After Dark at All Saints-A Month of Learning

Wes Stepp, executive chef at Red Sky in Duck and creator of Tastefully Fit at an After Dark class in 2016.
Wes Stepp, executive chef at Red Sky in Duck and creator of Tastefully Fit at an After Dark class in 2016.

For anyone thinking there is nothing to do on the Outer Banks in the winter, may we present After Dark at All Saints—that’s All Saints Episcopal Church in Southern Shores.

This is the ninth year for the month long event and what is offers are evening classes on everything from gourmet cooking to planning for retirement. The After Dark classes are a great opportunity to learn a little something that there never seems to be time to study.

Some classes have already filled up, so check out what’s available and spend an evening in education.

For a full list of classes, click here. There’s also registration information on the website.

Here’s a small sampling of classes that are offered.

Cooking

PORK BELLY TACOS

Friday, Feb 3

Enjoy the kitchen creativity of Executive Chef MATT PAYNE as he prepares the Bad Bean Baja Grill’s Pork Belly Taco! Students will learn how this popular pork cut is prepared, and then savor its taste with flavorful accompaniments. Space is limited to 20 with an additional fee of $5.

CLASS 815 – CAJUN SAUSAGE BREAD

Thursday, Feb 9

Are you ready to make a New Orleans treat with just the right touch of spiciness that can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner? How about an appetizer that your family and friends will rave about? Join ARLINE ARNOLD for a fun and tasty evening in the kitchen. Class size is limited to 10 with an additional fee of $10.

Friday, Feb 24

WES STEPP, owner and Executive Chef of the Red Sky restaurant in Duck, believes gourmet food can be not only delicious, but healthy as well! Join Chef Wes for a special evening and learn from this experienced Outer Banks restaurateur how to create gourmet food in a healthy style.  Space is limited to 20 with an additional fee of $10.

ARTS, FLOWERS, CRAFTS & HOBBIES

CLASS 829 and CLASS 830 – SURF FISHING – Two Separate Classes

Tuesday Feb 7 & Class 830, Tuesday, Feb 14

STU BALDWIN, Past President of the OBX Anglers Club, will share his experience and know-how learned over 40 years, with over 30 years in competitive surf fishing! There are two classes to choose from.  Surf Fishing 101 (#829) is made easy for the family and will cover equipment, knot tying, bait and equipment choices, and how to read a beach.  Surf Fishing 202 (#830) is for the experienced angler and will cover advanced techniques in fishing for Reds, Specs, and Flounder plus equipment, rigging and bait choices. Class size is limited to 18 in each.

CLASS 823A – DRAWING BIRDS and FEATHERS

Tuesday, Feb 14

Join renowned local artist E.M. CORSA for an evening of drawing birds and feathers! Corsa is known for her paintings of Air Angels, birds with halos. Attendees at this class should bring a sketchpad and drawing tools of their choosing – pencils, pens, and/or markers – as well as one or more pictures of birds. Class size is limited to 8.

GENERAL INTEREST

CLASS 878 – WINE 101

Thursday, Feb 3

Join Chef and Certified Level II Sommelier DAN LEWIS of Coastal Provisions for a crash course on wine. The class will be packed with information from how wine is made, regional characteristics, and food pairings, to deciphering labels and restaurant wine lists.  Best of all, you will taste while you discover.  Plan on having dinner before class –it’s a “big agenda!” Class size is limited to 24 students with an additional fee of $10 for supplies.

CLASS 852 – BLIND DATE BOOK CLUB

Wednesday, Feb 8

JAMIE ANDERSON, bookseller at Duck’s Cottage and Downtown Books in Manteo, eats, lives and breathes books and loves introducing readers to books they otherwise might never have discovered. The $10 fee covers the cost of the book, which will be delivered to All Saints for pick-up. This could be the best (and least stressful!) blind date you ever had! There is an additional fee of $10.

Outer Banks Evening Entertainment

Rob Robinson (front) and Matt Payne demonstrating the cuisine of Mexico.
Rob Robinson (front) and Matt Payne demonstrating the cuisine of Mexico.

After Dark at All Saints is a reminder of how wonderful winter can be on the Outer Banks. There is nothing earth shattering or headline making about what happens throughout the month of February at the Episcopal Church in Southern Shores—it’s just community at its best.

Started seven years ago as a way to bring the church to the community and the community to the church, After Dark has grown into a marvelous month-long offering of classes in cooking, wine and beer tasting, art, healthy living and more.

Stu Baldwin offers two courses in surf-fishing—beginning and advanced; the staff of Trio in Kitty Hawk is on hand for wine tasting, beer tasting and an evening of “Discovering North Carolina Cheeses”; this is the time to learn about reflexology or the history of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse.

The most popular classes by far are the cooking classes, and those fill up almost right away. Wes Stepp from Red Sky Cafe teaches an evening class based on his Healthy Gourmet menu; Rob Robinson and Matt Payne of Bad Bean and Baja Grill are on hand to demonstrate the cuisine of Mexico. There are dessert preparations and seafood demos—all classes, unfortunately filled . . . although there is always next year.

Classes are just $20, and there are still some openings. The net proceeds after expenses—mostly printing costs—are all donated back to the community. Through last year over $60,000 had been given to five local organizations: Interfaith Community Outreach, Food For Thought, Community Care Clinic, Beach Food Pantry, and Room in the Inn.

A great way to spend a winter evening, gaining a little bit of knowledge and all for a good cause.