Red Deer’s Cronquist House is presenting a cooking class and Christmas goodies over the coming weeks to usher in the busy holiday season.
On Thursday, members of the public are invited to Cooking with Peter Lao from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Festival Hall at 4214 58th St. Participants will learn from Cronquist’s own chef how to make sweet and sour pork, complimented by a flavoury side of mushroom fried rice.
The cost is $50 per person. Bring your own cutting board, sharp knife and apron.
Lao hopes to make the cooking classes a monthly affair.
There will also be a Victorian Christmas supper for the first time in the stately three-storey farmhouse overlooking Bower Ponds on Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
The meal will be a traditional feast of roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roast duck and sage and onion dressing, topped with mince pies and English sponge cake.
The cost is $40 per person. Seating is limited to 42.
“There will be entertainment. Father Christmas may make an appearance and the Victorian era was when Christmas crackers came out for the first time so those will be there,” said Delores Coghill, manager at the Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society.
Cronquist House’s annual International Christmas Tea kicks off at 1 p.m. on Dec. 3, featuring an array of diverse finger foods and desserts from Germany, the Philippines, El Salvador and many other locations.
There will also be an impressive selection of teas, as well as coffee, cappuccinos and hot cocoa. Admission is $10 per customer. According to Coghill, the events are crucial for future business.
“Cronquist House has been staying open longer: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“By the end of this month, if we don’t get more people coming, we will have to stop that,” she said.
“We’re losing money every day with the longer hours. We’re not trying to make money but we’re trying to stay on top of paying for the house and now we’re dipping into our savings trying to keep it open more because we thought that was what people wanted.”
Sunday brunches are also slated to start in December.
“We may also be open in the evenings, if we get more people coming,” said Coghill.
To register or for more information on any of the events, contact the society at 403-346-0055.
rfrancoeur@www.reddeeradvocate.com