'Guest Chef' dinners, cooking classes at local eateries

Chef Hector Minon will serve as ‘Guest Chef’ on a few upcoming evenings at two Fallbrook restaurants – Trupiano’s Italian Bistro and Le Bistro.

Minon will prepare a special six-course dinner for each evening.

The special dinner events will be March 3 and April 7 at Le Bistro and March 25 and April 29 at Trupiano’s.

Minon will also teach cooking classes at Trupiano’s beginning in March. During the demonstration-style classes, Minon will show the preparation of a dinner and share his techniques with those in attendance.

The classes will begin on March 17 and be held once a week from 6 to 8 p.m. Minon will prepare a three-course meal (appetizer, main dish and dessert) at each session, which will carry a unique theme.

The first class will be “A Trip to Sicily” (Italian food) and include the preparation of appetizer Pizza a la Palermitana (Palermo Sicily Style), main dish Penne Pasta with Eggplant and Cannoli for dessert.

Future classes will include “Flamenco Night” (Spanish food), and “Tango Night” (food from Argentina), said Minon. “At the end of each session we will all enjoy the food together.”

Minon said in addition to the demonstration, he will provide the recipes to each dish and also give attendees tips on safety in the kitchen and more.

Individual classes will vary in cost from $25 to $35 per person, depending on the expense of the ingredients needed.

Minon, with a great deal of experience in French, Italian, and Argentine cooking, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He began helping his grandmother in the kitchen, making fresh pasta, when he was only 6 years old.

By his late teens, he was well into experimenting with a variety of dishes.

Two years ago, he published his first cookbook, “Dishes a’la Mignon.” (Mignon is the original spelling of his family name).

To make reservations for the special Guest Chef dinners at Trupiano’s Italian Bistro, call (760) 728-0200. For those being held at Le Bistro, call (760) 723-3559.

For more information or to sign up for one of the classes, call Chef Minon at (760) 685-8355.