Be My Valentine
Couples Valentine's Day Cooking Class
- February 14, 2024
- 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (Eastern Time)
- Class Capacity: 10 seats
- 10310 Southard Drive, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
Class Overview
Valentine's Day Menu
Surf & Turf | Roasted Winter Vegetables | Twice Baked Potatoes | Garlic Bread | Chocolate Lava Cake
Meet The Instructor
David Binkle
He recently served as the onsite Executive Chef Corporate R&D for Food Service Partners (FSP) at the Georgia International Food Center (GIFC) at Renaissance Park.
Dave is a Certified Executive Chef (CEC), Certified Executive Pastry Chef (CEPC), Certified Culinary Administrator (CCA) from the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and carries the highest Foodservice Management Professional (FMP) lifetime designation from the National Restaurant Association (NRA).
Cancellation Policy
All cooking class and event sales are final and non-refundable. Pizza University reserves the right to cancel a program. Should a class be cancelled due to inclement weather or other extenuating circumstances we will contact you by email or phone. A refund will be issued.
If you choose not to attend a class due to weather-related concerns, our standard cancellation policy applies. If we can help you sell your seats on your behalf and are able to do so, a credit for a future, scheduled cooking class will be issued.
Class Curriculum
8:30AM – Arrival at Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center – Light Breakfast
9:00AM – Introduction by Pizza University Founder and CEO Francesco Marra
9:30AM – Start Theory, Dough Chemistry
10:00AM – Dough Mixing (Pizza Napoletana)
11:00AM – Dough Stretching
12:00PM – Pizza Baking and Working Lunch
1:00PM – Dough Mixing (Neo-Neapolitan)
2:30PM – Understanding and Selecting Equipment
3:00PM – Partner Presentation
3:30PM – Q&A
8:30AM – Meet at Marra Forni Elkridge Facility – Marra Forni Factory Tour
9:30AM – Drive Back to Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center
10:00AM – Recap
10:30AM – Partner Presentation
12:00PM – Pizza Baking and Working Lunch
1:00PM – Theory and Dough Chemistry
2:00PM – Pizza Baking and Dough Evaluation
3:00PM – Dough Mixing ((NY-Style)
4:00PM – Q&A
9:00AM – Arrival at Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center – Light Breakfast
9:30AM – Recap
10:00AM – Dough Theory and Dough Chemistry
12:00PM – Pizza Baking and Working Lunch
1:00PM – Partner Presentation
1:30PM – Dough Stretching
2:00PM – Exam and Q&A
2:45PM – Interviews
3:15PM – Graduation and Certificate Presentation, Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Pizza University & Culinary Arts is located at 10310-A Southard Drive, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Please email info@pizzauniversity.org for requests to alter menus.
Please check our Terms & Conditions, including our cancelation and refund policy.
We will provide our students with a chef jacket, an apron, a binder with course-related material, and blank sheets of paper and a pen to take notes.
Feel free to wear something comfortable. Closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Please email info@pizzauniversity.org to receive hotel information.
Lowell Taylor2023-08-23PHENOMINAL
Jennifer Mannelli2023-07-30
Emily Lucio2023-07-30This was so much fun. Highly recommend for a group
Mark Brown2023-07-18I just finished Pizza University's 3-Day Intensive class “Bridging the World of Pizza from Italy to New York” taught by Maestro Leo Spizzirri, and it was truly something! The facility itself is top-notch, featuring a variety of high-end pizza ovens from Marra Forni, excellent kitchen space, an excellent support staff and all the pizza making materials you could ask for. Most of the students in my class were professional chefs and restaurant owners, but there were also a number of home cooks looking to up their pizza game. We also had a series of presentations and samplings from purveyors of pizza ingredients including manufacturers and importers of flours, tomato products, cheeses, and vinegars. It was something to sample half a dozen mozzarellas, several different ricottas, and a taste flight of more than a dozen Italian imported vinegars! But for me the real highlight was Master Pizzaiolo Chef Leo himself. He says if you were to cut him he'd bleed tomato sauce and mozzarella, and I believe it. He has a huge wealth of experience making pizza, and he really is great at explaining it -- he really wants you as his student to understand the fine details of the art of pizza making. We spent much of the three days just learning about how different flours, dough recipes and ingredients, oven temperatures, and dough mixing and handling techniques all come together to form a unique finished product. This course was pretty intense, but I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is seriously interested in pizza!
Cayton Flippen2023-07-12Great experience and learned so much from Chef Leo to open the pizza shop the best way I know how! The learning of dough has been great!
David Elo2023-06-19Great class, had tons of fun learning and refining my skills.
Lexington Vazquez2023-06-17So much in 3days but the way things are planned it's not overwhelming. Good team to help you and super informative for anyone who wants to learn about pizza or be in the business. Staff is also amazing super helpful, very informative. Looking to be back soon!
Jamie Twing2023-06-15What an incredible experience!!!! We just got back from such a fun and educational day battling coworkers during Pizza Wars! Great to see how far our skills improved over time. Chef Dave and the team were absolutely incredible. My entire team was sooo thankful and appreciative for the opportunity! Would love to visit again! Absolutely recommend!
ray N2023-06-14Great experience with a knowledgeable chef and staff at Marra Forni.
Grace Gilbertson2023-05-12What a fabulous educational experience! All 3 days were packed with information any pizza maker can use to start their journey or hone their existing crust.