It seems I was one of the last of my friends to experience Vanessa's cooking classes. I have learned the hard way that it is easy to learn cooking techniques, but only if you have a great teacher. Most chefs can make a good dish; only a few can teach you to do the same. Vanessa belongs to this class of chefs. I've learned much about Italian and Chinese cuisine and technique from her. As for learning knife skills, she's second-to-none. Just great workshops!