Culinary Demonstration Class
Photos courtesy of Andrea Baumgardner
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
$85 member/$105 non-member, includes Arboretum admission plus all supplies and ingredients.
Registration coming soon.
Program location: Farm at the Arb - Kitchen Classroom (Myers Education Center)
Adult 18+
Class Overview:
Join Chef Beth Fisher for a special brunch with cookbook author Chef Andrea Baumgardner of Fargo’s beloved BernBaum’s Deli. Hear Andrea’s story firsthand and get a taste of the recipes, traditions and inspiration behind her celebrated Scandinavian-Jewish deli. Andrea is the author of BernBaum’s Cookbook: Recipes from Fargo’s Scandinavian-Jewish Deli, and you’ll have the opportunity to purchase a signed copy or bring your own for her to sign.
In this class, Andrea will demonstrate how to make her iconic bagels from scratch, from mixing and shaping the dough to boiling and baking. You’ll learn how to create a bagel-and-lox platter like no other, including gravlax, schmears and quick pickles, and discover how easy cheese blintzes are to make from scratch. Chef Beth will round out the brunch with dishes inspired by Andrea’s cookbook, giving you plenty to learn, taste and enjoy.
In this introductory class, you will learn:
- Everything you need to know about sourdough starter and making sourdough bagels
- New ways to artfully display gravlax, bagels and all the accompaniments
- How to prepare flavorful schmears and master quick pickling methods
- How to make cardamom cheese blintzes from scratch
How to create a beautiful, abundant brunch spread inspired by BernBaum’s Cookbook
Menu:
- Latkes with apple-ginger compote
- Freshly baked sourdough bagels with:
- Salmon gravlax
- Schmears: maple-bacon, horseradish-dill and vegetable-herb
- Quick-pickled red onion, apples, cucumbers and fennel
- Microgreens, tomatoes, olives and capers
- Cardamom cheese blintzes with aronia berry sauce
- Coffee and tea
Instructors:
Andrea Baumgardner is the “Baum” behind BernBaum’s, the beloved bagel shop and restaurant that graced downtown Fargo from 2016 to 2024; husband Brett Bernath, provides the “Bern.” Baumgardner traces her food roots to her high school job at Leeby’s, where she worked alongside gruff, knowledgeable butchers and serious farm-style bakers who turned out perfect cake doughnuts, pies and lefse. During college, she spent a year in Spain and France, greatly expanding her palate — and her pants size.
A graduate of Macalester College and the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, Baumgardner externed at Chez Panisse before cooking on the line at Vivande and Eos in the Bay Area and Boxer in Los Angeles. She was the opening chef at Cobras & Matadors in Los Angeles before returning to Fargo in 2003 as the opening executive chef of the Hotel Donaldson, followed by a role as partner and chef at Green Market Kitchen. She was a Humphrey Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota in 2015-16 and was a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest in 2020 and 2024.
Chef Beth Fisher is thrilled to bring her experience to a new role as Culinary Manager at The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Known for her years of teaching at various cooking schools and creative culinary work at several popular Twin Cities restaurants, Beth is now focused on enhancing the Arboretum's fast growing culinary offerings and kitchen classroom educational experiences. Join Beth and discover the joy of learning and cooking in the kitchen!
We recommend that you enter the Arboretum via the back gate on 82nd St, not the main entrance on Hwy 5. This is the most direct route to access the Farm at the Arb, and avoids potential delays when driving through the Arboretum.
Directions: 3210 W 82nd St, Chanhassen, MN 55317
If you do wish to enter through the main Arboretum gate on Hwy 5, you can take 3-Mile Drive through the Arboretum and turn right on Peter Moe Drive to get to the Myers Education Center (this route may take an additional 15-20 minutes, so please plan accordingly).
Main Entry instructions:
You will receive a bar-code ticket for entry to the Arboretum in your email purchase confirmation. Your ticket is valid for entry on the day of your class. Present your ticket to the gate attendant as you enter the Arboretum. You may stay at the Arboretum after class as long as you want during our operating hours.