COOKshop on 8th: A cook’s nook

Before she worked as a chef in San Francisco, owned a bakery or ran a catering company, Carolyn Hubinger Kumpe first nurtured her passion for the culinary arts in the kitchens of Lawrence restaurants while she attended KU. She recently returned to Lawrence, and to the role she considers her favorite: cooking instructor.

In August, Kumpe, c’85, opened COOKshop on 8th, 745 New Hampshire St., where she leads small-group, hands-on classes that illuminate how to prepare a variety of fare, from fresh pastas to pastries, paella to pizza, to a plethora of seasonal eats. “To me, the most joyous thing in life is eating good food,” Kumpe says. “And teaching is fun for me, because I’m getting to learn too.”

Her KU studies in sociology sparked her interest in different cultures’ cuisines, she says, so her shop offers classes on making French, German, Indian, Japanese and Spanish dishes.

COOKshop on 8th welcomes all skill levels, and its website lists the full lineup of classes, including sessions for kids. Attendees must register in advance. “There’s a sense of community,” Kumpe says of the atmosphere. “You’re gathering, learning and sharing, and with cooking, you’re getting to use all of your senses. It’s a great break from technology and the hustle and bustle.”