Culinary Mini Session
Photo courtesy of iStock
Wednesday, July 29, 2026, noon-1:15 p.m.
$50 member/$70 non-member, includes Arboretum admission plus all supplies and ingredients.
Program location: Farm at the Arb - Kitchen Classroom (Myers Education Center)
Adult 18+
Class Overview:
Join Chef Cheo this summer for short, engaging cooking sessions inspired by the season. Each class features a culinary demonstration, fresh seasonal ingredients and a light lunch tasting. These fun, approachable experiences are perfect for a midweek outing.
This class focuses on the vibrant, sun-drenched flavors of Morocco, using the peak of the summer vegetable harvest. We will begin in the Foodscape garden harvesting the foundational elements of our meal: crisp cucumbers, vine-ripened early tomatoes and versatile summer squash. By viewing the garden through the eyes of a chef, we will discuss how to select produce for its structural integrity and flavor concentration, while also learning which plants to pick and which to skip.
After harvesting, we will move into the kitchen to explore the preparation of Kamfounata — a rich, spiced vegetable dish similar to a ratatouille, that we will update with a faster, fresher preparation. We will learn the proper balancing of savory spices with fresh goat cheese, and how to make a refreshing iced mint tea with your fresh leaves.
- Kamfounata with Fresh Goat Cheese: A spiced Moroccan vegetable stew featuring zucchini, summer squash, and early tomatoes, finished with creamy goat cheese.
- Herb-Infused Couscous: Light couscous steamed and fluffed with fresh garden aromatics.
- Chilled Cucumber Salad: A crisp, refreshing side tossed in a lemon and cumin vinaigrette.
- Iced Moroccan Mint Tea: Fresh-harvested garden mint sweetened with honey.
You'll enjoy a sampling lunch featuring these dishes, along with take home recipes.
Please note: We are unable to accommodate individualized changes to the menu.
Instructor:
Chef Cheo Smith brings his experience in kitchens of all sizes — from the home oven to producing hundreds of school lunches a day, and now, to the Farm at the Arb. A Minnesota native, Cheo is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and descendant of the White Earth Nation. He seeks to bridge the gaps in access and knowledge that prevent many people from getting farm fresh ingredients to their dinner table. His mission is to make preparing great tasting and healthy foods accessible to the home cook.
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.
Address: Farm at the Arb Entrance Gate
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.