Love cooking but want to take it up a notch? Maybe you’ve nailed the basics, but you’re ready to level up your kitchen game without making things complicated. That’s exactly what we’ll be doing at Big Raven Farm’s Cooking Retreat with Darin Warling (April 3-6, 2025).
This isn’t some high-pressure cooking class where you get judged on your knife skills. Nope—this is a laid-back, hands-on, fun-filled weekend where you’ll learn some seriously awesome techniques that make a huge difference in the kitchen. Think killer homemade pasta, melt-in-your-mouth steak, and ice cream that tastes better than anything from the store.
Plus, there’s optional yoga, time to relax, and plenty of laughs. Bring a friend, your partner, or just yourself and get ready for a weekend full of great food, good vibes, and zero stress.
Ready for a sneak peek? Here are Darin’s top five gourmet cooking tips—all of which you’ll get to try at the retreat.
1. Sous Vide Cooking: Your Secret Weapon for Perfect Meals
Ever wonder how fancy restaurants get their steaks just right? Sous vide is the secret! This technique sounds high-tech, but it’s actually super easy—just vacuum-seal your food, drop it in a water bath, and let science do its thing.
The result? Meat that’s juicy, tender, and never overcooked. Plus, you can use it for everything from veggies to eggs to desserts (yes, really). At the retreat, Darin will walk you through the basics and show you how to use sous vide at home—no Michelin stars required.
2. Fresh Ingredients Make Everything Taste Better
You don’t need fancy techniques if you start with great ingredients. Fresh, high-quality food just tastes better—plain and simple. The right tomatoes make a sauce sing, fresh herbs wake up any dish, and good butter? Game-changer.
At the retreat, you’ll learn how to spot the best ingredients, store them properly, and use them to make everyday meals amazing. Bonus: Darin has some tricks for making even grocery store finds taste like they came straight from the farm.
3. Homemade Staples = Instant Flavor Boost
You know what makes a meal go from “pretty good” to “OMG, this is incredible”? Fresh, homemade staples. We’re talking:
🍨 Ice cream and sorbet that tastes better than anything from the freezer aisle
🧈 Butter and yogurt that will blow your mind (and are super easy to make)
🍝 Fresh pasta that turns a basic dinner into something special
🥗 Dressings and sauces that make you want to eat salad (yes, really)
At the retreat, we’ll whip up all of the above, plus more, so you can start making these flavor-packed staples at home with ease.
4. Keep an Eye on Freshness—Your Taste Buds Will Thank You
Nothing kills a great meal faster than stale spices, wilted greens, or mystery meat that’s been in the freezer too long. Keeping track of what’s fresh and what’s past its prime is one of the easiest ways to make your cooking better instantly.
Darin will show you simple ways to:
✅ Know when ingredients are at their best
✅ Store food properly so it lasts longer
✅ Use up what you have before it goes bad (hello, zero-waste cooking!)
It’s all about making sure everything you cook with is at peak deliciousness.
5. Meal Planning = More Fun, Less Stress
We get it—meal planning sounds boring. But when you do it right, it actually gives you MORE freedom in the kitchen. It means fewer last-minute “What’s for dinner?” panics and more delicious, stress-free meals on the table.
Darin’s meal planning approach is all about:
🍽 Maximizing your ingredients so nothing goes to waste
🌎 Exploring new flavors and recipes without feeling overwhelmed
🕒 Making cooking easier and more fun—because food should be enjoyable, not a chore
At the retreat, we’ll map out a meal plan that works for real life—no spreadsheets required.
Come Cook, Eat, and Relax With Us!
This retreat isn’t just about learning fancy cooking tricks—it’s about having a blast, eating amazing food, and getting inspired in the kitchen.
What you’ll get:
✅ Hands-on cooking sessions with Chef Darin Warling
✅ Optional daily yoga to stretch it out before feasting
✅ Plenty of downtime to relax, explore, and soak in the scenery
✅ A fun weekend away with like-minded food lovers
So if you love good food, great company, and learning new things in a chill, no-pressure environment, this retreat is for you!