olewnik.

Masters of the Mediterranean (Lakeview)
Tuesday, May 25: 7:30 PM, $40 per person
Forever Cheese, Inc. debuted in 1998 to meet the increasing need for Mediterranean products in the United States. They are now sourcing the highest quality, most unique, and genuine products from Spain, Italy, and Portugal and making them available at stores like Pastoral. Michele Buster plays a major role in hand-selecting these products and has partnered with us to get them in your home. Join Michele as she gives us insight on some of these products and helps us understand how quality fine products from the Mediterranean make it from farm to table.